Productive Potential of Nitrogen and Zinc Fertigated Sugarcane

The relevance of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) in the agribusiness is irrefutable because it not only contributes greatly to the development of countries but is also an important source of job creation and income generation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the stalk productivity (SP) and sugar and alcohol yields of plant and ratoon crops of sugarcane (variety IACSP 95-5000) under N and Zn fertigation treatments using a central pivot, in Cerrado Red Latosol soil. The experiment was conducted under field conditions, in the municipality of Jatai, Goias (GO), Brazil. A randomized block design was used, with a 4 × 5 split-plot arrangement and three replications. The fertilization treatments consisted of four doses of N (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha−1) and five doses of Zn (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 kg ha−1) in plant and ratoon crops. N fertilization treatments, in the form of urea, were divided into three applications from 60 days after planting. Zn fertilization, in the form of Zn sulfate, was applied in a single application. Sugarcane was harvested 330 days after planting. The productivity (SP) was determined by weighing the stalks present in the respective subplots. Sugar and alcohol yields were calculated from the amount of raw sugar determined in the technological analysis. The sugar and alcohol yields of sugarcane (variety IACSP 95-5000) were improved with the fertigation of 180 kg ha−1 of N, in relation to Zn doses. Compared with the control (without N fertigation), sugarcane productivity (plant and ratoon crops) increased by 38.90% and 13.70% when treated with 180 kg ha−1 of N at the Zn dose of 10 kg ha−1. Sugarcane (variety IACSP 95-5000) has productive performance, sugar and alcohol yield, optimized and maximized when fertigated with 10 kg ha−1 of zinc and 180 kg ha−1 of nitrogen.