growing sugar cane for high yields
DESCRIPTION
sugarcaneTRANSCRIPT
Growing Sugar Cane for
high yields
February 2011
Yoram Krontal
Growing Sugar Cane
for High Yields
February 2011
Yoram Krontal
Human resources
Plant
Soil
Climate
Potential Yield
New technologies
Factors influencing yields
Growing cane for high yields
Project planning and design
Plot design spacing and length
Use of innovative products
Selection of varieties suitable for drip irrigation
Quality of implementation process
Quality of growth substrate
Quality of seeds and planting
Quality of system installation
During crop growth
Drip irrigation as a delivery system
Harvest & post harvest
Natal Farm - Sao Paulo State, Brazil
Soil Preparation
Soil Fertility
Variety & Seed Quality
Quality of Planting
Irrigation
The five principles of growing sugar cane for high yields
Selection of dripper for best plot design Low flow dripper
Argentina – 60 ha 4 years old
Brazil – 10 ha 4 years old
Senegal – 1100 ha to be installed
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Planted cane 1 ratoon Planted cane 1 ratoon Planted cane 1 ratoon
DRIPNET PC 22135 1,0l/h DRIPNET PC 22135 0,60l/h Control
Yie
ld T
/ha
Low flow dripper
Row Length & Traffic Control:
A yield of 125 tons/ha results in about 24 kg/cane
per 1 m of row length (0.4 x 1.4m planting distance).
A mid-size wagon carries 12 tons of cane;
12,000 kilos of cane per wagon. Assuming 24
kg/meter, the result is 500 m rows and lateral
length. If we plan the plot at this length, one wagon
per row will suffice, thus avoiding unnecessary soil
compaction.
Dripnet PC 0.6 L/hr 9%
Dripnet PC 1.0 L/hr 32%
Dripnet PC 1.6 L/hr 14%
Typhoon 1.6 L/hr 18%
Typhoon 1.9 L/hr 9%
Typhoon 3.0 L/hr 9%
Streamline 1.6 L/hr 4%
Streamline 2.2 L/hr 5%
Distribution of dripper type & flow in various countries
The use of Dripnet PC (0.6; 1.0; 1.6) is 54% from the total
30 cm 9%
40 cm 27%
50 cm 46%
70 cm 9%
90 cm 9%
Light soils – dripper spacing (cm) Heavy soils – dripper spacing (cm)
40 cm 44%
50 cm 56%
Distribution of dripper spacing in various countries
Dripper spacing of 50 (cm) is the most common in heavy and light
soils
Mil of inch 6 8 10 12.5 15 20 25 35 40
mm (~) 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.90 1.00
Sensitive to soil insects Resistant to soil insects
Sensitive to rodents
Wall Thickness
• Cane quality & Yield
•Cane yield
•Sugar content
•Fiber content
• Agronomic Characteristics
•Stalk population (at harvest)
•Stalk mass (at harvest)
•Stalk height (at harvest)
•Stalk elongation
•Flowering
•Lodging
• Germination
•Speed
•Reliability
• Ratooning Ability
•Speed
•Reliability
• Reaction to Diseases & Pests
•Smut
•Mosaic
•Rust
•Borer
•Nematodes
• Reaction to Water Stress
•Growth during drought
•Ratooning after drought
•Waterlogging / poorly drained soils
• Nutrition
•Nitrogen use efficiency
•Aluminum tolerance
• Ripening treatments
•Ethrel
•Glyphosate
• Harvesting
•Best months
•Carryover
How to look for high production varieties
Erect cane
Varieties suitable for mechanical
harvest
Resistance to treading
(traffic control)
Ratooning Ability - Traffic control
Difference between two varieties in response to poor traffic control -
Yield reduction at 1st Ratoon
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0
50
100
150
200
Médias
3250
5181
Ton
/ha
Planting
1st Ratoon
2nd Ratoon
Lack of high production varieties is a limitation factor
for drip viability
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250
Pla
nt
Rato
on
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nt
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on
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nt
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on
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nt
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on
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nt
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on
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RB863129 RB72454 RB971755 RB98710 RB951541 RB867515 RB931003 RB93509 RB92579
Yie
ld (
t/h
a)
Variety trial in Brazil –
before release
Variety trial in Honduras
from existing commercial
varieties
Stage 1 – Selection from
existing commercial
varieties
Stage 2 – Selection from
filed trail release
Stage 3 – during the
breeding process
Main varieties in use with drip irrigation
Country Soil type Main Variety
West Africa Medium / Heavy Soil SP - 711406
Brazil Light / Sandy Soil RB 92-579; RB 85-7515
Brazil Medium / Heavy Soil RB 92-579; RB 85-7515
Honduras Light / Sandy Soil CP 722086
Honduras Medium / Heavy Soil MEX 69290
Thailand Light / Sandy Soil K 200; LK11
Hawaii Light / Sandy Soil HSPA 7750; 3567;7052; 4153
Mexico Light / Sandy Soil CP 72 2086; ATEMEX 96-40
Mexico Medium / Heavy Soil CP 72 2086; ATEMEX 96-41
India Light / Sandy Soil CO-86032; Cov-94101
India Medium / Heavy Soil CO-86032; Cov-94102
Peru Light / Sandy Soil CC8592;
Peru Medium / Heavy Soil Chicama 32; H69; MEX 73
Australia Medium / Heavy Soil KQ228; Q208; Q183
Soil Preparation –
during the wet
or the dry season
Soil Fertility
Soil Analysis
Base fertilization
Liming
Gypsum
Project: Luiz Fernando Feltre
São Paulo Brazil
Drip project area: 36 ha.
First ratoon: 123 ton / ha
Rain-fed: 50% less
Rainfall: 1400 mm/year, from October to March
Soil – Latossolo vermelho escuro
Soil pH – 4.5 – 5.5
Clay 75%, type Kaolinite 1:1
Hydraulic conductivity 10-1 – 10-2 cm/sec.
Case study: Use of drip in acidic soils
High precipitation causes leaching of the soil cations:
Ca++ Mg++ K+;
and water dissociation:
H2O H+ + OH-
Resulting in acid soils
Fertilizers in use: Urea
Treatment – Liming 5 ton/ha
Project: Ingenio Laredo (Peru) • Area: 3500 ha.
• Soil: 99% sand
• Rain: 10 mm/Year
• Yield: 180 ton/ha
• Without irrigation – no production!
Projects in Arid regions – sandy soils
Soil pH in drip projects in various locations
Country Soil Type Soil pH
West Africa Medium / Heavy Soil 5 - 6
Brazil Light / Sandy Soil 6 - 6.5
Brazil Medium / Heavy Soil 5 - 6
Honduras Light / Sandy Soil 6.5 - 7
Honduras Medium / Heavy Soil 6 - 6.5
Thailand Light / Sandy Soil 5 - 6
TEXAS Light / Sandy Soil 7.5
TEXAS Medium / Heavy Soil 7
HAWAII Light / Sandy Soil 5.3 - 6.5
Mexico Light / Sandy Soil 5.5 - 6.5
Mexico Medium / Heavy Soil 5.5 - 6.5
India Light / Sandy Soil 6.5 - 8
India Medium / Heavy Soil 7.2 - 8.5
Peru Light / Sandy Soil 8
Peru Medium / Heavy Soil 7.5
Australia Light / Sandy Soil 7
Australia Medium / Heavy Soil 7 - 8
50% of the projects located
in acid soils
(pH below 7) and 50% in
alkaline soils (pH above 7)
Roads and Drainage
The area must include optimal roads and
transportation division, as well as a
suitable drainage system that may also
include an underground drainage system
in some spots
raiser
Key Factors for Project Success
Wine Grapes
Sugar Cane
Installation Irrigation & fertigation management
20% 80%
Installation
80% 20%
Management
Furrowing Machine
One line-
Two lines-
Three lines-
Work output,
Tractor size
Three - Iron beams :
keeping a distance
between the burying
shank, furrowers and
depth control wheels
Bogamoyo Tanzania – one line furrowing
with a 3 line option
Brazilian Furrowing
Machine
deep furrowing
2 lines injection
base fertilization
Maple, Peru
3 line injection,
furrowing at second stage
Semi-automatic Planting
Points for consideration:
Time from planting to system
pressurization & germination
is critical
Fully automated planting
Harvest for seed – Direct from the field
No nursery
No seed treatment
Elevator protection
Rubber protection
Knife protection
Entrance protection
Some modifications need to be done
in the harvester for bud protection
From the harvester directly to the planting machine
Planting depth in drip projects in different locations
Country Soil Type Planting depth (cm)
West Africa Medium / Heavy Soil 10
Brazil Light / Sandy Soil 15 - 20
Brazil Medium / Heavy Soil 20 - 25
Honduras Light / Sandy Soil 15
Honduras Medium / Heavy Soil 15
Thailand Light / Sandy Soil 10
Texas Light / Sandy Soil 15 - 20
Texas Medium / Heavy Soil 15 - 20
Hawaii Light / Sandy Soil 10 - 15
Mexico Light / Sandy Soil 10 - 15
Mexico Medium / Heavy Soil 10 - 15
India Light / Sandy Soil 15 - 20
India Medium / Heavy Soil 15 - 20
Peru Light / Sandy Soil 10
Peru Medium / Heavy Soil 10 - 15
Australia Light / Sandy Soil 15
Australia Medium / Heavy Soil 15
burying machine
Netafim 1 line
Netafim 2 & 3 lines
Netafim 2 & 3 lines
Client 1 line planting machine
Client 1 line planting machine
Client 1 line planting machine
Client planting machine 2 lines
client/Netafim 1 line
client/Netafim 1 line
Netafim 1 line
Netafim 1 line
Netafim 2 lines
Netafim 2 lines
Client + GPS 2 lines
Client + GPS 2 lines
Seed depth
Ridge height
Relation between the seed and the
drip lateral
5cm
40 cm
15 - 20 cm 10 - 15
cm
Soil natural
surface
After covering bed about 5 cm high
Nursery – available seed material:
1. Time from harvest to planting
2. Seed treatment
Seed Quality
Poor seed quality Low germination
rate
excess ? of seeds
Mother
plants
Laboratory for tissue cultures
Plant
Hardening
Greenhouse for
seedlings
Commercial
nursery
Healthy seed production
Planting quality
Dual row 0.4 x 1.4m
Number of buds for 1m = 9 min
to 13 max (depends on the
planting methods and
germination rate) for germination
of 9 buds per m
Number of buds per ha =
100,000 to 130,000
Number of buds per m2 = 10 - 13
Seed quantity = 8 to 12 tons/ha
Selecting Variety
Nurseries
Planting date
Covering implements Depth control
Compact roll
No
Não
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ไม่มี Pas
geen
Covering & ridge height in various soils
Application of Vinasse and Humic Acids
Nematidcide Application via Drip
(Pratylenchus brachyurus and Meloidogyne incognita)
Nematidcide: Furadan 350g/l
Dose: 6 L/ha
10/3/10 before treatment 14/4/10 after treatment
Ripening treatment via drip -
Ethrel
Data : 24/04/2009
Variedade : 7515
Seção: 6
Talhão: 58 NETAFIMRB86
Descricao dos Intens :
Leitura do Brix 18,70
Leitura Sacarimétrica 66,87
Peso do Bolo Úmido 146,38
Fator de polarimetria 0,24
Pol 16,19
Pureza 86,55
Fibra 12,80
Coeficiente 0,94
Pol do Caldo 13,30
Fator de recuperação 1,03
Cálculo do AR% 0,71
Cálculo do ATR 143,29
Ágio/Deságio 28,23
Data : 25/04/2009
Variedade : 7515
Seção: 6
Talhão: 24 FAZ. PARTIDORB86
Descricao dos Intens :
Leitura do Brix 13,80
Leitura Sacarimétrica 42,56
Peso do Bolo Úmido 138,17
Fator de polarimetria 0,25
Pol 10,51
Pureza 76,15
Fibra 11,22
Coeficiente 0,95
Pol do Caldo 8,83
Fator de recuperação 0,90
Cálculo do AR% 1,64
Cálculo do ATR 111,90
Ágio/Deságio 0,14
Use of Drip as a Delivery System
Country Commercial Active Purpose
Brazil Furadan Carbofuran Nematode
Brazil Actara Tiametoxam Insect
Brazil Reagent Fipronil Nematode
Brazil Thiodan Endosulfan (prohibited to use)
Brazil Rynaxapir Chlorantraniliprole
Brazil Beauveria bassiana (fungi) Biological BROCA GIGANTE
Honduras Karate CYHALOTHRIN insect
Honduras Prowl Herbicide for maturation
Honduras Igrant Herbicide for maturation
Honduras Glifosat one and 2-4D Herbicide for maturation
Mexico Chloropyriphos (fungi) Biological
Mexico Vydate Oxamil Nematode
India Organic fertilizer Fertilization
Brazil Vinasse Fertilization
Brazil mill flushing water water Source
Brazil Etral Ripener
Single row 1.5 x 1.5 Dual row 1.4 x 0.4
Harvest
Spacing for Traffic control
Spacing of wagon & intermediate wagons
3.6 m 3 m
New John Deere harvester for high yields, harvesting dual
row cane at 1.6 x 0.9 m
Higher yields
Reduced over-stepping
Reduction of drip system cost
Not suitable for all soil types
1.6 m 0.9 m
Drip lines 2.5m apart
2.5m
Mechanical Harvest
Ridge height
Depth control sensor
Changing knife
Harvesting Method Distribution in Drip
Projects in Various Countries
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Mechanical Harvest Manual Harvest
Caterpillar or Wheels
Collecting trash for energy
Summary & Discussion
Agro – spacing planting depth, ridge height
GPS
Time from burying planting ready for germination
Order of installation
Rodents & insects recommendations for wall thickness