Nutrient Management in Sugarcane: A Critical Review of Productivity, Nutrient-Use Efficiency, Soil Health and Environmental Trade-offs

Abstract

Sugarcane is a high-biomass, long-duration crop whose nutrient management is complicated by large and changing nutrient demand, differences between plantandratoon crops, residue retention, variable soil fertility, and a substantial risk of nutrient loss when supply is poorly synchronised with crop uptake. This critical narrative review evaluates contemporary evidence on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), secondary nutrients, micronutrients, organic and recycled nutrient sources, and precision nutrient management in sugarcane. Literature was selected from accessible scholarly databases and indexes, with emphasis on peer-reviewed field evidence published between 2000 and 24 June 2026 and inclusion of earlier foundational studies where required. The synthesis indicates that no universally optimal fertiliser rate exists: economically and environmentally defensible management depends on soil nutrient supply, expected yield, crop class, residue regime, water availability, nutrient source, placement and timing. Nitrogen shows the greatest mismatch between blanket recommendations and site-specific crop response; split application can improve performance at responsive sites, whereas surface-applied urea over retained straw can incur appreciable ammonia loss. Enhanced-efficiency N products can reduce specific nutrient loss pathways, but yield benefits are inconsistent and depend on product, weather and application context. Phosphorus management is constrained by fixation and legacy pools, while K management requires close attention to soil exchange capacity, yield level, residue export and recycled K from vinasse or other by-products. Integrated use of organic amendments can support soil carbon, biological activity and nutrient cycling, but nutrient release is less predictable than from mineral fertilisers and should not be assumed to replace balanced mineral nutrition automatically. Emerging canopy sensors, remote sensing and variable-rate systems are promising, although calibration, transferability and evidence for long-term economic and environmental benefit remain limited. The strongest strategy is therefore adaptive nutrient stewardship that combines diagnosis, locally validated response functions, balanced nutrition, recycling with safeguards, and monitoring of both productivity and environmental losses.