Effect of Lime and Phosphate-bearing Materials on Sugarcane Yields

Abstract

Data are reported here from a field experiment with sugarcane on acid Lares clay located in the humid area of Puerto Rico, at the Corozal Agricultural Experiment Substation. The effect of lime and of two sources of phosphorus fertilizers was tested. The experiment included superphosphate and hyperphosphate, each with or without lime, at four rates: 0, 50, 125, and 200 pounds P₂O₅ to the acre. Lime was used at the rate of 4 tons to the acre. Yield data are reported for a plant crop of sugarcane and for two succeeding ratoon crops. No significant differences were obtained attributable to either type or rate of phosphorus fertilizer when added to the acid soil. Liming caused significant increases in sugarcane yields in both ratoon crops and in the total of the three crops, amounting to 11.3 tons of sugarcane per acre. The highest significant increase of 24.3 tons of sugarcane per acre was obtained when lime was added with 200 pounds P₂O₅ per acre as superphosphate.