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Sugar
cane cultivation on a commercial plantation in PNG started in the late
1970s. In 1995, I was asked by the plantation management to evaluate the
effects of the continuous sugar cane cultivation on soil chemical and
physical properties. The research involved the extraction of soil and leaf
analytical data from old files (legacy data), an analysis of these data and a
detailed sampling plan for the collection of additional data. Soil survey
information was combined with yield and plant analytical information in
addition to existing and newly collected data.
The
overall analysis was conducted by soil type (Vertisols and Fluvents) and showed significant changes
in soil chemical properties and compaction in many soils. The soils had
significantly acidified following a change in fertiliser regime. Prior to
trash harvesting (see picture above) urea fertiliser was used and the
trash was burned. When trash harvesting became common sulphate of ammonia
was applied as much of the N in the urea would be lost if it was applied
on trash covered fields. The use of sulphate of ammonia resulted in a
significant soil acidification.
The
research was conducted in close cooperation with staff and management of
the sugar cane plantation and 4 undergraduate and postgraduate students
were involved in the research. The results were presented at the
plantation, in seminars and in various peer-reviewed journals. Our
research resulted in the development of a soil management plan to sustain
continuous sugar cane cropping at the plantation and several measures were
taken to avoid and decrease the negative effects of continuous sugar cane
cultivation.
Publications
Hartemink, A.E. 2001 Sustainable land management at Ramu sugar –
Assessment and requirements. In: Food Security in Papua New Guinea. R.M Bourke, M.G.
Allen & J.G. Salisbury (Eds). ACIAR Proceedings no.
99, Canberra pp. 344-364
Hartemink, A.E. 1998
Soil chemical and physical properties as indicators
of sustainable land management under sugar cane cultivation in Papua New
Guinea. Geoderma 85: 283-306
Hartemink, A.E. & A.W.
Wood 1998 Sustainable land management in the
tropics: the case of sugar cane plantations. Proceedings of the 16thWorld
Congress of Soil Science, ISSS, Montpellier (7 pp on CD ROM)
Hartemink, A.E. 1998
Acidification and pH buffering capacity of alluvial
soils under sugarcane. Experimental Agriculture 34: 231-243
Hartemink, A.E. 1998
Changes in soil fertility and leaf nutrient
concentration at a sugar cane plantation in Papua New Guinea.
Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 29: 1045-1060
Hartemink, A.E., J.
Nero, O. Ngere & L.S.
Kuniata 1998 Changes in soil
properties at Ramu Sugar Plantation 1979-1996. Papua New Guinea Journal of
Agriculture, Forestry & fisheries 41: 65-78
Hartemink, A.E. & L.
Kuniata 1996 Some factors influencing yield trends of
sugar cane in Papua New Guinea. Outlook on Agriculture 25: 227-234
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