Nitrogen Management in Sugarcane Agriculture

Sugarcane cultivation underpins global sugar and bioenergy production but is heavily dependent on nitrogen (N) fertilisers, which often lead to inefficiencies, greenhouse-gas emissions and nutrient leaching. Optimising N management in sugarcane systems seeks to balance crop demand with environmental stewardship. Strategies range from refining fertiliser rate, timing and placement to the deployment of enhanced-efficiency formulations, including controlled-release fertilisers and nitrification inhibitors. Integration of soil moisture monitoring, precision application technologies and complementary organic amendments can further elevate nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and limit nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Advances in cultivar selection, bioregulators and intercropping systems also contribute to sustainable intensification, enabling sugarcane growers to achieve high yields, mitigate off-site N losses and reduce the carbon footprint of production.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent work has elucidated the microbial pathways driving N₂O release in tropical fields. In a comparative field trial, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) were identified as the principal contributors to N₂O emissions under urea fertilisation. The study demonstrated that substituting ammonium-based sources with nitrate-based fertilisers or incorporating nitrification inhibitors can curtail N₂O emissions by over 90%, while exerting minimal disturbance on overall soil microbial diversity. These findings underscore the value of targeted inhibition of nitrification processes to mitigate greenhouse-gas outputs without compromising soil health.

Nitrogen Management in Sugarcane Agriculture publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nitrogen management in sugarcane agriculture across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Controlled-release fertiliser: A formulation designed to release N gradually over time, matching crop demand and reducing losses. Nitrification inhibitor: A compound that slows the microbial conversion of ammonium to nitrate, thereby limiting N₂O production. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE): The ratio of N removed in crop biomass to N applied, an indicator of fertiliser performance. Nitrification: Microbial oxidation of ammonium (NH₄⁺) to nitrate (NO₃⁻), a process linked to N₂O emissions. N₂O emissions: The release of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas produced during nitrification and denitrification. Denitrification: Microbial reduction of nitrate to gaseous forms of N, including N₂ and N₂O, under low-oxygen conditions.

References

1. Fate of nitrogen in agriculture and environment: agronomic, eco-physiological and molecular approaches to improve nitrogen use efficiency. Biological Research (2020).
2. Nitrous oxide emission related to ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and mitigation options from N fertilization in a tropical soil. Scientific Reports (2016).
3. N2O emissions from controlled-release and conventional N-fertilizers applied to red-yellow soil in Okinawa, Japan. Soil and Tillage Research (2025).
4. Fertilizer source and application method influence sugarcane production and nutritional status. Frontiers in Plant Science (2023).
5. Sugarcane productivity and sugar yield improvement: Selecting variety, nitrogen fertilizer rate, and bioregulator as a first-line treatment. Heliyon (2023).