Effect of Organic and Mineral Phosphate Fertilization of the Plant Cane and First Ratoon on Agronomic Performance and Industrial Quality of the Second Ratoon in the Brazilian Cerrado Region

Sugarcane requires high doses of phosphorus to achieve high productivity. However, not all the phosphorus applied to crops is utilized. Therefore, it is believed that some remaining phosphorus can meet the nutrient demand of the ratoon crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of mineral fertilization with triple superphosphate (TSP) and organic fertilization with poultry litter (PL), applied to plant cane and the first ratoon, on the quality of second ratoon sugarcane. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with a 5 × 5 factorial scheme with four replications. The treatments consisted of five TSP doses (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg ha−1) and five PL doses (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 t ha−1). Fertilization with TSP and PL applied in the two preceding cycles promoted an increase in plant height, stalk diameter, number of tillers, and productivity in the second ratoon. The doses of triple superphosphate and chicken litter applied in cycles preceding the second ratoon were able to increase the agronomic performance of the genotype IACSP95-5094. However, the highest subsequent combined doses of triple superphosphate and chicken litter resulted in a 27% increase in stalk productivity. In general, the preceding doses of chicken litter showed greater potential to enhance the technological attributes.