Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the visible loss of sugar cane and the damage to the knuckles, using the John Deere 3520 harvester on three different travel speeds (3.0; 4.0 and 5.0 km·h-1), in DIC with five repetitions in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil. Each treatment was composed by six lines of harvested cane stumps, with a length of 290 m each. In these six lines, the remains of sugar cane left in the field were collected by placing the sampling frame in two central lines every 50 m, and separating 40 m of edge. The sampling area was surrounded by 2 m wide and 10 m long, totaling 20 m2. To calculate the damage to stumps, a visual methodology by [1], was used, which classifies the damage grade, ranging from 1 to 4. Fifty stumps were assessed randomly for each speed, in a sampling area of 1800 m2. The data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey test at 5%, in order to compare the effect of different speeds on the losses and damages. There was no significant difference regarding the loss or damage by comparing the different speeds. Therefore, it is more advantageous to use the speed of 5.0 km·h-1, harvesting more in less time and causing the same level of damage.
Highlights
The sugar cane (Saccharum spp.) is one of the main crops grown in Brazil
The aim of this study was to evaluate the visible loss of sugar cane and the damage to the knuckles, using the John Deere 3520 harvester on three different travel speeds (3.0; 4.0 and 5.0 km∙h−1), in DIC with five repetitions in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil
The data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey test at 5%, in order to compare the effect of different speeds on the losses and damages
Summary
This type of harvesting has caused great losses and may cause damage to the stumps, which considerably reduce the flushing and provide the attack of pests and diseases, reflecting the loss of productivity on the subsequent crop. The mills of sugar and ethanol productions are increasingly seeking innovative mechanization in the cane fields, but, in the interest of controlling costs, the aim is not to lose the quality and to decrease visible loss of sugar cane in the field Due to these reasons, evaluations of losses by harvesters of sugar cane have been fundamental to the operation management, so that one can act on the process and make the necessary corrections to reduce its incidence, when certain values are very high [2]
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