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111 HUME LIBRARY


 Everglades Station Mimeo Report 71-2 JAN 73

 SOIL SAMPLING AND FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATIONS SORSUGARCANE
 GROWN FOR SUGAR IN SOUTH FLORI .A.S. Univ. of Florida

 G. J. Gascho and C. E. Freemanr/
 I. INTRODUCTION

 Experiments on sugarcane nutrition at the Everglades Experiment Station date
 back to 1928.. Work of this nature has progressed intermittently during the past
 50 years. During the period 1943 to 1948 Dr. W. T. Forsee, Jr. developed soil
 testing methods which correlate well with crop response on the organic soils of
 the Everglades. A continued effort is being made to improve recommendations made
 from soil test results. Presently, field experiments are being conducted in several
 areas in order to improve our recommendations. A major effort is being made to
 consider the various soils and growing conditions as well as yield goals in this
 research so that fertilizer recommendations may soon take these two factors into
 consideration. A study to determine if there are different nutritional needs for
 the various varieties is also in progress.

 This Mimeo Report is a supplement to Everglades Station Mimeo Report 65-18
 where all crops are.considered and the specific methods used in the laboratory
 are given in detail.

 II. SAMPLING THE SOIL

 Soil test information can never be better than the soil sampling procedure.
 Experiments at the Everglades Station and at other stations have shown that sample
 taking is nearly always the weakest point in soil testing procedures. This is
 particular true for stubble cane soil sampling.

 A. Preplanting Samples.

 It is recommended that soil sampling take place at least 3 to 4 weeks before
 planting. This timetable allows adequate opportunity for drying, screening,
 analyses, and return of the recommendations before fertilizers must be ordered.


 Samples
a soil probe.
should be dug
from the side
use.


may be taken with a round point shovel, or more satisfactorily with
When using a shovel, a small hole which has a nearly vertical side
to a depth of 10 to 12 inches then a narrow slice should be obtained
and about a 1-inch ribbon cut out from the middle of this slice for


 An X-pattern should be made on the field. Starting in one corner and
proceeding to the farthest corner, 10 soil samples should be collected to a depth
of 10 to 12 inches, however areas within 200 feet of a lime rock road or a ditch
spoil bank should not be sampled. These areas will be affected by lime incorporation
thus making the pH higher and the phosphorus lower than the bulk of the field.


l/Assistant Professor (Assistant Plant Nutritionist) Everglades Experiment
 Station and (Assistant in Agronomy), Cooperative Extension Service, University
 of Florida