ABSTRACT

A nutrient management strategy based totally on replacement of all nutrients in the biomass is not sustainable from an economic or environmental point of view. Failure to integrate the supply capacity of the soil may not give an economic yield response and may lead to oversupply and luxury uptake of elements such as potassium. High soil levels of P have potential for adverse environmental impact (Rice et al., 2002; Noe et al., 2004), while excessive levels of fertilizer N can reduce juice quality and elevate leaching losses and accession of nitrates to groundwater and streams (Biggs et al., 2001; Hunter and Armour, 2001). Filter mud, fly ash and vinasse are valuable nutrient sources and excellent media for recycling nutrients to cane fields (Turner et al., 2002).