Abstract
The high nitrogen requirement of sugarcane is problematic for small scale farmers in Zimbabwe due to the high cost and scarcity of fertilizer. Producing legume crops in rotation with sugarcane during the fallow period may alleviate the problem. The main aim of this research was to establish whether vegetable and grain soybeans used as fallow crops in sugarcane will benefit small scale farmers. Experimental design was a split-plot design with main treatments 1) vegetable soybean used as a fallow crop, 2) grain soybean used as a fallow crop and 3) fallow treatment (control) where the land was fallowed. After the fallow period sugarcane variety CP72-2086 was planted and topdressed with either 80 kg N ha−1 or 120 kg N ha−1 as the subplot treatments. Leaf area index (LAI), leaf nitrogen content (N content), sugarcane and sugar yield were measured. Cane planted in vegetable soybean plots and topdressed with 80 kg N ha−1 produced significantly higher cane and sugar yields compared to cane grown on fallow plots that received 120 kg N ha−1. Incorporating vegetable soybeans in the system can therefore save about 40 kg N ha−1 while increasing cane yield resulting in a more profitable cane production cycle.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allison J CS, Williams HT, Pammenter N W (1997) Effect of specific nitrogen content on photosynthesis of sugarcane. Ann. Apl. Biol. 131, 339–350.
Anonymous (2000) Zimbabwe sugar association experiment station research report 1998–2000. Chiredzi, Zimbabwe
Bull TA, Bull JK (1963) High density planting as an economic production strategy: overview and potential benefits. Proc. Aust. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol. 22, 104–122.
Clowes MJ, Breakwell WL (1998). Zimbabwe sugarcane production manual. ZSAES. Chiredzi.
Cook JH (2003). Sugarcane growth and development. Int. Sugar J. 105, 540–552.
Garside AL, Watters TS, Berthelsen JE, Sing, NJ, Robotham BG, Bell MJ (2004). Comparison between conventional and alternative sugarcane farming systems which incorporate permanent beds, minimum tillage, controlled traffic and legume fallows. Sugar Cane Int. 22, 15–20.
Giller KE (2001). Nitrogen fixation in tropical cropping systems. 2nd.ed. CABI, Wallington, UK.
Hartermink AE, Wood AW (1998). Sustainable land management in the tropics: the case of sugarcane plantations. university of technology. Papua New Guinea.
Herbert LP, Davidson LG (1959). Effect of cane trash, legumes and bagasse on cane and sugar yields and on the organic matter content in Louisiana sugarcane soils. Proc. Internl. Soc. Sugarcane Technol. 565–579.
Inman-Bamber NG (2002). Dry matter partitioning of sugarcane in Australia and South Africa. Field Crop Res. 76, 71–78.
Irvine JE (1983). Sugarcane. in: Potential productivity of field crops under different environments. International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, Philippines. 361–382.
Mills G, Elphinstone G (2000). Coastal Soybean Cropping Guidelines. Proc. Aust. Soc. Sugar Cane Technol. 21, 57–69
Nixon DJ, Simmonds LP (2003). The impact of fallowing and green manuring on soil conditions and the growth of sugarcane. Exp. Agric. 40, 128–137
Robertson MJ, Wood AW, Muchow RC (1996). Growth of sugarcane under high input conditions in tropical Australia 1.radiation use, biomass accumulation and partitioning, Field Crop, Res. 48, 11–25
Shoko MD, Tagwira F (2005). Assessment of the potential of vegetable and grain soybeans as breakcrops in sugarcane production systems in Zimbabwe. Proceedings of African Crop Science Society 7: 59–65
Singels A, Donaldson RA (2000). The effect of row spacing on an irrigated plant crop of sugarcane variety Nco 376. Proc S Afr Sug Technol. 74, 151–154
Tisdale SL, Havlin JL, Beaton DB, Werner LN (1999). Soil fertility and fertilizers. An introduction to nutrient management. 6th ed. Prentice Hall. New Jersey
Viator HP, Griffin JL (2001). Fallow period cropping to soybeans provides benefits. Louisiana Agriculture 44, 15.
Wood AM, Muchov RC, Robertson MJ (1996). Growth of sugarcane under high input conditions in tropical Australia. 111. accumulation, partitioning and use of nitrogen. Field Crop. Res. 48, 223–233.
Zhou MM (2003). Modelling variety differences in canopy growth and development of sugarcane. Unpublished MSc Thesis, University of Natal, South Africa.
Zhou MM, Singels A, Savage MS (2003). Physiological parameters for modeling differences in canopy development between sugarcane cultivars. Proc S Afr Sug Technol. 77, 610–621.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shoko, M.D., Pieterse, P.J. & Zhou, M. Effect of soybean (Glycine max) as a breakcrop on the cane and sugar yield of sugarcane. Sugar Tech 11, 252–257 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-009-0043-3
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-009-0043-3