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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Houma, Louisiana » Sugarcane Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #375631
Research Project: New Crop Production and Protection Practices to Increase Sugarcane Ratoon Longevity and Maximize Economic Sustainability

Location: Sugarcane Research

Title: Response of sugarcane to cobalt application in Louisiana

Author
item DASILVA, DEISE - Collaborator
item Johnson, Richard
item CRUSCIOL, CARLOS - Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/13/2020
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cobalt is classified as a beneficial element to crop plants and can influence the productive potential of the crop. Most studies that have evaluated cobalt application have been conducted with legume crops and have indicated that cobalt increases symbiotic nitrogen-fixation. Cobalt also interferes in the biosynthesis of stress ethylene in plants. Due to the importance of cobalt in plants, the objective of this study was to understand the influence of different cobalt rates on sugarcane yield components. This study was carried out in 38-liter pots with sugarcane variety LCP 85-384. Sugarcane growth and yield data was collected for both plant-cane (2015) and second ratoon-cane (2017) crops in Schriever, LA. Treatments included: foliar cobalt at four rates 0.0285, 0.057, 0.085, and 0.114 kg ha-1 and an untreated control. In 2015 cobalt was applied during the vegetative phase (60 and 120 days after the planting) and in the second ratoon (2017) cobalt was also applied during the vegetative phase 180 days prior of harvest. In plant-cane, cobalt application increased the number of tillers, leaves, and stalks, directly reflecting an increase in stalk sucrose concentrations and sucrose per pot. Sucrose, purity and fiber levels were not affected by cobalt application. In the second ratoon, cobalt application increased the plant height, the number of leaves, the number of tillers, the number of internodes, and mean stalk diameter. A significant increase in yield parameters (stalk sucrose concentration and sucrose per pot) was also observed with cobalt application in the second-ratoon crop. The optimum plant response to cobalt, in terms of both growth and yield, occurred at an application rate of 0.057 kg ha1. These combined results indicate that cobalt has the potential to increase sugarcane production. Further research is needed to evaluate these effects with other sugarcane varieties and in also in field environments.