The residual effect of soil amendments application on physical sandy soil properties and first ratoon sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum L.)

Abstract

Sugarcane cultivation in sandy soil is quite difficult because the sandy soil properties are less suitable for this crop. Soil amendment application might be important as a growth medium for sugarcane. This study aimed to improve the physical properties of sand-texture soil due to the residue of soil amendments application and their effect on first ratoon sugarcane. The study was arranged in a randomized block design with ten treatments and three replication. The treatment was soil amendments residue which had been applied in 2013 includes 10 t ha-1 of single soil amendment: sugarcane trash biochar (STB), sugarcane trash compost (STC), boiler ash (BA), cattle manure (CM); and 5+5 t ha-1 of combinations: STB+STC, STB+CM; BA+STC, BA+CM, BA+filter cake (FC), and control. The results showed that the residue of soil amendment at 11 months after ratooning significantly improved soil physical properties such as aggregate stability, bulk density, total porosity, and available water content. The residue treatments of STB, CM, STB+CM, gave better effect on soil properties and increased growth, but they did not significantly increase the yield of the first ratoon sugarcane. Therefore, further research is needed with a dose of soil amendments >10 t ha-1 in combination with nutrient treatments.