Reduction in Sugarcane Trash by Desiccation with Paraquat
1976
Samuels, G. | Beale, A.
Incomplete preharvest burning, due to a high moisture content of green tops, has increased the trash content of sugarcane in Puerto Rico, thus raising field harvest costs and decreasing sugar recovery in the factory. The present investigation was made to study the possible use of a chemical desiccant to obtain better preharvest burning in order to decrease the trash content of the cane. Ten fields of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) in irrigated, normal, and high rainfall areas were divided in half, and one half of each field was sprayed with 1.8 liters of Paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4-dipyridiniumbis-dimethyl sulfate, commercially known as Gramoxone) in 76 liters of water/ha, 1 week before preharvest burning of the field to reduce cane trash. Burning was more thorough in Paraquat-treated fields giving trash and cane fiber reductions of 5.08 and 0.72%, respectively. Values for sucrose percent cane, Brix, and purity were not significantly affected by desiccant action. The method of harvesting influenced response to the desiccant; the V-cutter having a higher reduction in percent trash than did the cut and load harvester. No differences due to plant crop or ratoon were observed.
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