Micronutrient accumulation and partitioning in sugarcane biomass grown in the Burdekin

For sugarcane to achieve maximum cane and sugar yield nutrients need to be readily available for the plant to accumulate. Although required in small quantities, micronutrient availability is essential for this to be achieved. Understanding how micronutrients are accumulated and partitioned is important for fine-tuning fertiliser recommendations to improve nutrient-use efficiency whilst maintaining profitable, productive and sustainable farming systems. The commercial sugarcane varieties Q253A, Q208A and KQ228A, which are grown in the Burdekin, were sampled several times throughout the growing season to study the accumulation of the micronutrients iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) in above-ground biomass. In sugarcane, the accumulation of micronutrients appeared to peak by 270 days after planting (DAP). The concentration of these nutrients was monitored from 200 to 365 DAP and showed a general decline in all components from 200 DAP onwards, but this was not always the case. The accumulation of micronutrients followed dry-matter accumulation, but it was also influenced by micronutrient concentration at the time of sampling. A positive relationship between stalk dry-matter yield and micronutrient accumulation in above-ground biomass was identified. The data provide insights into the key periods of micronutrient uptake and their partitioning in above-ground biomass during sugarcane development.