Ref: AC130904-6

Course Code: S.1

6 September 2013

3-DAY WORKSHOP ON

STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING FERTILIZER

USE EFFICIENCY IN A CHANGING
ENVIRONMENT
22-24 October 2013 (from 9h00 to 16h00)
Venue: Regional Training Centre, Reduit and field visits
MQA approved
Workshop Leaders

Jan Meyer

has over 45 years experience in agricultural

research and advice, primarily on crop nutrition and soil fertility.
Prior to his retirement from the South African Sugarcane Research
Institute in 2006, he was the Head of Crop Nutrition and Soils from
1993 to 2003 and thereafter a Principal Scientist until his retirement.
Since 2007, Jan has worked as a freelance consultant dealing with
soil suitability assessments for new sugarcane green field projects
as well as existing sugarcane estates in various countries. He has
authored or co-authored over 120 papers. He received a number of
awards, including Gold Medals from the South African Sugar
Technologist Association and the Fertilizer Society of South Africa.
He recently led a team of distinguished
authors to compile a book entitled: Good
Management Practices for the Cane Sugar
Industry. The book published by Bartens, is
backed
by
the
International
Finance
Corporation (IFC) the private sector arm of
the World Bank.

Gunshiam Umrit

holds a BSc (Hons)

in Agriculture from the University of
Mauritius and an MSc in Agriculture, from the
University of Agriculture, Malaysia. He joined
MSIRI in 1986 and since 2011 he is the
Research Officer in charge of the Department

of Agricultural Chemistry. His main research areas are: sugarcane

nutrition and the impact of sugarcane cultivation on the
environment. He will present the Mauritian aspects of the workshop.

Ref: AC130904-6

Page |

Workshop objective
To update participants on the latest developments in the fertilization
of sugarcane with special reference to good management practices
to ensure profitable production and minimal environmental impact

Workshop contents
Day 1 at RTC
Principles of nutrient management
Fertilisation concepts or philosophies
Production vs. sustainability
Balanced nutrition of the crop, versus the capacity of
the soil to supply nutrients
Law of the minimum
Law of diminishing returns
Principle of soil threshold values
Determining thresholds and response to fertilizers
through trials
The pros and cons of soil testing
Interpreting soil analysis results
Discussion

The role and various functions of nutrients in plant

growth and cane quality
Essential
elements,
macro,
secondary
and
micronutrients
Nutrient uptake and partitioning leaves/stalk /roots
The fate of plant up taken nutrients in burnt and green
harvested fields
Deficiency symptoms
Consequences of nutrient excess
Principle of leaf threshold values
The pros and cons of leaf testing
Examples of leaf threshold derivation
Discussion

Soil factors affecting nutrient supply

Soil as a nutrient sink
The various soil types in Mauritius and nutrient status
characteristics
Effect of microclimate
Effect of past fertilisation history
pH, clay minerals, organic matter and cation exchange
capacity
Nutrient flow, mass vs. diffusion
N, P and K cycles - put in the Mauritian context
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Effect of a fallow break

Effect of a green manure/legume crop break
Effects of trash management techniques
P fixation in Mauritian soils
Nutrient interactions
Soil fertility and its improvement:
Present recommendations in Mauritian
Discussion
Soil acidification process put in the Mauritian context
Causes of soil acidity in Mauritian soils
Measuring soil acidity pH water/cacl, acid saturation.
Correcting soil acidity
Present thresholds in Mauritian/Discussion
Ameliorants
Present recommendations in Mauritian
Discussion

Day 2 a.m. at RTC and p.m. field visit

Mineral and organic fertilizer carriers, pros and cons
Mineral N,P and K carriers
Fertilizer blends
Secondary nutrients
Micronutrients
Liquid vs. granular formulations
Organic carriers (filterpress mud, filterpress mud mixed
with
ash/Vinasse/CMS,
chicken
manure
and
green
manure/legumes)
Biological nitrogen fixation
Prospects for improving P use efficiency through
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Prospects for using microbial bio-fertilizers in sugarcane
Fertilizer management
Distinguish any soil type specificity for N/P/K
Fertilizer loss pathways and environmental impact
Soil and leaf analytical tools
Fertilizer recommendations in Mauritian
in plant cane
in ratoons
Good management practices for placement, timing and
splitting of fertilizers
Present recommendations in Mauritius
Discussion
Liquid vs. granular formulations

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 Address apprehensions following recent change from

compounds to blends / nitrate based to urea
based/granular to CMS.

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 Strategies for Improving N fertilizer use efficiency

Use of soil N availability indices to improve N fertilizer
management
Volatilization loss of N and its management
The rationale for timing and splitting of N fertilizer
Prospects for the use of controlled-release, urease
inhibitors, etc.
Mineral nutrition of sugarcane as a function of ratoon
age
Prospects for development of sugarcane genotypes with
low N requirements
Fertigation
Economics of fertilization

Day 3 a.m. at RTC and p.m. field visit

Recent advances in the fertilization of sugarcane
Soil specific fertilizer advice
GIS digital nutrient maps GPS controlled precision
application methods
NIR nitrogen sensors
Rapid lab testing using mid NIR scanning technology.
Soil/Leaf/CMS?
Summing up.

Target audience

General Managers, Agricultural, Field and Area Managers and

assistants, Agronomists, Planters Advisors, Research Staff, Growers,
personnel from fertilizer companies, etc.

Fees

MUR 21,000 per participant

HRDC refund

The G1 form should be filled in for HRDC refund purpose and sent to
HRDC three days before the beginning of the course.

Bookings

Please forward us the attached booking form either by fax on 454

7026 or by email at rtc@intnet.mu by Friday 20 September 2013 at
latest. Participants attending the course may reserve a copy of the

Ref: AC130904-6

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GMP Manual at a special price by contacting Jan Meyer beforehand

at jmeyer@netactive.co.za

Contact persons

Dr Linda Mamet and Ms Arlne Cornell

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BOOKING FORM
WORKSHOP ON STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING
FERTILIZER USE EFFICIENCY IN A CHANGING
ENVIRONMENT
22, 23 and 24 October 2013 from 9h00 to 16h00 [Contact hours: 21
h]
Venue: Regional Training Centre, Reduit
Company / Organisation:
Address:
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:
Family Name

Other Names

Business Registration No.:

ID No

Job Title

(IN BLOCK
LETTERS)

Note:

Vegetaria
n
Yes
No

Cheques should be drawn to the order of the Regional Training Centre.

Payment should be made prior to the beginning of course.

Name:

Signature:

Job title:

Date:
Robert Antoine Building, Rduit,
Mauritius
Tel: +230 454 7024; Fax: +230 454
7026
E-mail: rtc@intnet.mu
Web: www.rtc.intnet.mu
Business Registration No: P07004040

Please send the booking form either by fax on 454 7026 or by

email at rtc@intnet.mu by Friday 20 September 2013 at latest
Ref: AC130711-17

Robert Antoine Building, Rduit,

Mauritius
Tel: +230 454 7024; Fax: +230 454
7026
E-mail: rtc@intnet.mu
Web: www.rtc.intnet.mu
Business Registration No: P07004040