Treating Tropical Soils with Composted Sewage Sludge Reduces the Mineral Fertilizer Requirements in Sugarcane Production

Rafael dos Santos Silva, Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho, Arshad Jalal, Rodrigo Silva Alves, Nathércia Castro Elias, Raimunda Eliane Nascimento do Nascimento, Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior, Arun Dilipkumar Jani, Gian Franco Capra () and Thiago Assis Rodrigues Nogueira
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Rafael dos Santos Silva: Department of Plant Protection, Rural Engineering, and Soils, School of Engineering, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira 15385-000, SP, Brazil
Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho: Department of Plant Protection, Rural Engineering, and Soils, School of Engineering, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira 15385-000, SP, Brazil
Arshad Jalal: The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
Rodrigo Silva Alves: Department of Soil Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Nathércia Castro Elias: Department of Soil Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Raimunda Eliane Nascimento do Nascimento: Department of Soil Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior: Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Av. Centenário n◦ 303, Piracicaba 13416-000, SP, Brazil
Arun Dilipkumar Jani: Department of Biology and Chemistry, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA 93955, USA
Gian Franco Capra: Dipartimento di Architettura, Design e Urbanistica, Università di Sassari, Via Piandanna 4, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Thiago Assis Rodrigues Nogueira: Department of Plant Protection, Rural Engineering, and Soils, School of Engineering, São Paulo State University, Ilha Solteira 15385-000, SP, Brazil

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-18

Abstract: Conventional mineral fertilization (CMF) is a common practice in infertile sugarcane-cultivated tropical soils, increasing production costs and environmental concerns. Combining CMF with composted sewage sludge (CSS) could be a sustainable strategy. We aim to evaluate changes in soil chemical properties, macro- and micronutrient concentrations in the soil surface (A p1 ; 0–25 cm) and subsurface (A p2 ; 25–50 cm) horizons, after CSS application with or without CMF in sugarcane cultivation (first and second ratoon cane). Eleven treatments, featured by CSS increase rates and mixed with CMF at different concentrations, were tested in the first ratoon; during the second, the CSS residual effect was evaluated. Applying CSS in sugarcane-cultivated soils, improved the following: ( i ) soil organic matter, pH, the sum of bases, cation-exchange capacity, and base saturation; ( ii ) overall nutrient concentrations (P, K, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, and Zn). The treatments showing the best performances were those with 5.0 Mg ha −1 of CSS. Composted sewage sludge has the potential for use as an organic natural fertilizer reducing the need for CMF. When applied in infertile tropical soils, additional positive effects can be achieved, such as decreasing production costs and providing socio-economic benefits.

Keywords: energy crop; Saccharum officinarum L.; by-products reuse; circular economy; soil fertility; tropical areas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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