Phosphorus Fertilizer Calibration for Sugarcane on Everglades Histosols

A calibrated soil test for phosphorus (P) fertilizer application to sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) grown on organic soils in southern Florida is an important best-management practice for minimizing P loads in water draining to the Everglades. The current calibration uses water as the soil extractant, which has the limitations of being very sensitive to pH and being most applicable to short-season crops. Phosphorus fertilizer rate studies at six locations (20 total crop years) were analyzed to develop an updated soil-test P calibration for sugarcane on organic soils. Phosphorus extracted with water, acetic acid, and Bray 2 did not consistently relate well to crop response. A new P soil-test calibration for sugarcane is proposed based on Mehlich 3 soil extraction, with a maximum rate of 36 kg P ha−1 with ≤ 10 g P m−3 in preplant soil samples and no P recommended with >30 g P m−3.