The replacement of fossil fuels in the world has driven the search for alternative energy sources. Sugarcane has a high potential for generating ethanol, clean fuel, and biomass and the issues associated with its productivity are of extreme interest to the economy.
In Brazil, the average productivity of sugar cane is 70 tons/ha, a comparatively low value. Productivity in the country in 2008 was 80 tons/ha. This drop may be associated with the expansion of crops to areas of low soil fertility and nutrient deficiency.
The limitations of sugar cane due to difficulties in adequate nutrition appear in several studies in the technical area of agriculture, both in relation to adverse soil conditions and the amount of micronutrients available. According to Quaggio (2007), 70% of Brazilian soils are considered acidic and therefore limit agriculture. Vale et al (2008) observed that 66% of soils in the state of São Paulo cultivated with sugar cane have zinc, an essential micronutrient for development and productivity, below the critical level (less than 0,5 mg/dm³) . Mellis et al (2010, 2014, 2016) have presented consistent studies in which the response of sugar cane to high doses of zinc is positive.
The most recent study conducted by Dr. Estevão Mellis from IAC compared the use of conventional dolomitic limestone and Zincal 200, dolomitic limestone with zinc in its composition (approx. 0,3% zinc) in 6 different plants.
The study demonstrated that sugar cane has an excellent response to zinc fertilization and soil liming.
Higher productivity than the national average was achieved in the experiments. In one of them, the accumulated productivity in 3 sugarcane harvests using conventional dolomitic limestone was 455 tons/ha. With the use of Zincal 200 limestone, productivity was 480 tons/ha, which demonstrates that the zinc present in the Zincal 200 formulation made a difference.
The positive effect of zinc becomes clearer when comparing the results of dolomitic limestone with zinc sulfate and Zincal with zinc sulfate. The productivity of sugarcane in 3 accumulated harvests was 507 tons/ha for both treatments.
In this same experiment on sugarcane, it was possible to verify that Zincal 200 releases zinc in its formulation gradually. In the experiment in the first ratoon, productivity with dolomitic limestone alone was 163 tons/ha and with Zincal 200 it was 166 tons/ha. In the second ratoon, productivity with common limestone was 136 tons/ha and with Zincal 200 it was 152 tons/ha.
Experiments in ratoons also showed similar results. The highest yields were achieved when zinc was supplemented with zinc sulfate to reach the recommended dose of 10 kg of zinc per hectare. It was assessed that manganese, another important micronutrient for plants and present in the composition of Zincal 200, is also available for sugar cane, helping with positive results.
It is very evident that sugar cane benefits from the use of lime in the soil to correct acidity and the use of zinc fertilizer, especially at the dose of 10 kg of Zn/ha recommended by the IAC. For the farmer, the use of Zincal 200 helps with the application of zinc, as it reduces the amount of zinc sulfate to be applied as it already contains this essential micronutrient in its composition.
Technical article written by: Carolina de Barros Aires based on the final report of the Joint Project IAC/FUNDAG/Votorantim – Effect of doses and types of lime on the efficiency of Zinc fertilization in Sugarcane led by Dr. Estêvão Vicari Mellis — December/ 2018
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