STRATEGIES FOR THE OPTIMAL USE OF NITROGEN FERTILISERS IN THE SUGARCANE CROP IN GUATEMALA

By
O. PEREZ (1), C. UFER(2), V. AZAÑON(3) and E. SOLARES(4)

1 Guatemalan Sugarcane Research and Training Centre -CENGICAÑA- Guatemala
Km. 92.5 Carretera a Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla, Guatemala
2 Pantaleon Corporation Sugar Mill
3 La Unión Sugar Mill
4 Magdalena Sugar Mill

operez@cengicana.org

Abstract

THE OBJECTIVE of this work is to present practical criteria that will help sugarcane growers to
optimise their investment in nitrogen fertilisers in the sugarcane crop in Guatemala.

The importance of this objective is in relation to the general increase of fertiliser
price and particularly of nitrogen fertiliser.

The criteria are based on knowledge of crop response to N application in the region
after 14 years of experience in research on the topic.

Crop N response is a function of cane yield, soil fertility, crop age or crop cycle and
other variables associated with agronomical practices and soil condition.

As a result, N rate used in sugar mills’fertilisation programs can be adjusted by
comparing the current relation of kg of nitrogen per tonne of cane (N:TC), with reference
ratios recommended for different soils according to organic matter content (OM) and other
factors. Besides, N rates must be adjusted to fertiliser and sugar price for different production
groups. As an alternative to reduce dependence onnitrogen fertilisers, there are practices that
must be taken into account and be optimised in the short term. These practices consist of usage of species of green manure adapted to the intercropping system, the use of co-products and, in the mid and long term, there is potential for N biological fixation in the sugarcane crop.

KEYWORDS: Nitrogen, Optimisation, Green Manure, N Biological Fixation.
Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., Vol. 27, 2010
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