Location: Sugarcane Research
Project Number: 6052-13210-003-006-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2022
End Date: Jun 30, 2027
Objective:
The objective is to evaluate the effects of silicate rock on insect herbivory, sugarcane growth and yield, and soil carbon sequestration in Louisiana. The experiments will be conducted at the USDA-ARS Ardoyne Farm in Schriever, Louisiana, and at the Houma, Louisiana, station (greenhouse) using soil and sugarcane provided by USDA. Cooperator will analyze soil and plant samples generated by the Sugarcane Research Unit (SRU), Houma, Louisiana.
Approach:
The USDA-ARS, Sugarcane Research Unit (SRU), in Houma, Louisiana, will field apply the silicate rock at planting to commercial sugarcane varieties (e.g., L 01-299, HoCP 96-540, Ho 12-615, HoCP 14-885) to evaluate how material affects growth and yield. At various times during the experiment, soil samples will be taken and sent to cooperator for analysis. Yields will be collected on plant cane and ratoon crop using a combine harvester. A greenhouse project will be conducted to evaluate the effects of sugarcane borer herbivory on these varieties following application of 1, 3, or 6 tons of silicate rock per acre. A separate greenhouse study will evaluate the effects of these rates of silicate rock application on cane shoot and root growth.
