Effects of Slow-release Fertilizers and Sugarcane-specific fertilizers on Yield and Quality of Sugarcane

[Objectives] The effects of slow-release fertilizers and sugarcane-specific fertilizers on the growth and quality of sugarcane were studied to provide a theoretical basis for cultivation of sugarcane with lower costs but higher efficiency. [Methods] Field experiments were carried out in two major sugarcane areas in Guangxi and three fertilization treatments were studied: single application of compound fertilizers (treatment I), compound fertilizers + slow-release fertilizers (treatment II) and sugarcane-specific base fertilizers + sugarcane-specific topdressing (treatment III). Effects of equal fertilization conditions of treatment I, II and III on growth, yield and sugar of sugarcane were studied. [Results] The three fertilization treatments had little effects on emergence, tillering, and effective stems of sugarcane, but compared with the treatment of compound fertilizer (treatment I) with a ratio of N, P, and K of 1:1:1, treatment II using slow-release fertilizers as topdressing had better growth, higher plant height and stem diameter, so the yield was higher. Treatment III designed sugarcane-specific fertilizers with proper ratio according to fertilizer demands of sugarcane. Besides, the treatment III sugarcane-specific base fertilizers, containing certain amount of organic matters, could promote the sugar accumulation of sugarcane. Therefore, the sugarcane yield of treatment III was higher than that of treatment II. [Conclusions] Slow-release fertilizers and sugarcane-specific fertilizers can significantly increase sugarcane yield, especially sugarcane-specific fertilizers. Sugarcane-specific fertilizers have reasonable ratio and contain certain amount of organic matters, and can increase sugar content, obtain significant economic benefits, so it is worth popularization in large areas.