Sugarcane straw blanket management effects on plant growth, development, and yield in southeastern Brazil

Authors: LISBOA, IZAIAS - Universidad De Sao Paulo; CHERUBIN, MAURICA - Universidad De Sao Paulo; DE LIMA, RENATO - Federal Rural University Of Pernambuco; Wienhold, Brian; Schmer, Marty; Jin, Virginia

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/28/2019
Publication Date: 5/16/2019
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/6654045
Citation: Lisboa, I.P., Cherubin, M.R., De Lima, R.P., Wienhold, B.J., Schmer, M.R., Jin, V.L. 2019. Sugarcane straw blanket management effects on plant growth, development, and yield in southeastern Brazil. Crop Science. 59(4):1732-1744. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2018.07.0468.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2018.07.0468

Interpretive Summary: In Brazil, mechanical harvest of sugarcane results in a large amount of crop residue remaining on the soil surface. Farmers perceive that excessive residue has a negative effect on yield of the subsequent crop. A practice farmers are beginning to adopt is to rake the residue off the crop row into the between crop area but there has been no research to assess the effectiveness of this practice. A two-year study was conducted during both the wet and dry seasons at two locations in southeast Brazil. During each season at both sites three treatments were applied (no residue removal, raking residue from the crop row to the between crop area, and total residue removal) and crop tilling, total plant production, and stalk yield were measured. Raked and total residue removal improved crop tilling but there were no differences in final plant population. A reduction in total plant production was observed from the first to the second ratoon during both seasons and both sites. Stalk yield was similar between the raking and no residue removal treatments. Raking residue had no benefit on sugarcane yield but may result in soil compaction and higher production costs over time.

Technical Abstract: In Brazilian sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) production systems, the practice of moving harvesting residue from row to inter-row positions (i.e.,raking) has increased in response to producer concerns over the potential negative effects of sugarcane straw on crop establishment and stalk yield. Despite increasing adoption among sugarcane farmers, the impacts of straw raking practices on plant growth and yield remain unclear. A 2-yr experiment that included both dry and wet seasons was conducted at two sites in southeastern Brazil to evaluate straw management strategy effects on plant tillering, phytomass accumulation, plant nutritional status, and stalk yield. The experiments were established at the Bom Retiro mill and the Univalem mill. Experimental treatments included raking straw to inter-rows (raked), total straw removal (bare soil), and no straw removal (straw cover). Raked and bare soil treatments improved plant tillering but did not influence final plant population. Straw management had a slight effect on phytomass accumulation. Reduction of phytomass yield was observed from the first to the second ratoon during both seasons at both sites. At Bom Retiro, phytomass yield decreased 37% for stands established during the dry season and 19% for stands established during the wet season. At Univalem, phytomass yield decreased 20% for stands established during the dry season and 30% for stands established during the wet season. Retaining straw in the field (regardless of treatment) increased leaf tissue P content but not stalk yield. Raking straw from row to interrow positions at these locations in southeastern Brazil had no benefit on sugarcane yield but may result in soil compaction and higher production costs over time.