Abstract

ARROYO, Esteban A.; SANZANO, Agustín; ROJAS QUINTEROS, Hugo C.  and  NAVARRO DI MARCO, Jessica P.. Spatial distribution of soil available phosphorus contents in sugar cane area in Tucumán, Argentina. Rev. ind. agric. Tucumán [online]. 2019, vol.96, n.2, pp.01-06. ISSN 1851-3018.

It has been reported that sugarcane requires around 800 - 1500 kg/ha year-1 of nutrients. Local studies estimated phosphoru s extractions of 67,7 kg/ha and 56,6 kg/ha for drip irrigated and rainfed sugarcane respectively considering a 5 years period ( plant cane and 4 rattons). This magnitudes supposes a green harvested cane and the crop residues not burnt or removed. There is scarse information about phosphorus s spatial distribution in Tucuman s soils. The objective of this work was to build a map of phosphorus availability for the sugarcane area in Tucuman, Argentina. Soil samples were taken at 030cm depth in 2900 sites distributed throughout the sugarcane area. The data was loaded and processed in geographic information system QGIS versión 2.14.11-Essen. The map was made using the Ordinary Kriging interpolation method (KO). Results indicated that the soils with available P levels lower than 13 ppm, range with response to fertilization, were located at Burruyacu and Cruz Alta departments. Soils with moderate P contents and probable response to P-fertilization (13 to 25 ppm) represent a larger area, also located at Burruyacu and Cruz Alta plus north of Leales departments. The sugarcane fields with phosphorus s high levels, extend from the north-central to the southeast area. This fertility map contributes to the knowledge of P spatial distribution in the Tucuman s sugarcane territory, helping local cane growers on decision taking.  

Keywords : map; phosphorus available; sugar cane.