How to Fertilize Sugarcane: A Detailed Guide to the Correct Fertilization Method

Sugarcane has a well-developed root system and a long growing period (generally 10-11 months), so each crop removes large amounts of nutrients from the soil to sustain its long growth. Therefore, when planting sugarcane, adding Jinbaobei microbial fertilizer with an effective live bacteria count above 500 million can improve soil structure, and is very effective at increasing yield and improving the soil.

Applying Base Fertilizer

Applying sufficient base fertilizer allows sugarcane to sprout quickly, extend its roots rapidly, and produce early tillering and strong seedlings. If the base fertilizer is insufficient and only later topdressing is relied upon, the seedlings will be weak, prone to being thick at the top and thin at the bottom, with a poor root foundation and easy lodging. Base fertilizer is generally mainly organic fertilizer, supplemented by inorganic fertilizer; because sugarcane has a well-developed root system and a long growth cycle, supplementing with Jinbaobei microbial fertilizer can effectively improve the soil and supply the needed fertility.

Rational Topdressing

During the seedling stage, sugarcane has an urgent but small demand for nutrients, with a large demand for nitrogen, followed by potassium and phosphorus. Although sugarcane needs little fertilizer at the seedling stage, fertilizing at this stage is crucial to its growth. If fertilization at the seedling stage is insufficient, the seedlings and tillers will grow short and stunted, and even later fertilizer supplementation will hardly help them recover, ultimately leading to reduced yield and quality. For seedling fertilizer, a fast-dissolving high-nitrogen fertilizer is best; compound fertilizer is recommended, supplemented with Jinbaobei microbial fertilizer. If manure is insufficient, the fertilizer amount can be appropriately increased. When applying, it is best to combine it with intertillage and earthing up by applying it directly in holes, or by applying it in holes after mixing with water; in dry conditions, apply it in holes mixed with water. In addition, promptly check for and fill in missing seedlings so the population grows uniformly.

The application of tillering fertilizer for sugarcane should be determined according to specific conditions. If sufficient fertilizer was applied early and the cane seedlings are strong, it can be applied all at once during the tillering stage, and the amount should be small. The application method is the same as for seedling fertilizer.

During the elongation stage, sugarcane has a large demand for fertilizer, accounting for more than 50% of the entire growth period, so fertilization should focus on this stage. Since phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are mainly applied as base fertilizer and in the early stage, this stage mainly involves topdressing nitrogen fertilizer. The amount of stem fertilizer should be determined by the field and the seedlings. If the cane seedlings show signs of premature aging, it can be applied all at once; if growth is steady, it can be applied in two applications in early July and early August, with the first application heavier and the second lighter. Fertilization should generally be carried out after rain or when the soil is moist; it is best to combine it with weeding and earthing up, applying the evenly mixed fertilizer in strips or holes about 10 cm beside the cane stool, then covering with thick soil. Do not fertilize before heavy rain to prevent washing away by rainwater. If there is no rain for 3 days after fertilization and the loosened soil around the stool begins to dry, water promptly. If the soil is dry, drought relief should come first, then fertilization.

Timely Final Topdressing

Some believe that final topdressing should be applied, reasoning that both the late growth of sugarcane and the underground cane buds require certain nutrients. Others believe that final topdressing should not be applied, because although sugarcane needs a small amount of nutrients for late growth, these can be supplied through nutrient redistribution within the sugarcane plant and nutrients stored in the soil, as long as sufficient fertilizer was applied in the early and middle stages; in addition, the field is hot and stuffy in the late stage, making operations very difficult. Therefore, we suggest that farmers decide based on the field's fertility: if the field is fertile and sufficient fertilizer was applied early, and the stem fertilizer was applied according to steady-growing cane seedlings, final topdressing may be omitted, and Jinbaobei microbial fertilizer can be directly applied as a foliar spray; if the soil fertility is poor and early fertilization was insufficient, an appropriate amount of final topdressing mixed with Jinbaobei microbial fertilizer can be applied. The application time should not be too late, and the amount should not be too much, to avoid delaying maturity and reducing sugar content; after application, earth up the soil. If signs of fertilizer deficiency appear 1 month before harvest, apply a foliar fertilizer spray.