Saturday, January 4, 2014

A SUSTAINABLE FERTILISATION PROGRAM FOR A SUGAR FACTORY IN MEXICO: A PRINCIPLE FOR PRECISION AGRICULTURE

By S. SALGADO GARCÍA, D.J. PALMA-LÓPEZ, J. ZAVALA-CRUZ,
L.C. LAGUNES-ESPINOZA, M. CASTELÁN-ESTRADA,
C.F. ORTIZ-GARCÍA, J.F. JUÁREZ-LÓPEZ, O. RUIZ-ROSADO,
L. ARMIDA-ALCUDIA and J.A. RINCÓN-RAMÍREZ

Colegio de Postgraduados – Campus Tabasco 
Apdo.Postal 24. 86500 Cárdenas, Tabasco, México 
salgados@colpos.mx

Abstract

THIS WORK was carried out to determine site-specific fertiliser application rates for the
different types of soil in which sugarcane is cultivated in the sugar factory ‘Presidente Benito
Juárez’ in Mexico.
Cartographic soil subunits were identified through interpretation of aerial
photographs, field observations, and soil sampling toa depth of 1.2 m. In each subunit, the
agrologic profiles were described, and physical and chemical analyses were done to classify
the soil according to the World Soil Map. Fertilisation rates (FR) of N, P2O5, and K2O for
each soil subunit were estimated using a conceptual model. This model is based on the
balance of nutrient demand of the crop, nutrients supplied by the soil, and fertiliser
efficiency. To estimate demand, dry matter production and N, P, and K accumulation of the
sugarcane aerial biomass were determined. P and K supply was calculated from the results of
soil chemical analysis, plus the N contributions from crop residues and their management.
Three major soil groups were found and classified as subunits. The FR for each soil
subunit were (N, P2O5, K2O kg/ha): 120–60–80 for Cambisol Fluvic (Eutric Clayic),
Cambisol Endogleyic (Clayic Eutric) and Cambisol Stanic (Clayic Eutric); 120–70–80 for
Cambisol Endogleyic Stanic (Eutric Ferric) and Gleysol Haplic (Eutric Clayic); 160–80–80
for Vertisol Gleyic Stanic (Eutric); and 120–80–80 for Vertisol Stanic (Eutric).
Fertiliser rates were adjusted based on the expected sugarcane yields for each soil
subunits and soil fertility maintenance. We alsogenerated a map of FR for each sugarcane
field to allow producers to locate the relevant rate.

KEYWORDS: Saccharum officinarum, Fertiliser Recommendation,
Precision Agriculture, Conceptual Model.

www.issct.org

Agronomy Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., Vol. 27, 2010


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