Brazilian sugar cane harvesting revolution improving soil quality
In Brazil, experts and growers are reporting that the mechanization of sugar cane harvesting is improving soil quality and adding longevity to the fields. Sugar cane fields were traditionally set on fire prior to harvesting. Growers are being ordered to stop burning the fields, with flat land growers given until 2014 and hillsides with slopes greater than 12 degrees given until 2017.
Manoel Ortolan, the president of Canaoeste (Sugar Cane Growers Association of Western São Paulo State) reports that there are now sugarcane fields that have been productive for seven or eight years – outlasting the usual five years for traditionally burned sugar cane fields.
Ortolan further states that leaf litter, by dint of restoring microflora in the soil can increase longevity to twelve or fifteen years. Another practice that is reported occurring is the of planting either peanuts or soybeans to help fix nitrogen in the soil, as opposed to letting 20% of sugarcane fields to lie fallow between removing the old sugarcane and planting anew. Gustavo Nogueira, technical director of Canaoeste, reports that this practice has caused northeastern São Paulo to supply 80% of Brazilian peanut production.
Category: Fuels
