The Results of Field Trials Conducted to Evaluate Varying Methods of Reducing the Amount of Non-cane Material in Combine Harvested Deliveries to Louisiana Sugar Mills

Authors: JACKSON, W. - ASCL OF THE USA; RICHARD, C. - C.A.RICHARD & ASSOCIATES; WAGUESPACK, H. - ASCL OF THE USA; Richard Jr, Edward

Submitted to: International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/14/2003
Publication Date: 10/16/2003
Citation: Jackson, W., Richard, C., Waguespack, H., Richard Jr, E.P. 2003. The Results of Field Trials Conducted to Evaluate Varying Methods of Reducing the Amount of Non-cane Material in Combine Harvested Deliveries to Louisiana Sugar Mills [abstract]. International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists' Agricultural Engineering Workshop - Abstracts of Communications. Available: http://issct/intnet.mu.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: For nearly fifty years, the Louisiana sugar industry harvested its crop of erect growing varieties with an ever-improving whole-stalk harvester. This method of harvest was low-cost and in most cases delivered relatively high quality cane to the mill. With the release of a recumbent high-yielding variety, LCP 85-384, the use of the Louisiana soldier harvester ended for most growers as use of the cane combine escalated. Many field experiments have been conducted to compare the advantages/disadvantages of the two different harvest systems including the economics for each system. As the combine harvester gained in popularity, experiments were also conducted to evaluate the influence of extractor fan speed on harvesting efficiency. During these test trials, delivered sugar per hectare was the main variable examined. In the initial years of combine usage, many sugar mills receiving chopped cane complained about the amount of non-cane material that was being delivered to them. As the use of combine harvesters rapidly increased, growers realized that it was more cost effective for them to send some level of leaf material and immature tops to the mill by delivering some leaf trash and tops, per hectare sugar yields increased because the decreases in recoverable sugar associated with increases in fiber did not offset the increases in cane tonnage. Recently, a new formula has been employed by the mills in Louisiana to more accurately reflect the impact of fiber on recoverable sugar yields. In another approach to evaluating the economics associated with the delivery of non-cane material to the mill, a ground speed study was established. In this study, the effects of four different ground speeds (4.5, 3.5, 2.5 and 1.5 mph) were examined. The extractor-fan revolutions per minute were maintained at a constant rate for all ground speeds. Data was collected under varying field, weather and pre-harvest conditions, with about half of the fields burned prior to harvest. In this series of tests, the amount of sugar paid to the growers by the mill was not significantly different for the high or low ground speed. However, quality of the cane was better at the lower speed. Once again, if only the profitability of the grower was considered, it was often times more lucrative for the grower to deliver additional tonnes of the slightly lower quality cane. As one studies the results of data since the introduction of the variety LCP 85-384 to Louisiana and the transition of the industry to combine harvesting, the quality of cane deliveries can be improved, but there must be a financial reward (motivation) for the cane growers.