Visible losses in mechanized harvesting of sugarcane using the case IH A4000 harvester

Abstract

Sugarcane is a major Brazilian agricultural product. The area cultivated in the state of Rio de Janeiro for the 2011-12 crop was of 41.31 thousand hectares. The process of mechanized harvesting of the crop still has many visible losses of raw materials caused by several factors. This study aimed at evaluating the visible losses of sugarcane and ratoon damage using the Case A4000 harvester and was conducted in the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The materials left on the field by the harvester were collected in six ratoon cane rows, with a length of 350 m, setting the frame sampling to every 50 m. The sampling area consisted of 20 m2, with eight repetitions. The losses were calculated in t∙ha−1 and in %. The comparison of averages was performed by using the confidence interval, constructed by statistical “t” at 5% probability to compare the types of losses. The estimated productivity of the area was of 54 t∙ha−1. The differences between the types of losses were significant. The billets and splinters were found in greater quantity