Farmers in many regions of the world grow a horticultural or grain cro
p between sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp.) cycles. This
additional crop often requires higher amounts of P or K fertilizers th
an does sugarcane. Some sugarcane growers in Florida precede 2- to 5-y
ear cycles of sugarcane with one crop of spring-harvested sweet com (Z
ea mays L.). A disadvantage perceived with this rotation is that the h
igher amounts of P fertilizer applied to sweet com may reduce sugar yi
elds of sugarcane. The primary objective of this study was to compare
the sugarcane yields of a sugarcane and sweet com rotation with those
of monocropped sugarcane. Phosphorus and K fertilizers were also added
to sugarcane at different rates in each rotation to form four croppin
g practices. Responses of four sugarcane cultivars were also tested am
ong these cropping practices. Sugarcane experiments were conducted at
three diverse field locations. Each location was harvested twice, firs
t in the plant crop and about 1 year later in the first-ratoon crop. A
t least one cropping practice including sweet com at each location had
sugar yields (t sugar/ha) comparable to those of the highest monocrop
ped sugarcane yields. Responses to cropping practices differed by loca
tion. Also, cultivars responded differently to cropping practices. By
determining location-specific sugarcane fertilizers and cultivars, gro
wers can grow sweet com and sugarcane in rotation without reducing sug
ar yields of sugarcane. More research to determine appropriate cultiva
rs and fertilizer rates could probably improve yields of sugarcane sub
jected to the sugarcane-sweet corn rotation and its residual fertilize
rs.