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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Canal Point, Florida » Sugarcane Field Station » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #136934

Title: PHOSPHORUS AVAILABILITY TO SUGARCANE IN HISTOSOLS UNDER PERIODIC FLOODING

Author
item DAROUB, S - UNIV OF FL EREC
item Glaz, Barry
item Morris, Dolen

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/30/2001
Publication Date: 9/30/2001
Citation: Daroub, S., Glaz, B.S., Morris, D.R. 2001. Phosphorus availability to sugarcane in histosols under periodic flooding. American Society of Agronomy Abstracts. CDR. S02-daroub154631-Oral.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Subsidence of organic soils and phosphorus (P) release into surface water are two major issues facing agriculture in the Everglades Agricultural Area in south Florida. Raising the water table depth and periodic flooding may reduce the rate of oxidation of these soils. This study was conducted to quantify changes of P in both soil and water during periodic flooding and draining cycles in an organic soil under sugarcane production. The effect of five cycles of periodic flooding (for 1 week) and draining (for 14 days) while maintaining the water table depth at 16, 33, and 50 cm was compared to a continuous water table depth of 50 cm. Periodic flooding cycles did not have a major effect on P availability. Microbial P significantly increased in all treatments with time. Acetic acid extractable P was higher in only 6 out of the 25 extraction dates in the flood and 16 cm treatment compared to the continuous 50 cm water table depth. There were no significant increases in P in canal water as a result of periodic flooding. This study does not support previous column studies that show increased release of P from organic soils under flood-drain cycles.