Agronomic Performance of the First Ratoon of Sugarcane and Phosphorus Supply from Mineral and Organic Sources

In Brazilian Cerrado soils, sugarcane yield is directly influenced by phosphorus availability. However, the growing demand for fertilizer efficiency and optimization, along with the high cost of phosphate fertilizers, has increased interest in organic sources. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of different doses of triple superphosphate applied alone or in combination with poultry litter on the biometric traits, nutritional status, technological quality, and stalk yield of the first ratoon crop of sugarcane. The experiment was conducted in an experimental area of Denusa – Destilaria Nova União S/A, located in the Central-West Region of Brazil, on a eutrophic Red Latosol of the Cerrado biome. The application of triple superphosphate combined with poultry litter positively influenced plant height, average stalk diameter, and the number of tillers. Moreover, both triple superphosphate and poultry litter increased the total recoverable sugar content, sugar yield, alcohol yield, and overall productivity, with gains of 2.88%, 10.65%, 40.20%, and 11.29%, respectively. Furthermore, the study highlighted the potential of poultry litter to supplement the phosphorus required by the first ratoon crop of the studied sugarcane genotype.