Effect of Potassium Application Rates on Sugarcane Yield in Soils with Different Non-Exchangeable Potassium Reserves and Fixation Capacity

Reliable fertilizer recommendations should account for factors influencing nutrient supply, including non-exchangeable potassium (K) reserves and fixation capacity, to ensure optimum crop yields. The combined effects of non-exchangeable K reserves and fixation capacity of soils on crop response to K...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agronomy (Basel) 2023-08, Vol.13 (8), p.1969
Main Authors: Elephant, Dimpho Elvis, Miles, Neil, Muchaonyerwa, Pardon
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Crop yield
Crop yields
Crops
Fertilizers
Fixation
Nutrient reserves
Potassium
potassium buffering capacity
potassium fixation
potassium requirement factor
Reserves
Saccharum officinarum
slowly available potassium
Soil testing
Soils
Statistical analysis
Sucrose
sucrose yields
Sugarcane
Working groups
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Summary:Reliable fertilizer recommendations should account for factors influencing nutrient supply, including non-exchangeable potassium (K) reserves and fixation capacity, to ensure optimum crop yields. The combined effects of non-exchangeable K reserves and fixation capacity of soils on crop response to K application has not been evaluated. This study evaluated the response of sugarcane yields to K application on two soils with contrasting combinations of non-exchangeable K reserves and fixation capacity. Potassium was applied at 0, 120, and 240 kg K ha−1 at the commencement of the field trials and after each harvest on an umbric Acrisol, which had low non-exchangeable K reserves and medium K fixation capacity, and a cutanic Acrisol, which had ‘very high’ non-exchangeable K reserves and fixation capacity. Sugarcane stalk and sucrose yield, leaf, and exchangeable K were measured for each season. In the umbric Acrisol, a lower sucrose yield was measured in the 240 kg K ha−1 treatment compared to the control for the plant crop, but this application rate had higher yields for the second ratoon. In contrast, there was no yield response to K application in cutanic Acrisol. This study indicated the importance of non-exchangeable K reserves and fixation capacity when calculating K requirements and conducting field calibration studies.
ISSN:2073-4395
2073-4395
DOI:10.3390/agronomy13081969