Using the right fertilizers in order to provide the sugar cane necessities

By using Haifa's fertilizers, the nutrients uptake curve can show great improvement

Plant population: Stalk density at harvest 90,000-150,000 Stalk/Ha. (achieved by planting 10,000-15,000 cuttings or setts of 2-3 eyes or bud per Ha).
Soil type: Medium to heavy; optimal pH 5.0 - 8.5.
Expected yield: 200-300 MT/ha.

Nitrogen - The recommended amount of nitrogen is based on 1 Kg N per ton of expected plant cane, and 1.25 - 1.50 Kg of N per ton of cane expected for ratoon crops. Nitrogen must be applied at an early stage of growth. For a 12 months crop, the entire amount should be applied within 3-4 months after planting. It is essential to complete N application at least 5 months before intended date of harvest.


Phosphate - All applied at planting according to soil analysis.


Potassium - In heavy soils, all the recommended amount of K is applied as base dressing. In lighter soils, it is preferable to apply one half of the total amount as base dressing and the rest 6 months later.

Recommended rates of nutrients for sugarcane

 

N

P2O5

K2O

Conditions

-------- Kg/Ha --------

Brazil (Sao Paulo)

45-90

60-120

60-120

India (tropics)

200-300

60-120

80-150

Base-Dressing

Nutrient demand

Recommended fertilizers

N

P2O5

K2O

SOP*

MAP

AN

-------- Kg/Ha --------

-------- Kg/Ha --------

12-24

60-120

50-100

100-200

100-200

-

Side dressing

Nutrient demand

Recommended fertilizers

N

P2O5

K2O

Multi-K™*

MAP*

AN*

-------- Kg/Ha --------

-------- Kg/Ha --------

188-276

-

50-100

110-220

-

500-730

The nitrogen should be divided to 3-4 applications within 3-4 months after planting.

SOP = Potassium Sulphate (50% K2O).
Haifa Multi-K™ = Potassium Nitrate (13-0-46)
AN = Ammonium Nitrate (34% N)
MAP = Mono-Ammonium Phosphate (12% N and 61% P2O5)

Foliar feeding

Physiological stage

Haifa Bonus™ concentration (%)

Ground Application

By airplane

Young foliage (1st & 2nd year)

2%

10%

Mature foliage (1st & 2nd year)

4%

12-15%

This treatment should be applied as a series of 3-4 applications, 3-4 weeks apart.

 

Do not wait with the application of Haifa Bonus™ until you need to apply Glyphosate because the Glyphosate application is about 35 – 40 days before harvesting while the demand for K at this stage is very low.


Highest demand for K in sugar cane is between 4 – 2,5 months before harvest. 
Haifa Bonus application should be done at the best phenological stage, by 1-2 applications with 10% concentration (3Kg/30liters/hectare) by plane. Aerial

Nutrients uptake curve of sugarcane

 

The common practice in Colombia is to desiccate the sugarcane foliage prior to harvesting, by spraying glyphosate, one month before the scheduled harvesting, at a rate of 1.4 lit./Ha.

 

In an experiment that was carried out in Colombia, glyphosate was applied by helicopter at the recommended rate, in comparison to 0.7 lit. glyphosate / Ha (half the regular rate) combined with 10% Multi-K™.
This treatment with Multi-K™ increased the sugar level in the cane and reduced the application cost.

Macro elements removed by 1 ton marketable product

N

P

K2O

CaO

MgO

S

-------------------------------------- Kg/ton ------------------------------------------

1.4

0.3

2.6

 

0.75

0.35

Plant analysis guide

Nutrient sufficiency ranges (source: A & L, Agronomy Handbook, Ankerman & Large Eds.)

Sugarcane

N

S

P

K

Mg

Ca

Na

B

Zn

Mn

Fe

Cu

Al

Mo

------------------------ % -------------------------

--------------- p.p.m ---------------
From

2.00

0.15

0.20

1.00

0.10

0.20

0.01

5

15

15

40

5

20

 
To

3.00

0.50

0.35

2.20

0.45

0.60

0.10

40

100

200

200

50

200

 

Sugarcane – Mineral analysis values

 

Leaves

Nutrient

Average value

Critical level

 

(%)

N

2.40

 

S

0.18

0.18

P

0.26

 

K

2.10

 

Mg

0.15

0.07

Ca

0.30

0.12

Na

0.01

 

 

(ppm)

Fe

85

25

Al

25

 

Mn

45

17

B

7

3

Cu

8

 

Zn

20

7

Mo

0.9

 

 

Need more information about growing sugar cane? You can always return to the sugar cane fertilizer and the crop guide