Enhancing Sustainability in Sugarcane Production through Effective Nitrogen Management: A Comprehensive Review

The nitrogen (N) requirement of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is very high due to the extensive growth of biomass. N fertilisers are applied excessively to ensure the optimum growth of sugarcane crop. Improper N management causes a decrease in nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) and contributes to nitrogen losses via leaching and gaseous emissions in the form of ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O), leading to unintended negative consequences. Asynchronous timing between the sugarcane N demand and supply by the N sources exacerbates these losses. Therefore, proper N management strategies need to be implemented to mitigate losses and enhance NUE. This review provides an overview of global sugarcane cultivation and discusses the N requirements for sugarcane crops. Additionally, it summarizes the various strategies utilized in N management for sugarcane cultivation and evaluates their effectiveness. Furthermore, it identifies research gaps and outlines future research directions.