Accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in sugarcane cultivated under different types of water management and doses of nitrogen

Abstract

Availability of water in soil together with an adequate supply of nitrogen are factors that can influence the accumulation and storage of nutrients by plants, making it essential for the growth and development of crops. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of different types of water managements (M) and application of varying doses of nitrogen (N) in dry biomass accumulation (DB), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), in the different organs of the sugarcane plant (leaf, tip and culm). The treatments consisted of four types of water management (14,980, 16,140, 17,390 and 18,540 m3 ha-1, during the crop cycle), and five doses of nitrogen (0, 20, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1) arranged in strips and designed in randomized blocks with four replications. Availability of water provided an increase in dry biomass accumulation of leaf, and nitrogen fertilization increased dry biomass accumulation of leaf and culm in sugarcane. Nitrogen fertilization at time of planting increased the accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorus in the leaf, tip and culm, and of potassium in the leaves of the sugarcane plant. Availability of water increased the accumulation of potassium in the leaves of the sugarcane plant.