Sugarcane in monoculture or in rotation with sweet corn

Farmers in many regions of the world grow a horticultural or grain crop between sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) cycles. This additional crop often requires higher amounts of P or K fertilizers than does sugarcane. Some sugarcane growers in Florida precede 2to 5-year cycles of sugarcane with one crop of spring-harvested sweet corn (Zea mays L.). A disadvantage perceived with this rotation is that the higher amounts of P fertilizer applied to sweet corn may reduce sugar yields of sugarcane. The primary objective of this study was to compare the sugarcane yields of a sugarcane and sweet corn rotation with those of monocropped sugarcane. Phosphorus and K fertilizers were also added to sugarcane at different rates in each rotation to form four cropping practices. Responses of four sugarcane cultivars were also tested among these cropping practices. Sugarcane experiments were conducted at three diverse field locations. Each location was harvested twice, first in the plant crop and about 1 year later in the first-ratoon crop. At least one cropping practice including sweet corn at each location had sugar yields (t sugar/ha) comparable to those of the highest monocropped sugarcane yields. Responses to cropping practices differed by location. Also, cultivars responded differently to cropping practices. By determining location-specific sugarcane fertilizers and cultivars, growers can grow sweet corn and sugarcane in rotation without reducing sugar yields of sugarcane. More research to determine appropriate cultivars and fertilizer rates could probably improve yields of sugarcane subjected to the sugarcanesweet corn rotation and its residual fertilizers.