Leaching of nitrogen, potassium, calcium and magnesium in a sandy soil cultivated with sugarcane

A lysimeter experiment was carried out with sugarcane aiming to evaluate the leaching of nitrogen derived from either urea (15N) or the soil/sugarcane crop residues. The leaching of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ was also evaluated. The experiment was a factorial 2x4. The influencing factors were: firstly, the differential addition of two kinds of sugarcane remains to the soil, simulating conditions of cane- plantation renewal after the cane crop harvest, with and without previous straw removal by burning; secondly, four doses of N: 0, 30, 60, and 90 kg ha-1. During the experimental period the total volume of water received by the sugarcane-soil system was 2,015 mm, with 1,255 mm as precipitation and 760 mm as irrigation. The loss of N by leaching from the fertilizer (15N) was not detected. In the first three weeks the largest losses of N by leaching occurred, originating from the soil/sugarcane remains-N. The mean of leached N during the experimental period of 11 months was of 4.5 kg ha-1. The mean losses of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ were of 13, 320 and 80 kg ha-1, respectively. Realizou-se um experimento em lisímetro cultivado com cana-de-açúcar para avaliar a lixiviação do N, oriundo da uréia (15N) ou do solo e de restos culturais, bem como do K+, Ca2+e Mg2+. O experimento foi um fatorial 2x4. Os fatores foram: 1) adição diferenciada de dois tipos de restos culturais ao solo, simulando condições de reforma de canavial após a colheita da cana, com ou sem prévia despalha a fogo; 2) quatro doses de N: 0, 30, 60 e 90 kg ha-1. Durante o período experimental o volume total de água recebido pela cultura foi de 2.015 mm, sendo 1.255 mm de precipitações e 760 mm de irrigações. Não foi verificada perda por lixiviação do N derivado do fertilizante (15N). Nas três primeiras semanas ocorreram as maiores perdas de N por lixiviação que foram provenientes do solo ou dos restos culturais. O valor médio do N lixiviado durante o período experimental de 11 meses foi de 4,5 kg ha-1. Os valores médios de perdas de K+, Ca2+ e Mg2+ foram de 13, 320 e 80 kg ha-1, respectivamente.