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Abstract
Long-term sugarcane cultivation may alter nutrient distribution in the soil profile and contribute to deficiencies. The objective of this study was to determine how sugarcane cultivation altered nutrient stratification in peatlands. Soil pH decreased with depth for uncultivated soils but remained constant at 6.9 for sugarcane soils. Long-term fertilization did not result in accumulation of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Sugarcane soils had 74, 72, and 94% more zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) than uncultivated soils 0–30 cm deep, indicating micronutrient fertilization rates were greater than their removal in harvested biomass. Total iron (Fe) concentrations were lower in sugarcane than uncultivated soils, indicating Fe removal in biomass exceeded fertilization rates. Macronutrient fertilization rates for sugarcane did not result in accumulation in soil, indicating close agreement with crop needs, while overapplication of most micronutrients, except Fe, occurred. Because of minimal environmental hazards associated with micronutrients, changes in their application rates may not be warranted.