Use of Organic Soil Amendments to Grow Sugarcane On Sandy Soils in South Florida.

Trying to reduce high phosphorus (P) loads from entering open water systems within the Everglades drainage basin has been a constant challenge for farmers, water management experts, and scientists alike. Organic fertilizers are known to enhance overall soil structure, and are typically slow-release fertilizers compared to inorganic ones which tend to leach excess nutrients to surrounding ground and surface water bodies. The objective of this study was to promote sustainable farming in south Florida by testing the feasibility of using two organic agricultural by-products from the sugarcane industry (mill-mud, mill-ash) and floating aquatic vegetation (FAV) as alternatives to conventional inorganic phosphorus (P) fertilizers.  The physical and chemical characteristics of the three soil amendments are being studied. In addition, a twelve-month mesocosm experiment is conducted to test sugarcane growth with different application rates of these organic amendments.  The amendment are applied at three rates high (6 inches), medium (4 inches) and low (2 inches) to sandy soils. Both soil and plant properties will be monitored during this period and compared to the control set-up using conventional DAP fertilizer. At the end of the twelve month mesocosm study, we will be able to determine the optimum rate of application of mill-mud, mill-ash and FAV on sandy soils to sustain a healthy growth of sugarcane.