The impact of green cane production systems on manual and mechanical farming operations
Code (CO)MSI05P4145
Author (AU)Meyer, E.
Norris, C. P.
Jacquin, E.
Richard, C.
Scandaliaris, J.
Title - English (ET)The impact of green cane production systems on manual and mechanical farming operations
Document Type(DT)periodical article
Date of publication (DP)2005
Series (SE)Proc. int. Soc. Sug. Cane Technol.
Source (SO)25 (1): 500-511
Notes (NO)Also published in Int. Sug. J. 107(1281): 514-524, Sept. 2005
Language of text (LT)En
Language of summaries (LS)En
Fr
Sp
Abstract (AB)Many sugar industries around the globe have moved, or are in the process of moving to green cane production systems. Some of these industries have done so because of pressure from local communities or because of government legislation regarding environmental pollution, while others have done so for a variety of agronomic and economic reasons. Never the less, it is estimated that at present more than 50 per cent of all sugarcane around the world is still burnt prior to harvesting. Burning the cane is seen as an effective way of maintaining high manual cutter and mechanical harvester outputs and to deliver cleaner cane to the mills. However, there are many disadvantages associated with burning, which include atmospheric pollution, and soil and water losses. Cut to crush delays in burnt cane have been recognised as one of the main causes of increased dextran levels in sugar. Many factors need to be considered when moving to a green cane production system, with the main issues involving the changes required to adapt to different agronomic, mechanical and labour regimes. Factory performance and social and economic implications also need to be taken into account. This paper highlights many of the issues that affect the operational, economic and social considerations that need to be evaluated when changing from a burnt to green cane harvesting system. These issues include manual and mechanical harvesting efficiencies and performances, handling of sugarcane residues and machinery availability and suitability. Other areas such as cane quality, and loading and transport of sugarcane are also discussed.
Descriptors - English (DE)sugarcane
burnt cane
green cane
manual harvesting
mechanical harvesting
harvesting
loading
transport
Descriptors - Geographic (DG)Mauritius
Sort Key 1(K1)Sugarcane: Cultural operations
Sort Key 2 (K2)Mechanization
Date record entered (DA)2005-02-24
Language of analysis (LA)en
Location (LO)LIB
Processing status (PS)CAT
MSIRI Staff (MS)Mechan