Availability of Some Essential Minerals in Halfa and Alguneid Sugarcane Growing Soils (Sudan)

Sugarcane plays a vital role in the industrial growth of Sudan as an important economic crop. This work was aiming to measure the availability of Na, K, Ca, Mg, P and N as macro-nutrients in Halfa and Alguneid sugarcane schemes. Soil samples were collected from different parts of each sugarcane growing field. Minerals concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Notable differences in nutrients content were indicated between Halfa and Alguneid soils. Halfa scheme soils showed minerals content means as Mg (16.76 meq/L), Na (9.89meq/L), and Ca (0.91 meq/L). Algunied soils showed significantly low means of Na (0.367 meq/L), Mg (0.32 meq/L) and Ca (0.058 meq/L). The mean of Algunied soil N (0.067%) was almost similar to that of Halfa N (0.051%), which may reflect the insufficient nitrogen supply for optimum sugarcane growth. Phosphorus showed low mean values in the two fields as (0.00015%) in Halfa and (0.0013%) in Alguneid soils indicating a severe deficiency that can negatively influence root development and yield potential. Halfa soils may need gypsum applications whereas Algunied field may require fertilization management including P and N.