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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Canal Point, Florida » Sugarcane Field Station » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #204478
Title: Sugarcane yields and soil chemical properties due to mill mud application to a sandy soil

Author
item Morris, Dolen
item GILBERT, R - UNIV. FLORIDA, BELLE GLAD
item RAINBOLT, C - UNIV. FLORIDA, BELLE GLAD
item PERDOMO, R - FLORIDA CRYSTALS CORP., S
item POWELL, G - FLORIDA CRYSTALS CORP., S
item EILAND, B - FLORIDA CRYSTALS CORP. ,
item MONTES, G - FLORIDA CRYSTALS CORP., S

Submitted to: International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/31/2007
Publication Date: 5/1/2007
Citation: Morris, D.R., Gilbert, R.A., Rainbolt, C.R., Perdomo, R.E., Powell, G., Eiland, B., Montes, G. 2007. Sugarcane yields and soil chemical properties due to mill mud application to a sandy soil. International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Proceedings. 26:444-448.

Interpretive Summary: Mill mud is a potentially beneficial by-product from the sugar milling process, because it has high nutrient levels. An experiment was conducted to assess the crop yield and soil chemical benefits of using mill mud for fertilizer in sandy soil. Treatments consisted of all combinations of fertilizer (low fertilizer (LF): enough to keep the plants alive and adequate fertilizer (AF): based on Univ. of Florida Extension Service recommendations), and mill mud (none and 110 tons/acre mill mud (amount estimated to last 3 yrs) applied one time before planting sugarcane). The mill mud contained 54% moisture. Sugarcane yields and soil P, K, and pH were measured after plant and ratoon cane harvests in the 0- to 6- (surface), 6- to 12- (SS), and 12- to 18-inch (SSS) depths. In the first year, mill mud treatment increased the fresh cane and sugar yields (42 and 4.4 tons/acre, respectively) greater than LF treatment (19 and 2.5 tons/acre, respectively) and AF treatment (31 and 3.6 tons/acre, respectively) yields. In the second ratoon, mill mud treatment yields (31 and 3.5 tons/acre, respectively) remained greater than LF and AF treatments. Mill mud increased surface soil K >2.2 times compared with AF and LF treatments after both harvests. Soil extractable P levels were very high (>300 lbs/acre µg/g) and were >6.5 times the LF and AF treatments. Mill mud had a lesser effect in the SS and little effect in the SSS. Soil pH increased in all soil depths due to mill mud application across both harvest periods. Our data indicates for sandy soil, fertilizer may not need to be applied to sugarcane plant cane or first ratoon crops receiving 110 tons/acre mill mud applied one time before planting.

Technical Abstract: Mill mud is a potentially beneficial by-product from the sugar milling process. An experiment was conducted to assess sugarcane yield and nutrient movement into subs after mill mud application in sandy soil. Treatments consisted of fertilizer (low fertilizer (LF) and adequate fertilizer (AF)), and mill mud (none and 246 Mg/ha mill mud applied one time before planting). The mill mud contained 54% moisture. Sugarcane yields and soil P, K, and pH were measured after plant and ratoon cane harvests in the 0- to 15-, 15- to 30-, and 30- to 45-cm depths. Mill mud application increased fresh cane and sugar yields 200% (2-yr average) compared with LF treatment and 26% (2-yr average) compared with AF treatment. Soil extractable P levels in mill mud were very high (>150 µg/g) and were 8.4 times the no mill mud treatment. Mill mud had a lesser effect in the 2 subsurface soil depths. Mill mud increased surface soil K >2.2 times (2-yr average) compared with no mill mud application. Soil pH increased in all soil depths due to mill mud application across both harvest periods. Our data indicate for sandy soil, fertilizer may not need to be applied to plant cane or first ratoon sugarcane receiving 246 Mg/ha mill mud applied one time before planting.