A study on sugarcane growth found that different ways of applying nitrogen fertilizer affect how efficiently the plant uses the nitrogen. By using labeled urea in pots, researchers discovered that applying nitrogen at different stages of growth can impact the amount of nitrogen taken up by the plant. They found that the most effective method was to apply nitrogen at three different stages, leading to higher nitrogen use efficiency and less nitrogen loss. This method also resulted in higher yields of sugarcane stalks and sugar. The study suggests that this approach is both economically and ecologically beneficial for sugarcane cultivation.