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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Canal Point, Florida » Sugarcane Field Station » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #122922
Title: SUGARCANE ROOT AND SOIL MICROBIAL RESPONSES TO INTERMITTENT FLOODING (FOR PRESENTATION AT ASSCT MEETING)

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

Submitted to: Sugar Journal
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/30/2001
Publication Date: 6/15/2001
Citation: Morris, D.R., Glaz, B.S., Daroub, S. 2001. Sugarcane root and soil microbial responses to intermittent flooding. Sugar Journal. 64(1):22-23.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sugarcane is one of the most environmental friendly agricultural crops grown in the Everglades Agricultural Area because it can tolerate short periods of flooding and has been reported to have less soil organic matter oxidation compared to other agricultural crops. An experiment was conducted to determine the combined effect of water-table depth and intermittent flooding on soil organic matter oxidation potential and sugarcane root growth. Sugarcane was grown in lysimeters out doors. Water treatments consisted of 7 days flooding followed by 14 days drained to 16, 33, and 50 cm depths. A continuous 50 cm water table was used as a control. Soil samples were taken during the drain period on day 0, 3, 7, and 14 and analyzed for oxidation potential. After sugarcane harvest, root samples were taken from the 0 to 15, 15 to 30, and 30 to 45 cm depths. Roots dry wt, length, volume, surface area, and diameter was determined. The 16 cm water table had soil oxidation potentials that were less than half those of the other flooding treatments. Average root dry wt, length, surface area, and volume from high water table treatments in the sampled area were about twice those from continuously drained treatment. Combining raised water tables with intermittent flooding should improve both soil conservation and sugarcane root growth.