Evaluation of visible losses and damage to the ratoon cane in the mechanized harvesting of sugarcane for different displacement speeds

Abstract

This study aimed at quantitatively evaluating the sugarcane losses and the damage caused to the ratoon cane while using the Case IH A8800 harvester in different displacement speeds; it was conducted in the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Three speeds were used as treatment (2 km∙h−1, 3 km∙h−1, and 4.5 km∙h−1), and each treatment was composed of six rows of harvested ratoon, each with a length of 290 m. In order to evaluate the quantitative losses in t∙ha−1 and the percentage of losses, the remaining sugarcane, left on the field after harvesting, was collected. The sampling frame was set to every 50 m, dividing the borders by 40 m; the measurement for each sampling area was of 20 m2, with five repetitions. In order to evaluate the damage caused to the ratoon canes, we chose a visual methodology to classify the damage degrees, ranging from one to four. There was no significant difference in losses when comparing different speeds. Therefore, it is more advantageous and economically viable to use the speed of 4.5 km∙h−1, which collects more in less time.