Performance of Sugarcane Var. P.R. 980 Grown on a Partially Reclaimed Saline Sodic Soil of the Lajas Valley

Abstract

Sugarcane var. P.R. 980 performed very well when grown on a partially reclaimed saline sodic soil of the Lajas Valley, Puerto Rico. Varying levels of rum distillery slops and one of black strap molasses had been applied to Fe clay, a Vertisol, on the premise that these two materials stabilize soil aggregates and improve the movement of water for reclamation. After 6.1 m/ha of water had been applied to the plots, and the conductivity of the soil saturation extract was about 4 on the top 30 cm, sugarcane var. P.R. 980 was planted. The yield data for 6 crops, including two plant canes and their corresponding two ratoons, were collected and analyzed. In the combined first 3 crops, the 31 cm slops treatment was significantly better sugar yieldwise than the 6.2 cm treatment. When cane tonnage and sugar of the second plant cane and its two ratoons were combined, the 18.6 and 31 cm of slops were far superior to the check, 6.2 cm slops treatment and the molasses treatment. Salinity was reduced markedly in the top 60 cm of soil. Cane and sugar yield differences between high slops treatments and check widened with time.