Sugarcane production fertilized with poultry litter

SUMMARY The aim of this work was to evaluate the development and quality of sugarcane variety RB 867515 and chemical attributes of the soil in response to the application of increasing level of fertilization. It was used randomized blocks design, with five treatments (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 t/ha of poultry litter) and four replications. At four months after planting there were no differences among poultry liter levels on plant height, culm diameter, and leaves width and length, but the number of plants/m linear and number of leaves/plant reached maximum values using 8.7 and 5.3 t/ha of poultry litter, respectively. At 12 months after planting, there was increase in P, K, Ca and Mg by increasing the level of fertilization with poultry litter and linear increase in productivity of sugarcane green mass. Therefore, up to 12 t/ha of poultry litter can be applied to maximize the performance of sugarcane and improve soil fertility. In addition to the reached productivity, the accumulation of soluble sugar (mean 20 degrees Brix), as well as contents of dry matter (32.9%) and neutral detergent fiber (46.7%) indicates that the sugarcane variety RB 867515, of mean/late cycle, presents appropriate for the first cut for animal feeding at 12 months after planting.