Nitrogen percent of the elongating leaf blades was not
significantly different between the treatments (Fig. 4). Gava
et al. (2006) reported reduced, but not significantly different,
values for N contents of leaves from green-cane harvested
fields, and their explanation was that this could be due to a
higher microbiological immobilisation of the N in the fertiliser
caused by the high C:N ratio of the trash blanket. This shows
the importance of integrated management when switching
towards green-cane harvest, where all crop practices are
planned considering the new conditions that the trash blanket
generate.