Julian David Ome Narvaez1, Yeison Mauricio Quevedo Amaya2, Diego Fernando Bedoya Mejía1, Julian Fernando Mateus Rodriguez1, Marlon Javier Rosas Daza1, Isabel Cristina Molina Valencia3, Ivan Dario Castro Leon4 and Sebastian Anderson Guerrero1
1Colombian Sugarcane Research Center (Cenicaña), Florida, Valle del Cauca, Colombia; jdome@cenicana.org
2Cauca Sugar Mill, El Ortigal, Cauca, Colombia
3Castilla Sugar Mill, Pradera, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
4Riopaila Sugar Mill,La Paila, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
Soil fertilization is the most significant cost in sugarcane cultivation in Colombia. Current fertilization plans typically rely on sufficiency criteria, neglecting factors such as variety-specific nutrient uptake, field productivity potential, and soil bulk density. Furthermore, fertilizer sources are often selected empirically, without considering their interactions with soil pH, texture, or environmental conditions. To address these challenges and optimize fertilizer use, the Fertilization Advisory System (SEF 3.0) was developed. This tool uses algorithms to interpret soil test results and provide tailored fertilization recommendations for macronutrients, micronutrients, and soil amendments based on commonly available commercial sources. The system incorporates a pedotransfer function (PTF) developed by Cenicaña, which uses soil sand, clay, and organic matter percentages to assess nutrient availability and depletion factors. Additionally, the system calculates the productive potential of each plot using data from the «Cédula Cañera», a historical productivity database provided by Cenicaña. By combining this data with nutrient extraction curves from 13 sugarcane varieties, the system can precisely determine nutrient demands in kilograms per hectare. SEF 3.0 automates the fertilization plan creation and soil analysis interpretation, reducing the entire process to just 25 seconds from request to final delivery. The resulting plans ensure precise fertilizer application, helping to reduce production costs and maximize crop productivity.