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Nitrogen Fertilization of Sugarcane in an Intercropping System with Maize and Potato in the Humid Tropical Climate of Mauritius

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

K. F. Ng Kee Kwong ,
G. Umrit  and
J. Deville
K. F. Ng Kee Kwong
Affiliation:
Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Réduit, Mauritius
G. Umrit
Affiliation:
Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Réduit, Mauritius
J. Deville
Affiliation:
Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Réduit, Mauritius
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Summary

The competition for fertilizer nitrogen between sugarcane and a companion crop (maize or potato) grown between the sugarcane rows was studied using nitrogen-15 labelled nitrogen in three field experiments in Mauritius. The effect of the timing of nitrogen application on nitrogen recovery by sugarcane was also investigated. Not more than 15 kg ha−1 of the 120 kg ha−1 nitrogen applied to the sugarcane was taken up by the companion crop but this was compensated for by the uptake of 8 kg ha−1 nitrogen applied to maize or potato. The present recommendations for nitrogen fertilization of pure stand sugarcane were found to be applicable to sugarcane intercropped with non-leguminous food crops. Though fertilizer nitrogen uptake by sugarcane was increased by delaying nitrogen application until after the harvest of the maize and potato, this was not accompanied by an increase in sugarcane yields.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , April 1996 , pp. 213 - 218
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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References

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