Multivariate Behavior of Irrigated Sugarcane with Phosphate Fertilizer and Filter Cake Management: Nutritional State, Biometry, and Agroindustrial Performance

Abstract

Increases in production and final quality of the sugarcane crop require the search for new management and evaluation techniques within the production system, which can range from water and nutritional management, such as the application of water saving irrigation associated with sources (conventional and alternative) and phosphorus doses combined with the use of a sophisticated mathematical method, such as multivariate analysis. It can explain the variations caused by the application of irrigation and the sources and doses of phosphorus throughout the crop cycle. Due to the complex relationships and interactions of the soil-water-plant-atmosphere system, the use of multivariate analysis is able to indicate the best management options to be used. The experiment was carried out in a dystrophic Red Yellow Latosol, medium texture. The experiment consisted of randomized blocks and three replications in a 3 × 4 × 2 factorial design comprising three sources of phosphorus (triple superphosphate, Bayóvar natural reactive phosphate, and Araxá natural phosphate) and different doses (0, 90, 180, and 360 kg of P2O5 ha−1) in the presence and absence of filter cake (7.5 Mg ha−1, dry basis). Irrigation with rescue equipment was applied in a single blade of 80 mm. Biometrics, nutritional status, and agroindustrial performance of sugarcane were evaluated. The principal component analysis evidenced that the phosphate fertilization associated with filter cake is responsible for increases in sugarcane biometrics, specially tillers at 6 months (0.589) and final tillering (0.577); nutritional status of iron (0.349), manganese (0.348), boron (0.347), sulfur (0.332), and phosphorus (0.331); and agroindustrial performance of sucrose (0.476), stalk yield (0.470), and total recoverable sugar (0.439). The water saving irrigation potentiated the use of phosphate fertilizer associated with filter cake, increasing the nutritional status of the plants. However, the correlation was irrelevant and or negative for levels of potassium and calcium. In addition, it favored biometrics and agroindustrial performance by expressing a direct and positive correlation with stalk yield, sucrose, and total recoverable sugar, but an inverse correlation between final tillering and plant height, tons of pol per hectare, and total recoverable sugar.