How to Fertilize Sugarcane for High Yield? A Detailed Guide to the Methods
How can sugarcane be fertilized for high yield? Please explain. Sugarcane has a long growth period and high yield, generally producing 5000-8000 kg of cane stalks per mu. It absorbs a large amount of nutrients throughout its growth period, making it one of the crops with relatively high fertilizer requirements. According to research, for every 1000 kg of sugarcane grown, it needs to absorb 1.5-2 kg of nitrogen, 1-1... from the soil.
How can sugarcane be fertilized for high yield? Please explain.
Sugarcane has a long growth period and high yield, generally producing 5000-8000 kg of cane stalks per mu. It absorbs a large amount of nutrients throughout its growth period, making it one of the crops with relatively high fertilizer requirements. According to research, for every 1000 kg of sugarcane grown, it needs to absorb 1.5-2 kg of nitrogen, 1-1.5 kg of phosphorus, 2-2.5 kg of potassium, and 0.5-0.75 kg of calcium from the soil. The life of sugarcane is divided into the seedling stage, tillering stage, elongation stage, and maturity stage. The fertilizer requirements differ at each growth stage. The general pattern of nutrient uptake is roughly "little at both ends, more in the middle." That is, at the seedling stage, the demand for fertilizer is urgent but the absorption amount is small, with a slightly higher demand for nitrogen, followed by phosphorus and potassium. At the tillering stage, the fertilizer requirement gradually increases, and the absorption of the three major elements accounts for about 10%-20% of the total for the whole period. Entering the elongation stage, the absorption of the three major elements increases greatly, accounting for more than 50% of the total for the whole period. This coincides with the season of high temperature, abundant rainfall, and strong sunlight, when sugarcane has the highest utilization rate of light energy and nutrients, making it the key period for fertilization. After entering the maturity stage, the fertilizer requirement of sugarcane gradually decreases. Based on the characteristics of sugarcane's nutritional needs, high-yield cultivation fertilization should follow the principles of "combining nutrition with growth requirements, combining organic fertilizer with inorganic fertilizer, and combining slow-release fertilizer with quick-release fertilizer." The main methods are:
Apply sufficient base fertilizer. The base fertilizer should be mainly organic fertilizer, supplemented with a certain amount of compound fertilizer, to create good conditions for rapid sprouting of cane buds, root elongation, and early and strong tillering. Generally, apply about 2000 kg of fully decomposed organic fertilizer per mu, along with 20-30 kg of general-purpose 45% compound fertilizer. When applying, for spring-planted sugarcane, first open the planting furrow, then apply the organic fertilizer at the bottom of the furrow, and then apply the compound fertilizer on both sides of the furrow. For winter-planted sugarcane, the organic fertilizer can be used as a seed-covering fertilizer.
Apply seedling-promoting fertilizer early. At the seedling stage, sugarcane requires little fertilizer but has an urgent need for it. Applying seedling-promoting fertilizer early is beneficial for the growth of cane seedlings and root systems, and also promotes leaf growth and early and rapid tillering. When the cane seedlings grow to 3-4 leaves, apply 8-10 kg of high-nitrogen compound fertilizer per mu, directly hole-applied in combination with intertillage and hilling (in case of drought, apply in holes after mixing with water).
Apply tillering-promoting fertilizer steadily. Tillering fertilizer should be applied according to the field conditions and seedling growth. If the base fertilizer and seedling-promoting fertilizer are relatively sufficient and the seedlings are strong, it can be applied all at once at the peak tillering stage, with a smaller amount. If the base fertilizer is insufficient and the seedling-promoting fertilizer is also inadequate, and the seedlings are weak, the fertilizer amount should be increased and applied in two split applications (one at the early tillering stage to promote tillering, called tillering-promoting fertilizer; one at the peak tillering stage to ensure strong tillers, called tiller-strengthening fertilizer). Tillering fertilizer generally uses high-nitrogen and high-potassium compound fertilizer, applying 8-15 kg per mu in holes after mixing with water (hilling should be done promptly after application).
Apply heavy stalk-promoting fertilizer. Stalk-promoting fertilizer is the key to increasing sugarcane yield. It is generally applied in two split applications at the early elongation stage and the peak elongation stage, with 15-20 kg of high-nitrogen compound fertilizer per mu each time, combined with intertillage and heavy hilling, to promote cane root growth, strengthen absorption function, and enhance lodging resistance. If phosphorus and potassium were insufficient in the early stage, additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be applied, so as to achieve maximum growth while avoiding reduced sugar content and yield due to excessive nitrogen fertilizer.
Apply supplementary tail-strengthening fertilizer. To promote and maintain late-stage growth, help nurture underground cane buds, and lay a good foundation for the next year's ratoon crop, generally about two months before maturity, apply 5-8 kg of compound fertilizer per mu combined with hilling as a supplementary tail-strengthening fertilizer. However, note that the application time of tail-strengthening fertilizer should not be too late, and the amount should not be too much, otherwise it will lead to delayed maturity and reduced sugar content. In addition, if fertilizer deficiency occurs 1 month before harvest, 1-2 foliar topdressings should be carried out, using 0.2 kg of potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 0.5 kg of urea per mu, mixed with 100 kg of water, and evenly sprayed from top to bottom.
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