Utilization by plant cane, and first and second ratoon crops of nitrogen fertiliser applied at planting

摘要

Sugarcane, as a semi-perennial crop, depends on the nutrient stocks in the root system in order to support the initial growth of sprouts, and there is evidence of a direct relationship of these nutrient stocks with the management of nitrogen fertilization. However, there is little knowledge about the amount of N fertilizer applied in a crop season that can still be used by sugarcane in a subsequent crop season. In order to evaluate urea-N utilization by sugarcane in the plant cane crop season and itsresidual effect in subsequent ratoon crops, three experiments were carried out in the Sao Paulo State, Brazil, from February of 2005 to July of 2008. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks, with four treatments, being three rates of urea