LUMAX ® : AN ALTERNATIVE TO ATRAZINE FOR PRE- AND POST-EMERGENCE CONTROL OF WEEDS IN SUGARCANE

By S. SEERUTTUN, C. BARBE and A. GAUNGOO 
Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Réduit, Mauritius
sseeruttun@msiri.intnet.mu

Abstract

ATRAZINEhas successfully been used for more than 40 years in various tank-mixes for both
pre- and post-emergence control of weeds in sugarcane. However, the product is banned in
the EU for environmental reasons. Lumax®, consisting of three active ingredients namely mesotrione (0.0375 kg a.i./L), terbutylazine (0.125 kg a.i./L) and s-metolachlor (0.375 kg a.i./L), has been evaluated as a
substitute for atrazine in Mauritius in 10 field trials in both plant and ratoon sugarcane. Lumax® at rates varying between 3.5 and 5.0 L/ha proved effective on a wide spectrum of broad-leaved weeds and some grasses, including Digitaria horizontalis. In general, Lumax® was superior to the standard s-metolachlor + atrazine and comparable to the tank-mixes tebuthiuron + atrazine and oxyfluorfen + diuron.
In post-emergence of weeds, although Lumax® tank-mixed with 2,4-D amine salt showed a better control of weeds than atrazine tank-mixed with s-metolachlor + 2,4-D amine salt, it was slightly inferior to the other standards containing hexazinone or tebuthiuron. In all situations, Lumax® provided a residual activity varying between 10 and 12 weeks and showed no phytotoxicity on the various sugarcane varieties tested. Lumax®
has been recommended as an alternative to atrazineat rates varying between 4.0 and 5.0 L/ha.

KEYWORDS: Mesotrione, Terbuthylazine,
S-Metolachlor.

Agronomy-  Proc. Int. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol., Vol. 27, 2010
www.issct.org
visit : www.issct.org/congress2016.html

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
www.issct.org
visit : http://www.issct.org/congress2016.html
__________________________________________________________________________