Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition

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

Manuscript Number: JSSP-D-19-00772R1

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

Article Type: Original Paper

Funding Information:

Abstract: Sugarcane, because it is a crop growing in large areas, and particularly in tropical
areas, is subject to several conditions related to nutrient availability, especially
phosphorus (P), and irregular rainfalls. Therefore, it requires the use of irrigation,
especially water saving irrigation, to provide better soil moisture conditions for plant
emergence. Multivariate techniques are effective in synthesizing high volumes of data,
allowing the filtering of relevant data. The aim of this study is to evaluate the nutritional
state, biometry and agroindustrial performance of irrigated sugarcane using
multivariate techniques in function of filter cake application and phosphate fertilization.
The experiment was carried out in a dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol, medium texture, in
Itajobi, SP, Brazil. The experiment comprised randomized blocks and three replications
in a 342 factorial design comprising three sources of phosphorus (triple
superphosphate, Bayóvar natural reactive phosphate, and Araxá natural phosphate)
and doses (0, 90, 180 and 360 kg of P 2 O 5 ha -1 ) in the presence and absence
of the filter cake (7.5 Mg ha - 1 , dry basis). Water saving irrigation was applied in a
single blade of 80 mm in the whole area. The principal components analysis evidenced
that, under the experimental conditions, the use of triple superphosphate (highest rate)
associated with filter cake increased tillers, final tillering and nutrients, especially P, Fe,
Mn and B, contributed with a significant relevance to the final crop improvements
(sucrose and stalks production, followed by TRS and TPH). Plant height and leaf K
contents were factors that may limit sugarcane production.

Corresponding Author: Ricardo Vasconcelos

Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho
Botucatu, SP BRAZIL

Corresponding Author Secondary

Information:

Corresponding Author's Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho

Corresponding Author's Secondary

Institution:

First Author: Ricardo Vasconcelos

First Author Secondary Information:

Order of Authors: Ricardo Vasconcelos

Camila Pires Cremasco

Hilário Júnior de Almeida

Anice Garcia

Alfredo Bonini Neto

Munir Mauad

Luís Roberto Almeida Gabriel Filho

Order of Authors Secondary Information:

Author Comments:

Response to Reviewers: Corrections have been made.

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1

1 Multivariate Behavior of Irrigated Sugarcane with Phosphate Fertilizer and Filter Cake
2 Management: Nutritional State, Biometry and Agroindustrial Performance
3
4 Ricardo de Lima Vasconcelosa*, Camila Pires Cremascob, Hilário Júnior de Almeidac, Anice
5 Garciad, Alfredo Bonini Netob, Munir Mauadc, Luís Roberto Almeida Gabriel Filhob
6
7 a
Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Campus Botucatu-SP, Avenida
8 Universitária, nº 3780 – CEP 18610-034 – Altos do Paraíso - Botucatu, SP. Brazil. Tel: +55 014 3880 7165.
9 *Corresponding author. E-mail: ricardo-matao-sp@hotmail.com (R. L. Vasconcelos). https:orcid.org0000-0003-
10 2537-6330
11 b
Campus Experimental de Tupã, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho. Rua Domingos da Costa
12 Lopes, n° 780 – CEP: 17602496 - Jardim Itaipu – Tupã, SP. Brazil. E-mail: camila.cremasco@unesp.br (C. P.
13 Cremasco); alfredo.bonini@unesp.br (A. Bonini Neto); gabriel.filho@unesp.br (L. R. A. Gabriel Filho).
14 c
Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados - Campus II: Rodovia
15 Dourados/Itahum, km 12 – CEP: 79804-970 – Dourados, SP. Brazil. E-mail: hilarioagro@yahoo.com.br (H. J.
16 Almeida); munirmauad@ufgd.edu.br (M. Mauad).
17 d
Faculdade Dr. Francisco Maeda (Fafram). Rodovia Jerônimo Nunes Macedo, km 1 - CEP: 14500-000 - Ituverava,
18 SP. Brazil. E-mail: anice@feituverava.com.br (A. Garcia).
19
20
21 Abstract
22 Purpose: Sugarcane is a crop growing in particularly in tropical areas, is subject to several
23 conditions related to nutrient availability, especially phosphorus (P), and irregular rainfalls.
24 Therefore, it requires the use of irrigation, especially water saving for plant emergence.
25 Multivariate techniques are effective in synthesizing high volumes of data, allowing the
26 filtering of relevant data. The aim of this study is to evaluate the nutritional state, biometry and
27 agroindustrial performance of irrigated sugarcane using multivariate techniques in function of
28 filter cake application and phosphate fertilization. Methods: The experiment was carried out in
29 a dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol, medium texture, in Itajobi, SP, Brazil. The experiment
30 comprised randomized blocks and three replications in a 3𝑥4𝑥2 factorial design comprising
31 three sources of phosphorus (triple superphosphate, Bayóvar natural reactive phosphate, and
32 Araxá natural phosphate) and doses (0, 90, 180 and 360 kg of P2O5 ha-1) in the presence and
33 absence of the filter cake (7.5 Mg ha-1, dry basis). Water saving irrigation was applied in a
34 single blade of 80 mm in the whole area. Results: The principal components analysis evidenced
35 that, that especially the use of triple superphosphate and filter cake was responsible for increases
36 in sugarcane biometrics, nutritional status and agroindustrial performance. Conclusions: The
37 use of triple superphosphate (highest rate) associated with filter cake increased tillers, final
38 tillering and nutrients, especially P, Fe, Mn and B, contributing to improvements in sucrose and
39 stalks production, followed by TRS and TPH). Plant height and leaf K contents were factors
40 that may limit sugarcane production.
41
42 Keywords: Final tillering; Stalks production; Sucrose; TRS; Multivariate statistics.
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
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50 1. Introduction
51
52 Agricultural production conditions in the tropics are highly adverse because the
53 production is subject to various processes, including those affecting nutrient availability and
54 absorption, especially phosphorus (P), and/or large variations in rainfalls.
55 Sugarcane comprises one of the largest cultivation areas in the tropics, therefore, it is
56 influenced by local conditions. Sugarcane plants, when deficient in P, decrease biometrics and
57 metabolic activities. At adequate levels, there are increases in the development, final production
58 and improvement in the clarification process of sugarcane juice (Rossetto et al., 2010; Santos
59 et al., 2010; Vasconcelos et al., 2017). The evaluation of different P sources and doses is a way
60 to reduce soil nutrient losses, particularly in the tropics, and to guarantee increases in
61 productivity and agroindustrial performance (Vasconcelos et al., 2017).
62 There is also a need for sustainability in the production system. It can be obtained by
63 using filter cake, an organic compound produced in large volumes, rich in organic matter,
64 containing macronutrients in its composition, especially P. In addition, the filter cake improves
65 the sugarcane agroindustrial performance, such as stalk and sugar production (Santos et al.,
66 2010; Vasconcelos et al., 2017). Because of the variations in rainfalls, it is necessary to use
67 saving irrigation, which has been largely used in sugarcane grown in the state of São Paulo.
68 This single-blade irrigation has the function of reducing possible negative effects of
69 periods with low rainfalls, especially on ratoon or the emergence of cane plant tillers. Irrigation,
70 rainfalls, P sources and P doses increase the complexity of evaluating relations and interactions
71 of the production system, requiring tools that broadly analyze all the variables involved, thus
72 encompassing the processes that comprise the productive environment. Exploratory analysis
73 (multivariate analysis) can differentiate and represent structural, spatial and temporal models,
74 reflecting all possible relations in the environment (Pinho, 2013).
75 The principal components analysis stands out. It results in values (eigenvalues) with a
76 high correlation to the evaluated attribute (in percentage). The value can be directly or inversely
77 proportional. The hierarchical grouping makes it possible to visually interpret the samples. The
78 shorter the distance, the higher the similarity between groups. Such analyses are important
79 because they indicate which variables are the most relevant and which processes are related to
80 their results. It is thus pertinent to relate P and water (irrigation + rainfalls) to the nutritional
81 status, biometrics and agroindustrial performance of sugarcane crops. This contributes to
82 decision-making in nutrient management within the productive system, reinforcing the
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83 importance of the present work.

84 The objective of this work is to evaluate the nutritional status, biometrics and
85 agroindustrial performance of irrigated sugarcane in function of filter cake application and
86 phosphate fertilization using principal components analysis.
87
88 2. Material and Methods
89
90 2.1. Experimental area (climate and soil)
91
92 The evaluated data were extracted from Vasconcelos (2013) concerning the experiment
93 conducted from June 2011 to June 2012 at the Fazenda Santo Antônio in the municipality of
94 Itajobi, SP (21°11' S and 49°1' W, altitude of 469 m, and climate Aw). According to Cepagri
95 (2012), the Aw climate has rainy summers and dry winters. The average annual temperature is
96 23.2°C, and the average rainfall is 1,328 mm. Twenty days after the installation of the
97 experiment, an 80 mm single-blade saving irrigation was applied due to low rainfalls (20 mm
98 in May). The normal and sequential water balances of the municipality of Itajobi, SP, were
99 obtained from Cepagri's 30-year climate database (2018), which adopted periods divided into
100 ten days for sequential water balances (Figure 1).
101 FIGURE 1
102 According to Embrapa (2013), the soil of the experimental area is classified as a
103 dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol, medium texture. For the physical-chemical characterization of
104 the soil, the analyses recommended by Camargo et al. (2009) and Raij et al. (2001),
105 respectively, were performed (Table 1).
106 TABLE 1
107
108 2.2. Treatments and cultivated variety
109
110 The doses of phosphorus applied were based on the reference dose for the state of São
111 Paulo: 180 kg ha-1 of P2O5 (Spironello et al., 1997). The experiment was completely randomized
112 in a 3x4x2 factorial design, i.e., three P sources: triple superphosphate (41% of P2O5 in citric
113 acid), Bayóvar reactive natural phosphate (14% P2O5 soluble in citric acid), and Araxá natural
114 phosphate (4% of P2O5 in citric acid), and four doses of P2O5 soluble in citric acid (0, 90, 180
115 and 360 kg ha-1) in the presence and absence of the filter cake (7.5 Mg ha-1, dry basis), and three
116 replications.
117 According to Spironello et al. (1997), the planting fertilizer was applied using 151.1 kg
 4

118 ha-1 of ammonium sulfate, 204.4 kg ha-1 of potassium chloride, and 24.8 kg ha-1 of sulfate. The
119 cover fertilization comprised 30 kg ha-1 of nitrogen (urea) and 160 kg ha-1 of K2O (potassium
120 chloride). The chemical (Alcarde, 2009) and organic matter (Walkley and Black, 1934)
121 evaluation of the filter cake yielded the following results: N (total): 3.4 g kg-1, P2O5 (total): 8.2
122 g kg-1, P2O5 (soluble 2% citric acid): 7.8 g kg-1, K2O: 2.2 g kg-1, CaO: 12.2 g kg-1, and 304.7 g
123 kg-1 of organic matter.
124 Were added to the filter cake 800 ml of BioPacksc® additive (containing organic acids
125 and phosphosolubilizing microorganisms) for composting eight tons of filter cake. After
126 homogenization of treatments and fertilization, they were deposited in the planting furrows at
127 a depth of 0.30 m. There was no incidence of pests, diseases or invasive plants in the
128 experimental area.
129 The experiment comprised plots of 112.5 m2 and the five lines were 1.5 m apart, each
130 line 15 m long. Only the useful area of 67.5 m2, which corresponds to the three central lines,
131 was used for evaluation purposes. A water saving single blade (80 mm) was applied in the
132 whole area. The sugarcane variety RB86 7515 was used. It stands out for its high growth speed,
133 tall size, erect growth habit, high stalk density, high sucrose content, and high agricultural
134 productivity (Pmgca, 2008).
135
136 2.3. Nutritional status, biometrics and agroindustrial performance of sugarcane
137
138 The nutritional status of sugarcane plants was determined at four and eight months by
139 the collection of 15 leaves +1 using the average third of each leaf sampled per plot, according
140 to the methodology of Miyazawa et al. (2009) and Raij and Cantarella (1997). After cleaning
141 the samples, they were placed in paper bags, then in an oven at 65ºC until they reached a
142 constant weight, and ground in a Willey mill. The number of stalks in one linear meter was
143 evaluated in the three central lines of each plot at the time of harvest. Plant height was obtained
144 by measuring from the base to the leaf+1 using a tape-measure.
145 At harvest at twelve months, twenty stalks from each plot were weighed, and the average
146 stalks production (Mg ha-1), fiber (%), tons of Pol ha-1 (TPH, in Mg ha-1), sucrose (%) and total
147 recoverable sugar (TRS, in kg ha-1) was calculated according to Consecana (2015).
148
149 2.4. Multivariate statistical analysis

150 The cluster analysis and the principal components analysis were performed using the
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151 Minitab 17®. According to Cruz et al. (2004), the first component constructs the representation
152 of all levels of relations of the evaluated factors, their coefficients of dissimilarity and the
153 Euclidean distance, among others; the second allows evaluating the variables as to their
154 relevance within the universe studied and in relation to the correlations in which they
155 participate.

156 3. Results

157 There was no significant response to nutrient content at four months. At eight months,
158 leaf nitrogen (N) content in sugarcane plants showed no significant response to the applied
159 treatments. The use of the dendrogram was able to indicate the behavior of nutrients in
160 sugarcane plants, defining three distinct groups (Figure 2).
161 FIGURE 2
162 The first group was composed by Ca, Cu, Zn, Fe and P. Fe and P have a high similarity
163 of behavior. The second group consists of Mg, S, Mn, B, in which Mn and B are very similar
164 to each other. K, with a more external position, has a different behavior from the others.
165 The first component (PC1) and the second component (PC2) explained 73.6 and 9.4%
166 of the variables studied, respectively (Table 2). The PC1 explained P (0.331), Mg (0.306), S
167 (0.332), Mn (0.348), Cu (0.323), Fe (0.349), B (0.347) and Zn (0.329).
168 The visual presentation of the main components and the associations with the studied
169 variables can be better evaluated by the factor load graph (Figure 3), which represents the
170 importance of each variable within each factor (Table 2).
171 FIGURE 3

172 For biometric evaluations, the dendrogram indicates that the variables tillers and final
173 tillering presented similar responses, differing from the variable height, which has less
174 similarity than the others (Figure 4).
175 FIGURE 4
176 For the evaluation of principal components, the multivariate analysis presented an
177 explanatory index of 82.9% for the first component (PC1) and 10.4% for the second component
178 (PC2) (Table 3).
179 TABLE 3

180 The PC1 explains the variables height at eight months (0.565), tillers at six months
181 (0.589) and final tillering (0.577), which positively correlate with PC1. Thus, there is a direct
 6

182 correlation between variables and PC1. The PC2 explains the variable height at eight months (-
183 0.790) and final tillering (0.585). The first has an inverse correlation and the second a direct
184 correlation with PC2.
185 It has the function of distinguishing the most expressive correlations between the
186 variables and the main components (Figure 5).
187 FIGURE 5
188 The production of stalks and sucrose are highly similar in function of treatments. The
189 TRS, fiber and TPH are less similar (Figure 6).
190 FIGURE 6
191 According to the multivariate analysis, the variables studied explained 72.2% and 9.5%
192 of the total variation in the first component (PC1) and the second component (PC2),
193 respectively (Table 4).
194 TABLE 4
195 The variables stalks and sucrose production are related, demonstrating that these
196 variables have the same representativeness in the graph, that is, they have high positive factor
197 loads in PC1 (Figure 7).
198 FIGURE 7
199
200 4. Discussion
201
202 Experimental conditions and treatments strongly influenced P, Fe, Mn and B as they
203 have a high similarity of responses. The demonstration of the graphic behavior of nutrients in
204 sugarcane plants is shown in Table 2.
205 TABLE 2
206 These elements correlate the most with this principal component. Their positive values
207 indicate that an increase in these variables increases PC1 values. The PC2 explained K (-0.901),
208 a high negative correlation, meaning that increases in K values decrease PC2. One of the
209 advantages of using principal components is the condensation of the studied universe and the
210 determination of all interactions. In the present work, there was a great correlation between P,
211 Mg, S, Mn, Cu, Fe, B and Zn, and a strong influence on crop productivity.
212 Regarding factor analysis, all nutrients contributed to factor 1, except for K. The largest
213 contributions were Fe, Mn, B and S. However, for factor 2, K contributed negatively (Table 2).
214 It should be noted that the differentiated behavior of K can be attributed to very low and
 7

215 low contents at the depths 0-20 and 20-40 cm, respectively (Table 1).
216 There is confirmation of a strong negative association (factor load) of K in PC2,
217 however, most nutrients have a positive association (factor load) with PC1, and there is a great
218 similarity of behavior between P, Fe, Mn and B. In addition, the filter cake used has low K
219 content. Its composition is variable and depends on edaphoclimatic factors, management and
220 variety. Adorna et al. (2013) reported potassium contents in the filter cake ranging from 3.8 to
221 4.5 g kg-1. Caione et al. (2015) reported 3.4 g kg-1 of potassium contents in the filter cake.
222 Filter cake is usually rich in organic matter. It has a great capacity to provide/retain
223 potassium, calcium and magnesium. It is also nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and boron reserves
224 (Bot and Benites, 2005). This information corroborates the results obtained. In addition, copper,
225 iron and manganese are adsorbed or available through organic matter. In relation to P, the
226 organic matter contained in the filter cake may have released acids that compete for the same
227 adsorption sites, thus increasing the presence of available P in the soil solution (Pavinato and
228 Rosolem, 2008). The application of 5 Mg ha-1 of filter cake was able to supply 15 and 50% of
229 sugarcane needs in relation to potassium and magnesium, respectively (Nunes Junior, 2008).
230 The availability of Fe by the filter cake to sugarcane plants probably occurred due to the
231 degradation of Fe oxides from organic matter into Fe ions (Almeida Junior et al., 2011; Gupta,
232 2011). For S, the mineralization of organic matter promotes the passage of the organic form
233 into sulfate in the soil solution. Therefore, its contents in the soil and consequently in the leaf
234 depend on the organic matter content (Tiecher et al., 2012).
235 Regarding Cu, due to its calcophilic nature, its high presence in the organic matter of
236 the filter cake is related to the affinity with amino and cyan groups present in the organic matter
237 structure (Santos, 2014). The micronutrients Mn and Zn present high contents in the filter cake.
238 They comprise 500-800 mg kg-1 and 150-220 mg kg-1, respectively (Nunes Junior,
239 2008). Organic matter is one of the main sources of B, and its release is due to the action of
240 microorganisms (Berger; Pratt, 1963). The high contents of organic matter in the filter cake
241 potentiated its availability to plants. This information reinforces the benefits of the filter cake
242 as a rich source of macro- and micronutrients. It can thus be applied as a material that
243 complements the mineral fertilizers in many crops. The height of stalks at eight months is the
244 only variable with a high negative correlation with PC2. Despite characterizing a universe of
245 less explanatory relevance, it may have become a limiting factor for a higher sugarcane
246 productivity under the experimental conditions and the treatments. Tillers at six months and
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247 final tillering are more relevant in PC1, while height at eight months is more relevant in PC2.
248 The factor analysis indicated that all biometric variables contributed strongly to the
249 explanation of the factor 1. However, for the factor 2, there was no contribution of the variables.
250 To complement the understanding of the variables and their relevance, a biplot graph was
251 plotted.
252 The variables tillers and final tillering are grouped in the quadrant I. The height is in the
253 quadrant IV. Tillers and final tillering are related, showing that these variables have the same
254 expression in the graph, that is, they have high positive factor loads in PC1. The variable height
255 also contributes to this process because, besides being relevant to the system, it is close to the
256 central region of the graph. However, it represents an extreme between variables.
257 Stalks height, tillers and diameter are determinant for sugarcane crop productivity
258 (Santana et al., 2010). The application of 5 Mg ha-1 of filter cake in a eutrophic Red-Yellow
259 Argisol cultivated with the variety RB92 579 resulted in increases in plant height and tillers,
260 similar as mineral fertilization (Costa et al., 2016). However, the tillers of the variety RB79 579
261 cultivated in a dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol showed an increase upon the application of filter
262 cake (Gonçalves, 2018).
263 Maximum tillering occurs until the sixth month of cultivation. After this period, there
264 is a decrease due to the competition of tillers for water, nutrients and solar radiation (Oliveira
265 et al., 2010). The application of saving irrigation, at the 60-80 mm water depth, reverts in
266 average increases of 12-15 Mg ha-1 in sugarcane crops (Pereira et al., 2015). Therefore, it has a
267 positive effect on variables related to crop production. The height of sugarcane plants under a
268 saving irrigation with a 60-mm water blade was higher compared to the height of plants that
269 were not irrigated, resulting in an increased final crop production (Silva, 2015).
270 For the variable agroindustrial performance, the data grouping of the dendrogram was
271 efficient to define the analyzed variables. It is possible to distinguish the production of stalks
272 and sucrose from the other variables.
273 The behavior of stalks and sucrose production shows that the productive conditions
274 strongly affected these variables. The most external variables TPH, fiber and TRS indicate that,
275 according to this analysis, they are distant from each other and that the treatments applied
276 promoted a smaller increase in relation to the production of stalks and sucrose.
277 For PC1, the variables stalks production, fiber, TPH, sucrose and TRS are related. Only
278 stalks production (0.470) and sucrose (0.476) stood out, which are the variables that most
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279 correlate with the first principal component (PC1) (positive correlation). Therefore, an increase
280 in these variables increases the values of PC1. Therefore, the production of stalks and sucrose
281 of sugarcane plants are the major factors responsible for a better agroindustrial performance.
282 For PC2, there are strong negative correlations for TRS (-0.607) and positive for TPH
283 (0.735). Thus, an increase in TPH values increases PC2 values, and increases in TRS values
284 decrease PC2. There was no relevance for the other variables. Despite being represented within
285 a lower explanatory level of agroindustrial performance, TPH and TRS promoted, respectively,
286 an increase and a decrease in final productions.
287 The use of principal components has the advantage of condensing an entire complex
288 system of related data in order to provide information of the real importance of each variable
289 studied and its connection with the other variables. In this work, there was a high relevance for
290 the variables stalks production, sucrose, TRS and TPH, which are extremely correlated with
291 each other and greatly influenced the final productions of the crop.
292 Factor analysis (Table 4) can analyze the structure of a set of interrelated variables. It
293 aims to build a relevance relation among the variables and the newly generated factors (Marôco,
294 2011).
295 It can be inferred that considering the edaphoclimatic conditions and the treatments
296 applied, the TRS presented a negative correlation, representing losses in sucrose recovery.
297 However, there was a positive correlation for the production of stalks, sucrose and TPH,
298 that is, the productions of these variables were higher than TRS losses, which provided an
299 increase in agroindustrial performance. Table 4 shows the principal components of sugarcane
300 agroindustrial performance under P sources and doses in the presence and absence of filter cake.
301 Despite a direct and positive relation between stalks and sucrose production in PC1, there
302 were not low average temperatures and high average rainfalls during the months prior to harvest
303 (Figure 1b). This may have affected the sugarcane maturation process, possibly decreasing
304 sucrose levels, which would be reinforced by the strong negative correlation of TRS in PC2.
305 The negative correlation of TRS reflects a low recovery of sucrose by the industrial
306 process. However, the high correlation of TPH indicates that the variable stalks production
307 directly influenced sugar production.
308 The association of climatic and nutritional conditions may interfere in the sugarcane
309 maturation mechanism. The excess of fertilizer or water increases the vegetative vigor of plants,
310 which delays the process of transfer and accumulation of sucrose in stalks (Toppa et al., 2010).
 10

311 According to the same authors, ripening is a process that requires a low soil temperature and
312 humidity. The first reduces nutrient absorption, decreasing plant development and promoting
313 sugar accumulation, and the second increases dehydration (low water content in tissues),
314 resulting in the transformation of reducing sugars into sucrose.
315 Corroborating the present work, Fravet et al. (2010), upon using doses of filter cake in
316 the variety SP81 3250 cultivated in a Red-Yellow Latosol with a clayey texture, observed
317 increases in stalks production and TPH. However, there were decreases in sucrose content. A
318 similar behavior was also reported: increases in stalks production and TPH in the exclusive
319 application of phosphorus (triple superphosphate) in the variety RB86 7515 grown in a
320 dystrophic Yellow Latosol (Calheiros et al., 2012). By using the filter cake and P doses together
321 (triple superphosphate) in the variety RB86 7515 grown in a dystroferric Red Argisol, there
322 was an increase in sugar production (Santos et al., 2011). The variables concentrated in the
323 quadrants I (TPH, fiber and stalks production) and IV (sucrose and TRS).
324 In addition, the variables TPH and TRS also contribute to this process because, besides
325 being relevant to the system, they are close to the unit circle. However, they characterize
326 extremes among all variables. In Nitisol and Latosol cultivated with the variety RB85 5453 and
327 subjected to fertilization with P sources in the presence and absence of filter cake, the maximum
328 stalks production in Nitisol was obtained with the exclusive use of the mineral source, while
329 for Latosol, a mineral source associated with filter cake provided the highest stalks production
330 (Moda et al., 2015). By evaluating eight sugarcane genotypes grown in different soils in Florida,
331 there was an increasing and positive relation between stalks and sugar production under
332 increasing P doses (Glaz et al., 2000). Similarly, analyzing varieties in Florida soils, McCray et
333 al. (2010) observed increases in sugar and stalks production.
334 However, there were different responses for the variety RB86 3129 cultivated in soils in
335 Pernambuco. For the production of stalks and TPH, the highest values were obtained with the
336 lowest doses of P, which indicates a high deficiency of this element in the soil combined with
337 low rainfalls, as this variety was developed for wetter locations (Simão Neto et al., 2012). The
338 authors also pointed out that, although TRS was not influenced by P doses, the highest values
339 were found in soils with a higher P deficiency.
340 In a study on P doses and organomineral fertilizer, Teixeira et al. (2014) observed that
341 the variety IAC 95-5000 produced stalks and sugar with similar values under both treatments,
342 and that there was no effect of treatments on sucrose and TRS. The results above corroborate
 11

343 with the responses obtained in the present work. The use of filter cake, associated with the
344 highest P doses and/or the use of triple superphosphate at the highest dose, provided the highest
345 stalks and TRS productions.
346 However, for TRS, it provided productions to a lesser extent. For sucrose and TPH, the
347 increases occurred with the application of associated filter cake at the highest P dose and/or the
348 highest triple superphosphate dose and/or in association of triple superphosphate with filter
349 cake. A sugarcane plant that has an adequate P content and is under suitable production
350 conditions can express a good relation between stalks and sugar production as it is able to
351 increase its production and sucrose levels, and potentially recoverable sugar contents, through
352 a photosynthetic process without nutritional limitations. Therefore, all variations in the
353 observed responses should be attributed to the source material of the filter cake, the
354 edaphoclimatic conditions, the solubility and doses of the P source, and the genetics of the
355 cultivated variety.
356
357 5. Conclusions
358
359 The use of triple superphosphate (highest rate) associated with filter cake increased
360 tillers, final tillering and nutrients, especially P, Fe, Mn and B, contributed with a significant
361 relevance to the final crop improvements (sucrose and stalks production, followed by TRS and
362 TPH). Plant height and leaf K contents were factors that may limit sugarcane production.
363
364 Acknowledgements
365
366 The study was funded by CAPES and FAPESP. The authors thank the Catanduva Mill,
367 Itajobi, SP (Virgolino de Oliveira’s Group) for their constant support.
368
369 Compliance with Ethical Standards
370 Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
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380 References
381
382 Adorna JC, Crusciol CAC, Rossato OB (2013) Fertilization with filter cake and micronutrients
383 in plant cane. Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Solo, São Paulo, 37 (3): 649-657.
384 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-06832013000300011
385 Alcarde JC (2009) Manual de análise de fertilizantes. FEALQ, Piracicaba. 279.
386 Berger KC, Pratt PF (1963) Advances in secondary and micronutrient fertilization. In: Mcvickar
387 MH, Bridger GL, Nelson LB, (eds). Fertilizer Technology and Usage. Madison, WI: Soil
388 Science Society of America. pp. 287–340
389 Bot A, Benites J (2005) The importance of soil organic matter: Key to drought-resistant soil
390 and sustaines foof and production. Roma, FAO: Soils Bulletin 80. 95.
391 Calheiros AS, Oliveira MW, Ferreira VM, Barbosa GVB, Santiago AD, Aristides EVS (2012)
392 Production of biomass, from sugar and protein in function of sugarcane varieties and
393 phosphorous fertilization. Semina: Ciênc. Agrar., Londrina, 33 (2): 809-818.
394 http://dx.doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2012v33n2p809
395 Caione G, Prado RM, Campos CNS, Moda LR, Vasconcelos RL, Pizauro Júnior JM (2015)
396 Response of sugarcane in a Red Ultisol to phosphorus rates, phosphorus sources, and filter
397 cake. Scient. World J., 2015. 1 - 10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/405970
398 Camargo AO, Moniz AC, Jorge JA, Valadares JMAS (2009) Métodos de análise química,
399 mineralógica e física de solos do Instituto Agronômico de Campinas. IAC, Campinas. 77p.
400 Cepagri. Centro de Pesquisas Meteorológicas e Climáticas Aplicadas a Agricultura. Clima dos
401 municípios paulistas. Disponível em: <http://www.cpa.unicamp.br/outras-
402 informacoes/clima_muni_253.html>. Acesso em: 10 fev. 2018.
403 Consecana. Conselho dos Produtores de Cana-de-Açúcar, Açúcar e Álcool do Estado de São
404 Paulo (2015) Manual de instruções. 6ª ed. Consecana. Piracicaba. 81.
405 Costa NR, Lima RA, Silva GDS, Matoso AO, Garcia GC, Romeiro ER, Marasca I, Souza DM,
406 Lima CGR (2016) Aplicação de torta de filtro no sulco de plantio sobre o desenvolvimento
407 inicial da cana-de-açúcar. Tecnol. & Ciênc. Agropec., João Pessoa. 10 (6): 1 - 7.
408 Cruz CD, Regazzi AJ, Carneiro PCS (2004) Modelos biométricos aplicados ao melhoramento
409 genético, vol. 1. Viçosa: Editora UFV. pp. 171- 201.
410 Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária – EMBRAPA (2013) Sistema brasileiro de
411 classificação de solos. 3.ed. Brasília. 353.
412 Fravet PRF, Soares RAB, Lana RMQ, Lana AMQ, Korndörfer GH (2010) Efeito de doses de
413 torta de filtro e modo de aplicação sobre a produtividade e qualidade tecnológica da
414 soqueira de cana-de-açúcar. Ciênc. Agrotecnol., Lavras. 34 (3): 618-624.
415 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-70542010000300013.
416 Glaz B, Powell G, Perdomo R, Ulloa MF (2000) Sugarcane response to phosphorus fertilizer
417 in relation to soil test recommendations on Everglades Histosols. Agron. J., Madison, v.
418 92: 375–380. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s100870050047
419 Gonçalves CA (2018) Biossólido e torta de filtro na composição de fertilizantes organominerais
420 para a cultura da cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum sp). 116 f. Tese (Doutorado em
421 Biocombustíveis) - Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. Uberlândia.
422 Mccray JM, Rice RW, Luo Y, Ji S (2010) Sugarcane response to phosphorus fertilizer on Everglades
423 Histosols. Agron. J., Madison. 102 (5):1468 - 1477. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2010.0046
424 Miyazawa M, Pavan MA, Muraoka T, Carmo CAFS, Melo WJ (2009) Análise química de
425 tecido vegetal. In: Silva, F. C. DA (Ed.). Manual de análises químicas de solos, plantas e
426 fertilizantes. 2. ed. Brasília: EMBRAPA. pp. 191– 233.
427
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428 Moda LR, Prado RM, Caione G, Campos CNS, Silva EC, Flores RA (2015) Effect of sources
429 and rates of phosphorus associated with filter cake on sugarcane nutrition and yield.
430 Austral. J. Crop Sci., Melbourne. 9 (6): 477 - 485.
431 Nunes Júnior D (2008) Torta de filtro: de resíduo a produto nobre. IDEA News, Ribeirão Preto.
432 8 (92): 22-30.
433 Oliveira ECA, Oliveira RI, Andrade BMT, Freire FJ, Lira Junior MA, Machado PR (2010)
434 Crescimento e acúmulo de matéria seca em variedades de cana-de-açúcar cultivadas sob
435 irrigação plena. Rev. Bras. Eng. Agríc. Amb., Campina Grande. 14 (9): 951-
436 960. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1415-43662010000900007.
437 Pavinato OS, Rosolem CA (2008) Effects of organic compounds produced by plants on soil
438 nutrient availability. Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Solo. 32 (3): 911 - 920.
439 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-06832008000300001
440 Pereira RM, Junior JA, Casaroli D, Sales DL, Rodriguez WDM, Souza JMF (2015) Viabilidade
441 econômica da irrigação de cana-de-açúcar no cerrado brasileiro. Rev. Irriga & Inovagri,
442 Botucatu. 1 (2): 149-157. http://dx.doi.org/10.15809/irriga.2015v1n2p149
443 Pinho REE (2013) Aplicação de vinhaça em cana-de-açúcar por gotejamento subsuperficial:
444 dinâmica de íons e balanço de água. 97f. Tese (Doutorado em Física do Ambiente Agrícola)
445 – Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba.
446 Pmgca. Programa de Melhoramento Genético da Cana-de-Açúcar. Variedades RB de cana-de-
447 açúcar (2008) Centro de Ciências Agrárias/UFSCAR.
448 Raij B, Andrade JC, Cantarella H, Quaggio JA (2001) Análise química para avaliação da
449 fertilidade de solos tropicais. IAC, Campinas. 285.
450 Raij B, Cantarella H (1997) Outras culturas industriais. In: Raij B, Cantarella H, Quaggio JA,
451 Furlani AMC (Ed). Recomendações de adubação e calagem para o Estado de São Paulo. 2.
452 ed. Campinas: IAC, 1997. (Boletim, 100). pp. 233-243.
453 Rossetto R, Dias FLF, Vitti AC, Prado Júnior JPQP (2010) Fósforo. In: Dinardo-Miranda L,
454 Vasconcelos ACM, Landell MGA (Ed.). Cana-de-açúcar. Campinas: Instituto Agronômico,
455 pp. 271-288.
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457 variedades de cana-de-açúcar. Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Agrar., Recife. 5 (4): 460-467, 2010.
458 Santos DH, Silva MA, Tiritan CS, Foloni JSS, Echer FR (2011) Qualidade tecnológica da cana-
459 de-açúcar sob adubação com torta de filtro enriquecida com fosfato solúvel. Rev. Bras.
460 Eng. Agr. Amb., Campina Grande. 15 (5): 443-449. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1415-
461 43662011000500002
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463 adubação com torta de filtro enriquecida com fosfato solúvel. Pesq. Agropec. Tropic,
464 Goiânia. 40 (4): 454-461. http://dx.doi.org/10.5216/pat.v40i4.7272
465 Silva DN (2015) Comportamento de genótipos de cana-de-açúcar com irrigação de salvamento
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468 Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Jaboticabal.
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470 (2012) Industrial characteristics of sugarcane under phosphate fertilization in soils of
471 Pernambuco Brazil. Rev. Bras. Eng. Agríc. Amb., Campina Grande. 16 (4): 347-354.
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473 Departamento de Estatística UFSM. 215.
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477 Rossetto R (1997) Outras culturas industriais. In: Raij B, Cantarella H, Quaggio JA, Furlani
478 AMC (Ed). Recomendações de adubação e calagem para o Estado de São Paulo. 2. ed. IAC,
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Table Click here to access/download;Table;Journal of Soil Science
and Plant Nutriton TABLES.docx

1 Table 1 Soil chemical and granulometry analyses of the experimental area Fazenda Santo
2 Antonio, Itajobi, SP (2011).
Depth pH OMa P K Ca Mg H+Al CECb Tc V%d
(cm) CaCl2 g dm-3 mg dm-3
-------------- mmolc dm-3-------------
0-20 6.1 10.0 5.0 1.1 29.0 13.0 10.0 42.3 52.3 81
20-40 5.6 10.0 4.0 0.9 25.0 9.0 12.0 34.8 46.8 74
Depth
Granulometry
(cm)
0-20 Clay Silt Fine sand Coarse sand
-1
------------------------------------------ g kg -----------------------------------------
209 40 464 287
3 OMa: soil organic matter, CECb: cation exchange capacity, Tc: CEC + (H+Al), Vd: base saturation.
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
 2

42
43
44 Table 2 Principal components (PC1 and PC2) and factor analysis of the nutritional status of
45 irrigated sugarcane at eight months in function of filter cake application and phosphate
46 fertilization.
Principal component
Explained variance = 83% PC1 PC2
73.6% 9.4%
1
Variable Correlation
Phosphorus - P 0.331 0.057
Potassium - K 0.159 -0.901
Calcium - Ca 0.292 0.193
Magnesium - Mg 0.306 -0.228
Sulfur - S 0.332 0.015
Manganese - Mn 0.348 -0.074
Copper - Cu 0.323 0.139
Iron - Fe 0.349 0.068
Boron - B 0.347 0.019
Zinc - Zn 0.329 0.255
Factor analysis
Correlation1
Variable Factor 1 Factor 2
Phosphorus - P 0.899 0.055
Potassium - K 0.432 -0.874
Calcium - Ca 0.791 0.187
Magnesium - Mg 0.831 -0.221
Sulfur - S 0.901 0.014
Manganese - Mn 0.944 -0.071
Copper - Cu 0.875 0.135
Iron - Fe 0.948 0.066
Boron - B 0.941 0.018
Zinc - Zn 0.892 0.247
1
47 Correlations considered in the interpretation of the principal components and factor analyses.
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
 3

63 Table 3 Principal components (PC1 and PC2) and factor analysis of the nutritional status of
64 irrigated sugarcane at eight months in function of filter cake application and phosphate
65 fertilization.
Principal component
Explained variance = 93.3% PC1 PC2
82.9% 10.4%
Variable Correlation1
Height at eight months 0.565 -0.790
Tillers at six months 0.589 0.185
Final tillering 0.577 0.585
Correlation1
Factor analysis
Variable Factor 1 Factor 2
Height at eight months 0.892 -0.440
Tillers at six months 0.930 0.103
Final tillering 0.910 0.326
1
66 Correlations considered in the interpretation of the principal components and factor analyses.
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
 4

101 Table 4 Principal components (PC1 and PC2) and factor analysis of the agroindustrial
102 performance of irrigated sugarcane in function of filter cake application and phosphate
103 fertilization.
Principal component
PC1 PC2
Explained variance = 81.7% 72.2% 9.5%
Variable Correlation1
Stalks production (Mg ha-1) 0.470 0.005
Fiber (%) 0.427 0.172
-1
TPH (Mg ha ) 0.421 0.735
Sucrose (%) 0.476 -0.250
TRS (kg ha-1) 0.439 -0.607
Factor analysis
Variable Correlation1
Factor 1 Factor 2
-1
Stalks production (Mg ha ) 0.892 0.004
Fiber (%) 0.811 0.119
TPH (Mg ha-1) 0.800 0.508
Sucrose (%) 0.905 -0.173
TRS (kg ha-1) 0.834 -0.419
104 1
Correlations considered in the interpretation of the principal components and factor analyses.
105
Figure Click here to access/download;Figure;Journal of Soil Science
and Plant Nutriton FIGURES.docx

1 Fig. 1 Normal water balance (a) and sequential water balance (b) of the municipality of Itajobi,
2 SP (June 2011 to June 2012).
3
4
5 a
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
22
23 b
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41 Month
42 Normal water balance (a) - representation of the annual average for 30 years of climate data. Sequential
43 water balance (b) – ten days scale representation in each month of the growing period (June 2011 to
44 June 2012).
 2

45 Fig. 2 Dendrogram of the nutritional status of irrigated sugarcane plants at eight months in
46 function of filter cake application and phosphate fertilization.

60.78
Similarity (%)

73.85

86.93

100.00
us n nc pe
r m um lfu
r se n
um
or Iro Zi iu si ne ro si
ph o p
a lc e Su a Bo s
os
C C
a gn an
g
ot
a
Ph M M P

Nutrients

47
48
49
50
 3

51 Fig. 3 Contribution of factor loads to the nutritional status of sugarcane plants irrigated at eight
52 months in function of filter cake application and phosphate fertilization.
53
0.4
Zinc
Calcium
0.2 Copper
Iron
Phosphorus
Boron
Sulfur
0.0 Manganese
Second Factor

Magnesium
-0.2

-0.4

-0.6

-0.8 Potassium

-1.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
First Factor
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
 4

79 Fig. 4 Dendrogram of biometry interrelations of irrigated sugarcane plants at six and eight
80 months in function of filter cake application and phosphate fertilization.

84.76
Similarity (%)

89.84

94.92

100.00
Height Tillers Final tillering
Biometrics
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
 5

106 Fig. 5 Dispersion (biplot) of the principal components PC1 and PC2 of irrigated sugarcane
107 biometrics at six and eight months in function of filter cake application and phosphate
108 fertilization.

1.0

0.5
Final tillering
Second Component

Tillers
0.0
Height

-0.5

-1.0

-1.5

-2.0
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
First Component
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
 6

135 Fig. 6 Dendrogram of stalks production (Mg ha-1), sucrose (%), TRS (kg ha- 1), fiber (%) and
136 TPH (Mg ha-1) of irrigated sugarcane in function of filter cake application and phosphate
137 fertilization.

77.14
Similarity (%)

84.76

92.38

100.00
Stalk production Sucrose TRS Fiber TPH
Agroindustrial performance
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
 7

164
165 Fig. 7 Dispersion (biplot) of the principal components PC1 and PC2 containing the sugarcane
166 variables (agroindustrial performance) under P doses (P sources in the presence and absence of
167 filter cake).

1
Second Component

TPH

StalkFiber
production
0 Sucrose
TRS

-1

-2
-5.0 -2.5 0.0 2.5 5.0 7.5
First Component
168