Cane Harvesting Research Articles

Green Cane Harvest Impact on Sugarcane Nutrients Proportion and Uptake under Clay Loam and Sandy Soil Conditions in Thailand

Green Cane Harvest Impact on Sugarcane Nutrients Proportion and Uptake under Clay Loam and Sandy Soil Conditions in Thailand

Transient spaces, temporary alliances: harvesting breathing spaces in India’s sugarcane fields

ABSTRACT Marathwada is a historically drought-affected and caste-ridden region in Maharashtra, and a reflection of India’s story of exclusionary economic growth. Poor rainfall, extractive agrarian practices, and social exclusion have forced nearly one million marginal farm families and landless communities to harvest sugarcane in neighbouring districts. They are recruited in pairs, as a koyta, almost universally comprising husband and wife, and live and work on different sugarcane fields for six months a year. This article first describes the asymmetrical power relations and day-to-day practices of gendered public space that shape the lives of female cane harvesters as women, wives, and migrant labourers. It then illustrates the temporary friendships and inter-generational alliances that have emerged in these shared life/work spaces, referred to as ‘breathing spaces’: on their co-ordinated walks to complete morning ablutions in the open fields, in their shared kitchens outside their makeshift homes, and on the tractor-trailers that ferry them from one sugarcane field to another. Here, they express themselves and engage in both casual banter and serious discussion about their alcoholic husbands and abusive labour contractors, sexual and reproductive health problems, and even anxieties and dreams. It is in and through such smaller, transitory spaces within the larger spaces – in the absence of men – that the article presents the myriad ways in which the female koyta workers (re)produce social relations and reclaim their own little pockets of freedom to ensure safety, relief, and recovery. The article is based on a multi-sited ethnographic study, including inter-generational conversations, focus group discussions, stakeholder interviews, and thick field notes documented between October 2020 and August 2021.

Application of herbicides and sugar cane straw on controlling of Mucuna aterrima L. in peanut crop

Peanut crop is normally cultivated in sugar cane renewal areas in Brazil, where velvet bean (Mucuna aterrima) is a troublesome weed, in which the control is essential. The goal was to evaluate herbicide efficacy associated with sugar cane harvest residues on M. aterrima control. In absence and presence of sugar cane straw, herbicides were applied in pre-emergence (imazapic, imazethapyr + flumioxazin, diclosulan, s-metolachlor, clomazone, sulfentrazone and sulfentrazone+diuron) and in post-emergence of M. aterrima (imazapic, imazethapyr, bentazon, bentazon + imazamox, lactofen, fomesafen, cloransulan-methyl, carfentrazone and 2,4-D). The treatments sulfentrazone and sulfentrazone + diuron resulted in control higher than 95% in straw absence, causing the highest reductions on aerial part (92%) and root (64%) drought mass of M. aterrima. The presence of sugar cane straw reduced the effect of herbicides applied in pre-emergence. The 2,4-D resulted in weed control higher than 70% and the applications with 2,4-D and carfentrazone caused the highest reductions on weed plant height (28%), aerial part (45%) and root (42%) drought mass. It was possible to conclude that the highest control levels of M. aterrima were obtained with sulfentrazone and sulfentrazone + diuron applied at pre-emergence, in absence of sugar cane straw and, with 2,4-D and carfentrazone, applied in post-emergence, regardless of straw presence

Some Economic Aspects of Sugar as a Strategic Commodity in Egypt

The research aims mainly to study Egyptian food security of sugar through studying of several sub-objectives represented in: estimating some economic indicators of sugar in Egypt during the period (2008- 2020), studying of the most important indicators of food security of sugar, estimating the size of the food gap of sugar and knowledge of the most important factors responsible for, and studying the policies and means to achieve food security of sugar in Egypt. Descriptive and quantitative analysis were used. The study depends on secondary data, which collected from local and foreign sources during the period (2008- 2020). The conduct study shows that the most important variables specific to the food gap of sugar are all from the local production of sugar and domestic consumption of sugar where it was found that the impact of each of these two variables on sugar gap be negative. The study showed that the strategic stock of sugar is estimated at 1.15 million tons and the average national consumption of sugar is estimated at 2.17 million tons during the study period (2008-2020) with an annual average during that period , therefore, coefficient of sugar food security estimated at about 0.37, therefore it requires to take various actions that would lead to increase the size of the sugar strategic stock to enough half of it needs for domestic consumption even come close to the value of coefficient of food security, from suitable coefficient of sugar food security. The study showed that the policies and means to achieve sugar food security include horizontal agricultural development policy, vertical agricultural development policy, the policy of rationalizing the consumption of sugar, policy of consumer subsidy of sugar, and the policy of diversifying sources of imported sugar. In the light of the results of the study illustrated by research it has been possible to reach some of the following recommendations: 1- It is necessary to intensify efforts to agricultural extension and agricultural research centers in collaboration with factories engineers and agriculture departments and supervisors agricultural awareness of the importance of agriculture resistance to pests and diseases that affect the crop, and help them get on pesticides is harmful to the environment to do so. 2- Increasing of sugar production through the expansion of sugar crops, particularly sugar beet to the lack of water needs compared to sugar cane harvest in the new land. 3- Increasing of sugar productivity crops through dissemination of sugar varieties of high productivity and to suit every center of administrative centers in Egypt. 4- Rationalizing the consumption of sugar during dismiss the size of the loss of sugar. 5- to achieve food security has to be the need to develop awareness programs for the application of planning policy breeds where it is one of the most important determinants of the demand for i Egyptian imports of sugar. 6- it is important to put a national strategy to increase the self-sufficiency ratio of sugar with the need to import and distribute the amounts of diversification between different sources in order to avoid what might happen from political pressure in favor of the Egyptian economy is in the case of international political conditions change. 7- It is necessary to study the reduction commitments of support granted to the production and export in the sugar-exporting countries in order to reduce the negative effects on the Egyptian Saving.

Attributes of an excellent cane sugar factory

Exposure to sugar cane operations around the world has led to conclusions about what distinguishes an excellent operation from an average or mediocre one. This article evaluates the hallmarks of a mill that lead to efficient performance, from cane harvesting through the individual unit operations to the production of sugar, ethanol and energy. The process of cane harvesting and transport impacts the juice purity, which has a major impact on sugar recovery. Conditions in processing affect losses and color formation and the aim is to minimize temperatures and residence times in the process steps, while also minimizing the opportunities for any micro-biological losses. High massecuite exhaustions in the pan house are vital in this respect and affect steam requirements due to lower recycling in the pan house. The requirements for maximum export power include reducing process steam usage and low processing energy requirements.

New records and a review of animal foods in the diets of the Brolga Antigone rubicunda and Australian Sarus Crane A. antigone gillae

Cranes are opportunistic omnivores, sometimes considered to be primarily vegetarian. However, there is limited knowledge in Australia of their animal prey and its importance in their diets. From field records in 2006–2021, we report novel foods including fish and crabs taken by adult Australian Sarus Cranes Antigone antigone gillae and the first records of the foods of their dependent young (crabs and grasshoppers). For Brolgas A. rubicunda, we report the first records of ducklings as prey, and of crabs, beetles and grasshoppers fed to dependent young. Both species have learnt to prey on rodents displaced or killed by sugar cane harvesting machinery in northern Queensland. A review of diet records since 1810 also reveals some overlooked foods and food-handling methods but, despite a sighting of a Brolga ingesting a whole Cane Toad Rhinella marina, there is no evidence of immunity to the toad’s toxin in either species of crane. The plant and animal components of the diet of the dependent young of both species remain almost unknown and there are also significant knowledge gaps for the animal prey of adult Australian Sarus Cranes; the vertebrate prey of adult Brolgas; and the balance of prey types for both species in the breeding and non-breeding seasons. To advance knowledge of crane diets and nutritional ecology in Australia and New Guinea, direct field techniques including faecal sampling, collection of shed feathers and camera trapping could be undertaken, supported by remote electronic technologies in relatively inaccessible breeding wetlands. Meanwhile – in anticipation of the forthcoming revision of the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds – we urge fieldworkers, birdwatchers and others to examine their field notes for unpublished information on crane foraging and food items, especially for the dependent young of Brolgas and Australian Sarus Cranes.

Sugarcane straw management by inoculation of microbial consortia and its impact on short-term N source and amelioration of ratoon sugarcane yield

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study was to assess the effect of the inoculation of sugarcane straw with an artificial microbial consortium (MC) on soil mineral N, soil organic matter (SOM), sugarcane straw decomposition, hydrolytic enzyme activities (β-glucosidase, urease), oxidative enzyme activities (phenoloxidase, peroxidase), nutrient uptake and ratoon cane yield. The experiment consisted of two field experiments, i.e. the experiment I field was sandy soil, and the experiment II field was sandy loam soil in Khon Kaen Province. After planted cane harvest, there were three treatments, namely, burn (B), incorporation (I) and I+ MC treatments. Experiment II consisted of three treatments, namely, B, mulch (M) and M+ MC treatments. Sugarcane straw was applied at a rate of 6.25 tons ha−1. The results revealed that sugarcane straw management by inoculation of microbial consortia had a higher soil mineral N content than that of other treatments, improved the straw decomposition, hydrolytic and oxidative enzyme activities, SOM accumulation (7.60, 20.58 g kg−1 respectively), yield (49.47, 131.51 ton ha−1 respectively), nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency of ratoon cane. Thus, sugarcane straw management by inoculation of microbial consortia becomes a short-term N source and a potential application to enhance decomposition leading to increased ratoon cane yield.

Scalable and Renewable Electromembrane Contactors for Freshwater Recovery through Membrane Distillation

Tube-shaped renewable carbon materials were developed from sugar cane harvest residues to work as membrane contactors for freshwater recovery from water solutions with elevated dissolved solid concentrations. The tubes have electrical properties and can be heated directly through the Joule effect by applying electric potential between the ends. Temperature increased more than linearly, which is consistent with a decrease of the tube’s resistance. The Joule effect’s experiments on the wet tubes showed that most of the loaded water was removed in less than 2 min for an applied voltage of 7.0 V. The tubes were tested as membrane contactors using ∼10 and ∼100 g/L NaCl solutions producing freshwater at a rate between ∼2.0 and ∼7.0 kg/m2 h with salt rejection values above 99.4%. The tested thermal conductivities of the membrane contactors were around 0.09 W/m·K, which are lower than many commercial membranes, thus making them promising in terms of the thermal efficiency of the process. These carbon tubes provide easy scalability and tolerance to corrosive and high-salinity waters, which is advantageous for water recovery from waste streams with high solute concentrations.

Sugarcane Transportation and Harvesting Cost in Punjab

Sugarcane is one of the most important commercial crops of Punjab. Being an annual crop, the costs incurred in raising sugarcane were comparatively higher than other field crops. Due to its bulky nature, farmers spent hugely on harvesting and transporting cane to sugar mills. A field survey comprising 200 growers was undertaken in major cane growing districts of the state. The results revealed the selling of a major share of a marketable surplus of cane to the sugar mills with negligible quantity to jaggery manufacturers. The cane harvesting/ chopping was under a contractual system, including loading for transport to sugar mills. The harvesting cost of sugarcane worked out at 15071, while the transportation cost was 3479 per acre. Problems encountered by the cane growers included; transportation bottlenecks due to heavily loaded vehicles, based distribution of purchase slips by the sugar mills favouring politically sound/ connected growers and long waiting periods in the vicinity of sugar mills during the marketing process.

Evaluation of the health and sugarcane seed production from the first ratoon cane at various harvest ages

Increasing the productivity of sugarcane can be done by using healthy and pure seeds. This study aimed to evaluate the health and production of sugarcane seed from ratoon sugarcane derived from tissue culture. The study was conducted in 2017 using a split-plot design, as the main plots were varieties BL and PSJK922; as subplots, the age of seed cane harvest was 5, 6, 7, and 8 months, repeated three times. Bud set from each variety was planted in 5 rows with a length of 8 m. Varieties did not significantly affect all variables of plant growth and seed germination. Seed harvesting age at plant cane (PC) and first ratoon (RC1) affected sugarcane growth except for the number of productive tillers at plant cane. The longer the harvesting age of sugarcane seeds, the higher the attack of the shoot and stem borer. In addition, in plants with seeds originating from the first ratoon, no Ratoon Stunting Disease (RSD) was found. Therefore, the first ratoon cane can be used as a source of healthy sugarcane seeds and produce high seed quality following Indonesian national standards for sugarcane seed production if supported by good management.

Incentives for mechanized cane harvesting in Thailand: A choice experiment

Sugarcane burning is a significant problem in Thailand. Cane burning is undertaken before harvest mostly due to labor shortages. A cane harvester has been promoted to counter labor shortages and increase cane productivity; however, its adoption has been slow. This paper examines incentive schemes for harvester adoption using a choice experiment. Forty large-scale farmers with the capacity to buy their own harvesters and 400 small-scale farmers who could potentially use harvesters on a fee basis were surveyed. The results suggest a variety of economic incentives for harvester adoption. Most important among these is subsidizing of interest rates for purchase. Also of merit at the milling stage are priority queuing, and subsidies for unburned cane to a lesser extent.

WILDLIFE ROADKILL IN THE SURROUNDINGS OF EMAS NATIONAL PARK, CERRADO BIOME, BRAZIL

Roadkill is a serious threat to biodiversity conservation especially when roads are near natural habitats of wildlife, such as the Emas National Park (ENP), a Protected Area in Mid-west Brazil in the Cerrado Biome. We aimed to identify the species killed on a stretch of the GO-341 highway that is tangent to the ENP. We investigated if roadkills were influenced by seasonality, sugar cane harvest and by the activity pattern of the animals (diurnal/nocturnal). We also analyzed if roadkills were aggregated in space, where the roadkill hotspots were located, if they were influenced by seasonality, and if they were different for the most abundant species. The highway was monitored with a vehicle, in the morning, at a speed of 40 to 60 km/hour, daily, with two observers. We covered a total of 4,230 km during the 90-day monitoring period, which included dry and rainy seasons. We recorded 132 wild animals’ roadkills: 67 birds (51 %), 60 mammals (45 %) and 5 reptiles (4 %). We identified 22 vertebrate species, including 13 birds, six mammals and three reptiles. The roadkill rate was 0.03 animals/km/day. During the dry season, the blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna) had higher roadkill rates. The crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) was the only species with higher roadkill rates during the sugarcane harvest. Most birds killed had diurnal habits, for mammals, no difference was observed concerning the activity pattern. Bird roadkills were aggregated considering the entire data set, as well as for the dry and rainy seasons separately. Mammal roadkills were aggregated only when considering the entire data set. The location of bird roadkill hotspots differed between seasons. The roadkill hotspot location of birds and mammals highly overlapped those observed for the two most abundant species of these taxa, respectively, Ara ararauna and Euphractus sexcinctus.

Objective bayesian analysis for multiple repairable systems.

This article focus on the analysis of the reliability of multiple identical systems that can have multiple failures over time. A repairable system is defined as a system that can be restored to operating state in the event of a failure. This work under minimal repair, it is assumed that the failure has a power law intensity and the Bayesian approach is used to estimate the unknown parameters. The Bayesian estimators are obtained using two objective priors know as Jeffreys and reference priors. We proved that obtained reference prior is also a matching prior for both parameters, i.e., the credibility intervals have accurate frequentist coverage, while the Jeffreys prior returns unbiased estimates for the parameters. To illustrate the applicability of our Bayesian estimators, a new data set related to the failures of Brazilian sugar cane harvesters is considered.

Socio Economic Impact Assessment of Pre-harvest Sugarcane Burning: Empirical Data Around Wonji/Shoa and Matahara Sugar Factories

In Ethiopia, the area of sugarcane is rising rapidly in response to increased sugar demand for human consumption. Despite considerable diversity in production systems and contexts, sugarcane is particularly high impact crop with significant positive and negative environmental and socio economic influences. Depending on a systematic review of scientific evidence combined with data that was collected through household interviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, direct observation and field notes of the researcher as well as secondary data from various sources to complement the primary data, the present study assess the socio economic and environmental impacts resulting from pre-harvest burning of cane in Wonji/Shoa and Metahara sugarcane estates. The results of study Show that the pre-harvest burning of cane harvesting practices have negative impacts on local economy in terms of human health (both local communities and sugarcane workers) resulting from smokes and dust particles. Moreover, the pre-harvest burning sugarcane practices have negative environmental effects as demonstrated by clearing of vegetation cover, depletion of water resources and soil degradation. On the other hand, sugarcane trash resources can be used for animals' feed and alternative energy sources like sugarcane briquette charcoal. Our findings then will help to guide sugar industries and policy makers with new insights/strategies in understanding the situated environmental and social impacts associated with alternative sugarcane harvesting system by using green harvesting technologies (either manual or mechanical) and at the same time opening job opportunity to the local communities by utilization of trash as animals feed, energy source and compost. Finally, recommendations have been provided in order to address the socio-economic and environmental effects on local communities and sugarcane workers and air quality management. Keywords: Pre-harvest sugarcane burning, Wonji/Shoa, Metahara, impact DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-19-04 Publication date: October 31 st 2021

Colheita mecanizada da cana-de-açúcar: o que nos revelam os especialistas do setor sobre as motivações e impeditivos da sua adoção na realidade canavieira de Alagoas?

In recent decades, the mechanization of the harvest in the Brazilian sugar cane fields has been intensified. This mechanization of the sugar cane production processes and, more specifically, the harvesting process has been adopted in the state of Alagoas, which has always been one of the main producers in the country. The article aims to investigate the mechanization of the sugar cane harvest in Alagoas from 2008 to 2017, as well as to identify what are the motivations and impediments for adopting such technology. In order to perform the current research study, interviews with sector specialists, field observation and a survey with information of the state and national databases for the development of the research study were used. The results highlight that the harvesting mechanization has not been the same throughout the main producing areas of the country. Furthermore, it highlights that the motivations for mechanization are: the productivity restructuring of the sector, the cost with manual labor, the labor conflicts, the lack of workforce renewal and the adaptation to standards of productive sustainability. As impediments, the following factors are stated: the reality of Alagoas in the labor market, the crisis in the sector and the topography of the area. Lastly, it is expected to contribute in the discussions of the sugar cane scenario in Alagoas, bearing in mind the representativeness of this economic activity to the state and to the North-Northeast region.

Sistem upravljanja usevom - mašine za terenske operacije i usvojene tehnike planiranja za proizvodnju šećerne trske

Major objectives of farm mechanization are to maximize production at minimum risks and optimum cost of equipment usage by good management planning and operation of machines to carry out sequence crop production operations for the whole farming system. Hence this study was needed at Sunti Golden Sugar Company, Nigeria to determine cost of equipment use and select appropriate tractor power and machinery for the crop cultivation, crop establishment, weed control, cane harvesting and transporting to the store for post-harvest processing for future target of 4,770 ha of sugar cane farm. Based on agricultural farm size, field operational planning factors like soil, weather/environmental conditions, each implement matched with appropriate tractor size was calculated. Costs of equipment use, ownership and operational costs for implements and tractors were also calculated. A well-drawn cropping field operations calendar was very important for crop and operational sequencing was recommended and was put in-place since the operations overlaps with multi-periods. As part of the recommendation, during the planned equipment downtime, major repairs and maintenance were to be carried out before critical field operation's period to improve pre-field and in-field efficiency for effective equipment and field operational planning and management. Determined are the values of each implement field capacity within allotted time available, actual number of implement/tractor power required, fuel and oil consumption per unit time for the sugar cane cultivation, harvesting and transporting operations at the sugar cane farm. Also appropriate earth-moving and earthwork equipment for road, irrigation and drainage structural works were also selected.

Valuation of Carbon Sequestration and Storage Ecosystem Services in a Tropical Moist Forest of Chocó, Colombia

Abstract The payment value for the ecosystem service of carbon sequestration and storage in forests and agroforestry systems with cacao (AFS-cacao) from the sub-basin of river Munguido, Quibdo, Colombia was estimated. The productive activities of highest economic importance (cane, pineapple, plantain, cassava, AFS-cacao, and timber harvesting) were selected, and their financial profit was assessed: net present value (NPV), cost-benefit ratio (B/C), and the internal rate of return (IRR). The payment value for the service was estimated considering the profitability of productive activities and carbon sequestration rate. Minimum and maximum values to pay for reduction of carbon emissions in primary forests, and for carbon sequestration in secondary forests and AFS-cacao are between 4 and 27; 5 and 37; and 9 and 63 U$/Mg CO2e, respectively.

Sugarcane Basecutters: A Critical Review

HighlightsThis article is focused on the technology review of sugarcane basecutters.Two cutting theories and two cutting modes are briefly reviewed.Three optimization methods of parameters for the sugarcane basecutter are summarized.Four potential research interests to improve the basecutting quality are discussed.Abstract. Basecutter is a core component of a sugarcane harvester, and its performance significantly influences cane yield and harvesting efficiency. Therefore, it is meaningful to conduct a critical review of sugarcane basecutters. In this article, an introduction about basecutter structure was performed first; then two cutting theories (support/free cutting) and two cutting modes (straight/sliding cutting) were briefly reviewed; and the advantages and disadvantages of different cutting modes were summarized. It was followed by a comprehensive introduction of three optimization methods: theoretical analysis and simulation, indoor experiments, and field experiments. Finally, four potential research interests in improving basecutting quality and exploring the stubble damage process were discussed. In this review, the comprehensive, detailed, and accurate information about sugarcane basecutter was expected to provide engineers with a technology reference to improve the basecutting performance. Keywords: Basecutter, Cutting theories and modes, Optimization methods, Potential research interests, Sugarcane harvester.

Issues of increasing the effectiveness of beet and rawsugar subcomplexes in terms of environmental protection

The article discusses the issues of increasing the effectiveness of the functioning of beet and raw sugar subcomplexes in terms of environmental protection. The main areas of scientific and technical progress aimed at increasing the profitability of the production of sugar beets, sugar cane and sugar as a final product at these subcomplexes as well as reducing harmful effects of their growing andproduction processeson the atmosphere, soil, and water bodies have been identified. The authors consider the development of new product lines and machines in accordance with the system of machines for sugar factories, modernization of existing and development of new trailed beet and cane harvesting machines; resource saving: intensification of the use and processing of beet and cane raw materials, ensuring a minimum amount of waste and its comprehensive processing; problems of greening associated with the work of sugar factories.

Sugarcane Green Harvest Effects on Arthropod Ground Predators and Lesser Cornstalk Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Damage

AbstractA field trial was conducted to determine the effects of harvest method (green cane harvest versus preharvest burning) and different crop residue removal treatments on the populations of ground-inhabiting arthropod predators and Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in the first ratoon crop. Neither preharvest burning nor percentage crop residue removal after green cane harvest had any significant effect on the numbers of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (F = 1.00; df = 4; P = 0.412) or spiders (Araneae) (F = 0.08; df = 4; P = 0.921) captured in pitfall traps. In contrast, crop residue levels remaining after green cane harvest significantly impacted E. lignosellus damage to the ratoon crop, with increased damage associated with lower levels of residue. Removal of ≥66% of the crop residue caused a significant (F = 132.68; df = 3; P < 0.001) increase in E. lignosellus damage that would likely reduce sugarcane yield, while 33% of the residue could be removed without increasing damage. Overall, our data indicate that green cane harvesting will not affect arthropod ground predators but may reduce the risk of E. lignosellus damage.