Effects of corrective and maintenance fertilizations on stalk yield, leaf mineral composition, and technological characteristics of two sweet sorghum cultivars grown under field conditions in the "Paraiba swamp", Brazil

Abstract

Two sweet sorghum cultivars, Brandes 501 and CMS-616, were grown in the presence of the following treatments: Control (T), Maintenance fertilization (Am), Corrective fertilization (Ac) and Am+Ac. There was a significant effect of treatments on the results of the first cutting, in terms of yield of stalk. No residual influence, however, was observed in the ratoon. In both cutings cv. CMS-616 gave higher yields than cv. BR-501. Fertilization decreased total solids in the juice of cv. BR 501 in both harvests; positive correlations were found to exist between leaf P and Ca in the case of the cv. CMS 616 only; adequate levels of these elements were, respectively, 0.33 and 0.29%.