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Which nutrients are supplied to sugarcane through fertilizers?
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Sugarcane
Field of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) in St. George Parish, Barbados.
To achieve optimal yields, sugarcane requires the application of fertilizers throughout its growth cycle, excluding the ripening period. The primary nutrients supplied through these fertilizers are:
The specific amounts of these nutrients required vary significantly depending on local soil types, climatic conditions, and the duration of the growing cycle. It is important to note that the use of these fertilizers must be managed responsibly, as leaching and runoff in high-rainfall areas can lead to significant environmental damage, such as the development of harmful algae blooms in nearby waterways.1