Pre- and Post-Planting Tillage Effects on Sugarcane Growth and Yield on Histosols.

Tillage has documented effects on soil carbon oxidation in Florida histosols, with no- or minimum tillage reduces soil carbon oxidation. A 3-year field trial (plant cane, first and second ratoon) was conducted at Everglades Research and Education Center (EREC), Belle Glade, Florida to determine the effects of different pre- and post-planting tillage practices (no-tillage, minimum tillage, and conventional tillage) on sugarcane growth and yield in three commercial cultivars (CP 88-1762, CP 89-2143, and CP 00-1101). Results showed that tillage didn’t affect sugarcane and sucrose yields in plant cane; no-tillage had greater yields than minimum and conventional tillage in first ratoon; and both no-tillage and minimum tillage had greater yields than conventional tillage in second ratoon. It indicates that switching from conventional to minimum or no-tillage in Florida histosols may provide double benefit to sugarcane growers: reduction in soil carbon oxidation and improvement in sugarcane yields.