Crop Nutrition and Yield Response of Bagasse Application on Sugarcane Grown on a Mineral Soil

The addition of agricultural by-products to mineral soils has the potential improve crop production. This study aimed determine effects readily available sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) milling by-product bagasse as a soil amendment on yields grown sandy Entisol South Florida. field trial was conducted commercial farm for three annual cycles (plant cane and two ratoons). Four treatments including 5 cm (85 ton ha−1); 10 (170 ha−1) plus 336 kg ha−1 ammonium nitrate; control (without nitrate) were evaluated. Results indicate that one single application increased biomass sugar yield by approximately 23% in plant year. A higher rate (10 bagasse) recommended since it had longer effect increasing yield. Bagasse enhanced silicon (Si) supply Si nutrition. However, other leaf nutrients not significant.