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Sulfur‐coated Fertilizers for Sugarcane: I. Plant Response to Sulfur‐coated Urea
Author(s) -
Gascho G. J.,
Snyder G. H.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1976.03615995004000010032x
Subject(s) - sulfur , leaching (pedology) , sowing , sugar , urea , growing season , saccharum , agronomy , coated urea , crop , soil water , environmental science , yield (engineering) , chemistry , fertilizer , biology , soil science , materials science , food science , organic chemistry , metallurgy
Crop growth and yield on sand soils is often limited by low N availability due to leaching losses from the soil. This study was initiated to determine if sulfur‐coated urea (SCU) could supply adequate N nutrition and eliminate the need for repeated N applications for sugarcane ( Saccharum spp.) grown on previously uncropped Immokalee fine sand in southern Florida. Single applications of two SCU's were compared with split applications of (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 (AS), each at three N rates, 56, 112, and 168 kg/ha. Application of SCU at planting in November resulted in excellent growth and high leaf N concentrations in the spring but did not provide optimum N throughout the growing season. Leaf N concentrations in late summer and tonnages of sugarcane and sugar for SCU plots approached, but did not equal, those attained with four applications of AS. Higher tonnages were recorded for the slower releasing SCU than for the faster releasing source but both SCU sources released large amounts of N before the warm summer months when N is required in the highest quantities. The data indicate that SCU's which release N more slowly and/or a later application date should provide better N nutrition and eliminate the need for several split applications of soluble sources.