A NEW FORMULATED SILICON FERTILISER FOR BETTER SUGARCANE PRODUCTION

By ARIS TOHARISMAN, MUHAMAD MULYADI and ABDUL RASJID
Indonesian Sugar Research Institute
atoharis@yahoo.com

KEYWORDS: Silicon Fertiliser, Boiler Ash, Furnace Slag,
Humic Substance, Sugarcane Productivity.

Abstract

SILICON(Si) is an important beneficial element for sugarcane and is absorbed by sugarcane, more than any other mineral nutrient. Si is known to promote sugarcane yield, enhance resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, improve leaf and stalk erectness, and increase P availability. A new Si fertiliser namely SiPlusHS was formulated from sugar mill boiler ash, furnace slag, rock phosphate, zeolite, oxalic acid and humic substance. It formed granules of 3–5 mm indiameter and contained 8–10% soluble Si, 10–12% soluble phosphate and 3–5% humic substance. The effectiveness of this fertiliser was tested under field conditionson irrigated and non-irrigated sugarcane areas, covering areas of 1 and 2 ha, respectively. The fertiliser was applied at the rate of 0, 250 and 500 kg/ha. Results showed that application of 250 kg/ha SiPlusHS could increase cane yield from 2 to52% and sugar yield by as much as 15–58%. There were no significant differences between applications of 250 kg/ha and 500 kg/ha SiPlusHS.
In some areas, SiPlusHS could significantly decrease stem borer attacks. Recently, this new silicon fertiliser has beentested on about 1000 ha in various regions in Indonesia.

Source
http://www.issct.org/pdf/proceedings/2010/2010%20Toharisman,%20A%20NEW%20FORMULATED%20SILFERTILISER%20FOR%20BETTER%20SUGARCANE%20PRODUCTION.pdf