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Response of Sugarcane to Silicate Source and Rate. I. Growth and Yield¹

Sugarcane (a complex trispecies hybrid of Saccharum) is one of few crops which are highly responsive to applications of silicate materials. Variety ‘C.P. 63-588’ was grown on a Pahokee muck soil (euic, hyperthermic Lithic Medisaprist) to evaluate effects of silicate sources and rates on growth of cane and sugar yield. Data were collected from the initial planting and a subsequent ratoon crop. Silicate materials were applied to 79.2 m² field plots at the rates of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 metric tons/ha of TVA slag, Florida slag, and Portland cement. A factorial experiment was established in a randomized complete block design with five replications. The silicate materials were broadcast by hand and then thoroughly mixed with the soil by a disc harrow. Growth was measured as plant height, stem diameter, and number of millable stalks. Yield was determined as metric tons of cane and sugar per ha. Application of silicate materials increased plant height, stem diameter, number of millable stalks, and cane and sugar yields in both plant and ratoon crops. Addition of 15 metric tons/ha of silicate materials increased cane and sugar yields by 68 and 79% in the plant crop, and by 125 and 129% in the ratoon crop, respectively. Although there was no significant difference among the silicate materials in the plant crop, Florida slag increased growth and yield more than the other two materials in the ratoon crop. The vital role of Si in sugarcane growth was evident by increased plant size and increased tillering.

Key Words: TVA slag • Florida slag • Portland cement • Plant height • Stem diameter • Number of millable stalks • Cane and sugar yields

² Graduate student (now lecturer, Faculty of Agriculture, Univ. of Khartoum, Sudan), professor of agronomy (now professor of soil fertility, Univ. of Georgia), and assistant professor of soil science, Univ. of Florida, Belle Glade and Gainesville, FL, respectively.

Received for publication April 20, 1981.