Sustainability of quantitative and qualitative indicators of sugarcane production under different tillage systems (case study: Khuzestan province of Iran)

Abstract

Increasing tillage operations and their repetition each year often increases the costs and adverse effects on soil physical properties. Rising fuel costs and high initial investment in the purchase of agricultural machinery and equipment, and the insistence on overuse of machinery in agriculture, have caused widespread concern around the world. Furthermore, traffic and additional operations by agricultural machinery are significant concerns. This study was performed at Hakim Farabi Sugarcane Agro-Industrial Company (HFSAIC) in Khuzestan province of Iran. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different tillage systems on the quantitative and qualitative indicators of sugarcane production. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design (CRD), with four treatments including: 1- first-time subsoiler (D8 bulldozer) ​+ ​second-time subsoiler (D8 bulldozer) (conventional operation) 2- Alpego tillage tool 3- Nardi tillage tool 4- subsoiler for the first time (D8 bulldozer) ​+ ​subsoiler five Sheng. The result of analysis of variance showed non-significant differences in most quantitative and qualitative indicators in tillage systems. Analysis of mean comparison in quantitative and qualitative indicators showed that T 2 treatment (Alpego tillage tool) as a minimum tillage system, was a better system among different tillage systems in sugarcane cultivation. Generally, selecting the appropriate tillage system according to the climate conditions of the area and available equipment tools, along with appropriate solutions such as minimum tillage, can be one of the management practices in sugarcane cultivation. • This study was to investigate the quantitative and qualitative indicators. • Assessing the effect of different tillage treatments on sugarcane production. • Alpego tillage treatment is one of the best systems for increasing sugarcane yield. • Conservation tillage systems can prevent erosion by covering the plant residue.