Page 19 - November 2025 Cascadian

How sweet it is!
Florida is all abuzz about sugarcane right now.
Sugarcane has been a vital crop in Florida since 1572,
when it was first grown by the Spanish founders of St.
Augustine. Sugarcane production in South Florida grew
from 50,000 acres in 1960 to about 220,000 acres in
1964. Then a political change in Cuba caused the repeal
of U.S. domestic production and the implementation
of acreage restrictions. In 1921, Florida legislature
established the University of Florida Everglades
Research and Education Center in Belle Glade to
study how to grow sugarcane
in “sawgrass muck” soils of the
Everglades agriculture. They
developed a cultivar for use in
soil which is early-maturing, and
another one that produces 50%
more sugar. Currently, Florida
produces about 50% of the cane
sugar and 25% of all the sugar
(cane and beet) nationally.
Before I go on, let’s discuss the
differences between sugarcane,
beet sugar and corn sugar. The chemical composition
of refined sugar from sugarcane, sugar beet, and corn
sugar is nearly identical. They are all purified sucrose
with the chemical formula of C12H22O11. The primary
differences among the sugar sources are the plant
source, processing methods and chemical bonding.
To produce any high yield crops, most soils need
fertilization. Farmers use the Best Management
Practices (BMP) to improve crop yields while protecting
water quality and natural resources. BMP utilizes the
4 Rs: right fertilizer source, right fertilizer rate, right
fertilizer timing, and right fertilizer placement. This
is important because sugarcane is a heavy nitrogen
feeder and the soil typically needs to be augmented.
Mineral soils (sandy soils) have lower organic matter
than the “muck soils” found in the Everglades. While
muck soils naturally supply enough nitrogen to grow
sugarcane, sand and transitional soils north of the
Everglades require nitrogen fertilization. Inadequate
nitrogen supply during sugarcane growth results in
stunted plants, premature ripening, and reduction in
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Written by Eileen Abbott, Master Gardener volunteer
sugar yields.
Another element that can impede sugarcane production
is the lack of silicon. Silicon strengthens the cell walls
of sugarcane, which increases resistance to insects and
fungi as well as makes it more drought tolerant. Silicon
also aids in water and nutrient uptake. Silicon naturally
occurs in soil, but there are typically low levels of it in
sandy and tropical soils.
Reminder: Florida State statutes prohibit fertilizers
containing nitrogen and phosphorus for residential
use during the rainy season from June 1 - September
30. When allowed to fertilize,
always use a slow-release
fertilizer to keep the runoff from
entering stormwater systems and
waterways.
Leaching of excess nitrogen
and phosphorus from industry,
agriculture, and urban
development cause blue-green
algae blooms. The hot summer
weather and extreme rainfall
events coincide with nitrogen
fertilization of sugarcane during its growing season.
This is when major nitrogen loads occur in waterways.
Another important element of sugarcane is the
evapotranspiration rate. Evapotranspiration is the
process of plants absorbing water from the soil and
then releasing it as water vapor into the atmosphere
through their leaves. It’s the way plants breathe. The
maximum rate of evapotranspiration occurs in a plant’s
growth phase, usually during intense sunlight and high
temperatures. Compared to other major crops like corn
and rice, sugarcane is one of the most water-intensive
crops. Sugarcane has an overall high evapotranspiration
rate during its growth season. In the Midwest, a term
known as the “corn sweats” happens during the summer
due to the corn field crops high evapotranspiration rate.
Water vapor added to the air increases the humidity
and the “feels like” temperatures.
In Florida, sugarcane is harvested mechanically during
the dry season from late October to mid-April. The
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