Needs of Sugar Cane for Silicon when Growing in Highly Weathered Latosols

Abstract

SUMMARYYields of sugar cane in low-silicon soils were significantly increased by the application of both calcium silicate and coral sand. Over and above the significant response to Ca and increase in soil pH, there was a highly significant response to Si. The overall response to the higher level of calcium silicate application (14·2 tons/ha.) over the control was 28·3 tons of cane per hectare. Neither calcium silicate nor coral sand influenced the sucrose content of the juice.