Improving potassium use efficiency of sugarcane through the use of polyhalite

Abstract Background Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is an important crop in the production of food and energy in tropical and subtropical regions. To provide plants with what they need, highly concentrated fertilizers are often deployed which can result in imbalances in plant nutrition. The purpos...

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Main Authors: Wilfrand Ferney Bejarano Herrera, Bruna Arruda, Hudson Wallace Pereira de Carvalho, Paulo Sergio Pavinato
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: CABI 2022-09-01
Series:CABI Agriculture and Bioscience
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-022-00124-4
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author Wilfrand Ferney Bejarano Herrera
Bruna Arruda
Hudson Wallace Pereira de Carvalho
Paulo Sergio Pavinato
author_facet Wilfrand Ferney Bejarano Herrera
Bruna Arruda
Hudson Wallace Pereira de Carvalho
Paulo Sergio Pavinato
author_sort Wilfrand Ferney Bejarano Herrera
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is an important crop in the production of food and energy in tropical and subtropical regions. To provide plants with what they need, highly concentrated fertilizers are often deployed which can result in imbalances in plant nutrition. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficiency of polyhalite (K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4·2H2O) as an alternative source of multinutrients for sugarcane compared to single sources of K, Ca, Mg and S. Methods A glasshouse experiment was carried out on a low-K Entisol from the sugarcane cultivar CV7870. A completely randomized design was used with different K fertilizer management strategies as follows: four K dosages (0, 21, 42 and 63 mg dm−3) associated to distinct sources, namely: polyhalite (PHY); potassium chloride (KCl); potassium chloride+polyhalite in a 1:1 ratio (½KP), and potassium chloride combined with phosphogypsum and kieserite balancing Ca, Mg and S dosages as supplied by pure polyhalite (KGK). Two growth cycles in 6 dm3 soil pots were evaluated: cane plant harvested at 131 days after transplanting, and ratoon harvested at 253 days after transplanting for the determination of dry matter production. Immediately before harvesting in both cycles, leaf nutrient content (K, Ca, S and Cl) was determined using a hand-held X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Results In general, shoot dry matter and nutrient uptake were higher with the highest K dosage applied and K sources containing Ca and S in the formulation PHY; ½KP; and KGK, for both growth cycles. However, when these sources were provided at the lowest dosage, high agronomic efficiency was observed in all nutrients assessed. Consequently, the cultivar CV7870 was responsive to K application. However, increments in the K dosage resulted in low agronomic efficiency. Conclusions This study indicates that PHY is an effective fertilizer for sugarcane farmers seeking to improve nutrient uptake in a low-K Entisol for both cane plant and ratoon. A mix of PHY and KCl is a potential multi-nutrient fertilizer for managing sugarcane production.
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spelling doaj-art-8b85511f4b9c43528f397f476b4076472025-02-02T05:50:00ZengCABICABI Agriculture and Bioscience2662-40442022-09-013111110.1186/s43170-022-00124-4Improving potassium use efficiency of sugarcane through the use of polyhaliteWilfrand Ferney Bejarano Herrera0Bruna Arruda1Hudson Wallace Pereira de Carvalho2Paulo Sergio Pavinato3Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research (Agrosavia)Department of Soil Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São PauloLaboratory of Nuclear Instrumentation (LIN), Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São PauloDepartment of Soil Science, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São PauloAbstract Background Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is an important crop in the production of food and energy in tropical and subtropical regions. To provide plants with what they need, highly concentrated fertilizers are often deployed which can result in imbalances in plant nutrition. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficiency of polyhalite (K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4·2H2O) as an alternative source of multinutrients for sugarcane compared to single sources of K, Ca, Mg and S. Methods A glasshouse experiment was carried out on a low-K Entisol from the sugarcane cultivar CV7870. A completely randomized design was used with different K fertilizer management strategies as follows: four K dosages (0, 21, 42 and 63 mg dm−3) associated to distinct sources, namely: polyhalite (PHY); potassium chloride (KCl); potassium chloride+polyhalite in a 1:1 ratio (½KP), and potassium chloride combined with phosphogypsum and kieserite balancing Ca, Mg and S dosages as supplied by pure polyhalite (KGK). Two growth cycles in 6 dm3 soil pots were evaluated: cane plant harvested at 131 days after transplanting, and ratoon harvested at 253 days after transplanting for the determination of dry matter production. Immediately before harvesting in both cycles, leaf nutrient content (K, Ca, S and Cl) was determined using a hand-held X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Results In general, shoot dry matter and nutrient uptake were higher with the highest K dosage applied and K sources containing Ca and S in the formulation PHY; ½KP; and KGK, for both growth cycles. However, when these sources were provided at the lowest dosage, high agronomic efficiency was observed in all nutrients assessed. Consequently, the cultivar CV7870 was responsive to K application. However, increments in the K dosage resulted in low agronomic efficiency. Conclusions This study indicates that PHY is an effective fertilizer for sugarcane farmers seeking to improve nutrient uptake in a low-K Entisol for both cane plant and ratoon. A mix of PHY and KCl is a potential multi-nutrient fertilizer for managing sugarcane production.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-022-00124-4Agronomic efficiencyBalanced nutritionCalciumMagnesiumPotassiumSaccharum officinarum
spellingShingle Wilfrand Ferney Bejarano Herrera
Bruna Arruda
Hudson Wallace Pereira de Carvalho
Paulo Sergio Pavinato
Improving potassium use efficiency of sugarcane through the use of polyhalite
CABI Agriculture and Bioscience
Agronomic efficiency
Balanced nutrition
Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium
Saccharum officinarum
title Improving potassium use efficiency of sugarcane through the use of polyhalite
title_full Improving potassium use efficiency of sugarcane through the use of polyhalite
title_fullStr Improving potassium use efficiency of sugarcane through the use of polyhalite
title_full_unstemmed Improving potassium use efficiency of sugarcane through the use of polyhalite
title_short Improving potassium use efficiency of sugarcane through the use of polyhalite
title_sort improving potassium use efficiency of sugarcane through the use of polyhalite
topic Agronomic efficiency
Balanced nutrition
Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium
Saccharum officinarum
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-022-00124-4
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