Influence of molasses on inorganic nutrients in soils amended with sugarcane trash

JIMENEZ, C.M.; SAMPIETRO, D.A.; VATTUONE, M.A; SGARIGLIA, M.A.; SOBERÓN, J.R.; QUIROGA, E.N.

Tucumán - Argentina

Congreso; XXIV Annual Scientific Meeting of Tucuman Biology Society; 2007

Tucuman Biology Society (publicado en Bio Cell 32 (2))

In a previous work, we showed that soil irrigation with molasses accelerates microbial mineralization of sugarcane trash. In this work, we evaluate evolution of nitrogen and phosphorous contents, after molasses incorporation, in soils where sugarcane trash was incorporated or left on soil surface. Plastic containers filled with soil were irrigated with 0.6 and 2 % molasses. Sugarcane trash was incorporated or left on soil surface. Containers irrigated with water were used as controls. Soil samples were taken at different times after molasses incorporation. Nitrate, ammonium and phosporous contents were determined with Hach reagents. Molasses incorporation increases soil nitrogen, ammonium and phosphorous contents. Highest increase in nitrogen and phosphorous contents was observed when trash was soil incorporated. Our results suggest that incorporation of 2% molasses to soil amended with sugarcane trash increase nitrogen and phosphorous available to plant growth.