ISSCT XXVIth CONGRESS Durban, South Africa 29th July - 2nd  August  2007

AGRICULTURE COMMISSION Papers & Posters Titles (Click on titles to access Abstracts) agronomy & AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING AGRONOMY PAPERS AG1  Soil loss and declining sugarcane yields on sloping land in Fiji         A.N. Ram, J.S. Gawander, A.D. Jokhan, K. Garan  - Fiji     AG2 The better sugarcane initiative - impacts and benefits on the global sugarcane industry R. Quirk, H, Morar, R. Perkins, G. Kingston, W. Burnquist - Australia AG5 Integrated agronomic practices for sustainable sugarcane production - a report on the 2006 Agronomy workshop K.F. Ng Kee Kwong - Mauritius AG15 A new approach to implementing computer-based decision support for sugarcane farmers and extension staff: the case of My Canesim A. Singels - South Africa   AG18        Improving cane productivity with dual row planting in Mauritius F.M. Ismael, S. Seeruttun, C. Barbe, A. Gaungoo - Mauritius AG19 New herbicide tank-mix, Krismat® + Dinamic®: A cost-effective broad-spectrum pre- & post-emergence treatment for managing weeds in sugarcane        S. Seeruttun, C. Barbe, A. Gaungoo - Mauritius AG22   Recent advances to improve nitrogen use efficiency of sugarcane in the South African sugar industry J.H. Meyer, A.W. Schumann, R.A. Wood, D. Nixon, M. Van Den Berg  - South Africa             AG23 Minimum tillage: Ten years of experience        P. Prammanee, S. Saensupo, P. Weerathaworn, A. Sriwarome - Thailand              AG25  Electrical resistivity measurements for fast and precise large scale charaterization of the agricultural land of Cameroon Sugar Society (SOSUCAM) T. Viremouneix, L. Guiard, M. Dabas, B. Tsogo Zamba - Cameroon AG29 The effect of a novel system of vinasse application on sugarcane growth and yield in China Y-R. Li, Q-Z. Zhu, W-Z. Wang, S. Solomon - China AG32 Factors associated with a healthy soil in sugarcane production in Kwazulu Natal        T. Van Antwerpen, R. Van Antwerpen, J.H. Meyer, P. Naidoo, S. Berry, V.W. Spaull, K. Govender, P. Cadet, S. Rutherford, M. Laing - South Africa           AG37   Ammonia volatilization from urease inhibitor-treated urea applied to sugarcane trash blankets      H. Cantarella, P.C.O. Trivelin, T.L.M. Contin, F.L.F. Dias, R. Rossetto, R. Marcelino, R.B. Coimbra, J.A. Quaggio - Brasil              AG39  Dry matter production and N accumulation in sugarcane for use as animal feed       S. Ishikawa, S. Ando, T. Sakaigaichi, Y. Terajima, M.Sugiura, M. Matsuoka  - Japan AG42 Dual row planting - a system to increase Thai farmers' cane yield and economic returns T. Klomsa-ard, C. Prasantree,S. Jomsri, A. Tenglolai, P. Prammanee, P. Weerathaworn - Thailand AG46  Systems to balance production and environmental goals of nitrogen fertiliser management       P.J. Thorburn, A.J. Webster, I.M. Biggs, J.S. Biggs, S.P. Staunton, S.E. Park - Australia AG47 Evaluating the impact of and capacity for adaptation to climate change on sectors in the sugar industry value chain in Australia        S. Park, M. Howden, H. Horan - Australia              AG50  Practical methods of evaluating on-farm irrigation systems       D. Musa  - Swaziland       AG57  Site specific agriculture and productivity in the Colombian sugar industry C.H. Isaacs, J.A. Carbonell, A. Amaya, J.S. Torres, J.I. Victoria, R. Quintero, A.E. Palma, J.H. Cock AG59 Sugarcane water use and irrigation requirements in a semi-arid environment       R.P. Wiedenfeld  - USA              AG60 Effects of trash, vinasse and nitrogen application on ratoon sugarcane A.A. Casagrande, P.R.S. Buzolin, M.A. Mutton, M.J.R. Mutton, M.S. Campos - Brasil AG64   Microbial degradation of post-harvest residues      R.M. Johnson, R.P. Viator, M.P. Grisham, E.P. Richard, Jr, R. Boopathy -  USA AG74  Allelopathic effects of sugarcane post-harvest residue       F. Villegas, J.S. Torres, J.E. Larrahondo, D.F. Restrepo - Colombia              GO TOP AGRONOMY POSTERS AGP1 Fall panicum (Panicum dichotmiflorum) control and crop safety with hexazinone and diuron combinations in Florida sugarcane C.E. Rainbolt - USA AGP3 Sugarcane reduces soil erosion by more than 80% in five major soil groups of Mauritius S. Seeruttun, D. Ah Koon, F.M. Ismael, R. Ng Cheong - Mauritius AGP4 Performance of exogenous sugarcane germplasm on mineral soils of Florida, USA R.A. Gilbert, J.D. Miller, J.C. Comstock, B. Glaz, S.J. Edme - USA AGP6 Effects of various green manures on soil nutrient status S. Berry, R. Rhodes - South Africa AGP7 Developing systematic management for whole-farm infestations of Cynodon dactylon in sugarcane P.L. Campbell, D. Armstrong, G. Ogilvie - South Africa AGP9 Effect of a trash blanket on irrigation water use efficiency of sugarcane F.C. Olivier, A. Singels - South Africa AGP10 TSIGANE: an online geographic information system and decision support tool for the management of  sugarcane production P. Todoroff, J-B Laurent - Guadeloupe AGP11 Effects of seedcane quality on sugarcane yield components in Tucuman (Argentina) M.I. Cuenya, M.B. Garcia, C. Diaz Romero, S. Ostengo, D. Costilla, E.R. Romero - Argentina AGP12 Sugarcane potential trash estimation: Variety and cane yield effect E.R. Romero, J. Scandaliaris, P. Digonzelli, L. Alonso, F. Leggio Neme, J. Giardina, S. Casen, J. Tonatto, J. Fernandez de Ullivarri - Argentina AGP13 Sugarcane burning statistics using remote sensing technology in Tucuman - Argentina J. Tonatto, J. Fernandez de Ullivarri, J. Alonso, E.R. Romero - Argentina AGP14 Effects of potassium on photosynthesis and sugar yield in sugarcane T. Azama, Y. Kawamitsu, Y. Fukuzawa, M. Ueno, Y. Komiya - Japan AGP15 Incorporating the Canegro model into the DSSAT V4 crop modelling system M. Jones, C. Porter, J.W. Jones, G. Hoogenboom, A. Singels, J. Shine, R. Nayamuth, G. Kingston, S. Chinorumba, M. Van den Berg - South Africa AGP16 Sugarcane yields and soil chemical properties due to mill mud application to a sandy soil D.R. Morris, R.A. gilbert, C.R. Rainbolt, R.E. Perdomo, G. Powell, B. Eiland, G. Montes - USA AGP17 Integrated practices for an improved sustainable, subtropical sugarcane industry: A case study R.G. Quirk, T.G. Zwemer - Australia AGP18 You don't have to be M.A.D. but it helps-changing a whole farming system M.J. North, D.K. Bartlett, A.C. Durrington, P.J. McGuire - Australia AGP19 A web-based system for scheduling irrigation in sugarcane N.G. Inman-Bamber, S.J. Attard, W.A. Webb, C. Baillie - Australia AGP21 Effect of rate and split application of nitrogen on agronomic characteristics, cane yield and juice quality Sreewarome, A. Saensupo, S. Prammanee, P. Weerathaworn - Thailand AGP24 Changes in soil physical parameters of a virgin soil due to compaction by commercial sugarcane haulage vehicles R. Van Antwerpen, P.W.L. Lyne, E. Meyer, M. Brouwers - South Africa AGP26 Thiamethoxam stimulates sugarcane stalk productivity M.A. Mutton, M.J.R. Mutton, O. Euzebio Filho, G. Nakamura, P. Aramaki - Brazil AGP28 Sugarcane nutrition through rain gun sprinkler irrigation P.P. Shinde, A.S. Deshmukh - India AGP29 Better management of acid sulfate soils improves drainage, water quality and sugarcane yields R. G. Quirk, M.D. Melville, I. White, B.C.T. Macdonald, A.F. Keene - Australia AGP30 FIVE-CoRe: A simple model for Farm Irrigation volume estimates according to constraints and requirements. Application to sugarcane in Reunion (France) J.L. Chopart, M. Mezino, L. Le Mezo, J.L Fusillier - Reunion AGP31 Metribuzin and Atrazine adsorption by sugarcane residue H.M. Selim, B.J. Naquin - USA AGP32 SuSFarMS environmental management system an extension tool for implementing better management practices in sugarcane G.W. Maher - South Africa AGP34 Sugarcane yields in the Ivory Coast as influenced by soil water balance over two critical growth stages C.B. Pene, S.G. Koulibaly - Ivory Coast AGP37 Evaluation of bagasse and filter mud as sources of organic matter on the quality and quantity of sugarcane L. Abdullahi, A.A. Moezzi, H. Amerikhah, A.A. Khdemalrasoul - Iran AGP38 Exploratory trials: valuable insights, or a waste of resources? R. Rhodes, R. Van Antwerpen, S. Berry - South Africa AGP39 Effect of organic ameliorants to improve soils using sugarcane as a model R. Tangkoonboribun, S. Ruaysoongnern, P. Vityakon, B. Toomsan, M.S. Rao - Thailand AGP40 Agroclimatic and hydrological response surfaces for sugarcane production in South Africa C.N. Bezuidenhout, P.J. Hull, R.E. Schulze, M. Maharaj, P.W.L. Lyne - South Africa AGP41 Early and late-season screening of sugarcane varieties in northern Ivory Coast C.B. Pene, K. Tuo - Ivory Coast AGP42 Soil dynamics and cane yield as influenced by organic and inorganic manures in a sugarcane system R.B. Khandagave - India AGP43 Use of physiological parameters to detect differences in drought tolerance among sugarcane genotypes M.A. Silva, J.A.G. Da Silva, J.L. Jifon, V. Sharma - USA AGP44 Manipulation of cutting age, varieties and planting time to improve  sugar and cane yield R. B. Khandagave, B.H. Patil - India AGP45 Sodic soil management of the  sugarcane area in western Thailand C. Khodphuwiang, P. Kongyoo, P. Prammanee, P. Weerathaworn - Thailand AGP46 Variety evaluation in the South African sugarcane industry: an overview S. Ramburan, K.A. Redshaw, M. Van den Berg - South Africa AGP48 Evaluation of pump delivery rates in the Swaziland sugar industry P.V. Mkhaliphi, M.V. Dlamini - Swaziland AGP49 Quantifying the effects of environment and genotype on plant elongation rate in sugarcane M.A. Smit, A. Singels - South Africa AGP52 The infestation of Mahanarva fimbriolata (stal, 1854) affects cane quality, juice clarification and syrup production M.J.R. Mutton, L.L. Madaleno, L.E. Presotti, G.C. Raveneli, M.A. Mutton - Brazil AGP53 Ethanol production in spittlebug-infested sugarcane M.J.R. Mutton, M.A. Mutton, G.C. Raveneli, T.D. Goncalves, L.L. Madaleno, L.E. Presotti, E.R. Guimaraes - Brazil AGP54 Free proline accumulation in spittlebug-infested sugarcane E.R. Guimaraes, M.A. Mutton, M.I.T. Ferro, M.J.R. Mutton, D.B. Kalaki - Brazil AGP57 Evaluation of MOSICAS sugarcane growth model in Brazil M.S. Bernardes, C. Suguitani, P.R. Laclau, J. Martine, J. Chopart - Brazil AGP58 A sustainable crop fertilization program for a sugar factory in Chiapas, Mexico S. Salgado-Garcia, D. Palma-Lopez, J. Zavala-Cruz, L. Lagunes-Espinoza, M. Castelan-Estrada, F. Ortiz-Garcia, J. Juarez-Lopez, J. Rincon-Ramirez - Mexico AGP59 Soil tillage methods in unburnt, mechanically harvested systems F.L.F. Dias, I. Andrioli, R. Rossetto, M.A. Mutton, A. Casagrande - Brazil AGP60 Effects of different organic fertilisers, associated or not with chemical fertilizers, in the production of sugarcane and the theoretical yield of cachaca J.C. Garcia, L.A.B. Andrade - Brazil AGP61 Analysis and forecasting of the sucrose content of sugarcane crops during the harvest period in Reunion Island J.F. Martine - Reunion GO TOP AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING PAPERS AE1  Sequence of tillage practices and reduction of land preparation costs on a Mollisol of the Cauca Valley, Colombia  J.S. Torres, G.A. Criollo, R.Franco - Colombia     AE2 Productivity improvement under green cane harvesting conditions          C. Norris, J.C. Mirande, R. Guillen, E. Jacquin, C. Richard, P. Lyne, J. Scandaliaris                AE5 Performance of irrigation systems and water use of sugarcane: A field to catchment scale perspective          N.L. Lecler, D.J. Clark, R.E. Schulze, B.A.K. Griffiths, J.C. Smithers - South Africa      AE6 Development and modification of machinery for an improved farming system in the Australian sugar industry        J.G. Kidd, B.G. Robotham, C. Whiteing, A.L. Garside - Australia  AE7  Sugarcane trash collection at the small farms in southern India     H. Vincent Paul, M. Krishnamurthi - India       AE8 Mill-scale supply chain and logistics model integration for improved decision support          P.Y. Le Gal, C.N. Bezuidenhout, P.W.L. Lyne - France              AE9 Evaluation of green-cane harvesting and crop management with a trash-blanket         O. Nunez, E. Spaans - Ecuador               AE14  High efficient diagnosis of sugarcane farm land using NIR spectroscopy networking system      E. Taira, M. Ueno, Yoshinobu, R. Matsukawa - Japan              AE15 A review of the cane haulage problems at Hippo Valley Estates       S. Chidoma - Zimbabwe AE16 Mechanization of sugarcane production in India R.N.S. Yadav - India             AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING POSTERS AEP1 Performance and economics of the Illovo mechanical cane cutter P.W.L. Lyne, M.I. Langton,C.N. Bezuidenhout and J.C. Smithers  - South Africa AEP2 Evaluating the applicability of MODIS data for forecasting sugarcane yields in Colombia E. Bastidas-Obando and J. Carbonell-González - Colombia AEP3 Discrimination of sugarcane varieties CC 85-92 and CC 84-75 using Landsat 7 ETM_satellite imagery P.J. Murillo, J.A. Carbonell, C.A. Osorio and E. Bastidas-Obando - Colombia AEP4 Performance of the harvester under green cane harvesting in Okinawa T. Akachi - Japan AEP7 Optimised agricultural planning of the sugarcane using the linear programming M.S. Scarpari, M.G.A. Landell and E.G.F. de Beauclair  - Brasil GO TOP AGRONOMY PAPERS ABSTRACTS AG1_abstract SOIL LOSS AND DECLINING SUGARCANE YIELDS ON SLOPING LAND IN FIJI By A.N. RAM1, J.S. GAWANDER1, A.D. JOKHAN2, and K. GARAN1 1Sugar Research Institute of Fiji, FIJI 2Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the South Pacific, FIJI ashween@fsc.com.fj  Keywords: Erosion, Trash Mulch, High Rainfall, Management Practices, Soil Conservation Abstract   Growing sugarcane on sloping land receiving high-intensity rainfalls causes extensive soil erosion in Fiji.  This soil loss and accompanying declining cane yields on undulating terrain is of major concern to the Fijian sugar industry.  In recent years, growers have not only abandoned best management practices to conserve the soil, but they have also uprooted the borders of vetiver grass.  This, to a large extent, has accelerated the loss of top soil and thus soil degradation causing, with the burning of trash, the yield to decline even more rapidly.  As quantitative data on erosion from field plots are scanty in Fiji, an experiment was initiated on a sloping cane farm (8° slope) to determine soil loss under different management practices and impact on the cane yield of the plant cane and of ratoon crops. The different management practices studied were sugarcane planted across slope, sugarcane planted uphill and downhill, cane planted across the slope with vetiver grass grown as hedgerow, and trash cover with cane planted across slope.  There was significant (P<0.05) difference in cane yield in the plant-cane crop.  In ratoons, there were no significant differences among treatments.  However, the plots in which trash was conserved and cane planted across the slope maintained yields better than the other three treatments.  Soil loss was largely affected by the different planting strategies associated with the conservation practices.  Trash acted as a protective layer under high rainfall, and 153 and 221 kg soil/ha/y were eroded in the first- and second-ratoon crops, respectively.  Where the sugarcane was planted uphill and downhill soil losses were 16 376, 259 and 2274 kg/ha/y, in plant cane and the two ratoon crops, respectively.  The very low soil loss in the first-ratoon crop is attributed to the drought conditions of that year.  Planting sugarcane across the slope, conserving trash mulch, and keeping a vetiver hedgerow therefore reduces soil erosion and, with increasing period of cultivation, will sustain cane production to provide stable economic returns to Fijian farmers.  GO TOP AG2_abstract The Better Sugarcane Initiative – Impacts and Benefits on the Global Sugarcane Industry by R. Quirk 1, H. Morar 2, R. Perkins 3, G. Kingston 4, and W. Burnquist 5 1 Cane grower – Australia, 2 Tate & Lyle  – UK, 3 WWF – UK, 4 BSES Limited – Australia, 5 Cane Technology Centre – Brazil rgquirk@bigpond.com   KEYWORDS: Sustainability, environmental impacts, cane growing, sugar milling, Better Sugarcane Abstract  An international conference in London in June 2005 confirmed that several producers and processors of sugarcane were committed to the common goal of production and processing of sugarcane in an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable manner. This goal will be met through the Better Sugarcane Initiative (BSI). Stakeholders will engage in a constructive dialogue to define and develop relevant performance-based and verifiable standards to describe practices within the value chain for sustainable sugarcane systems. The BSI will also foster implementation of improved management practices to effect measurable reduction in key impacts, as there is evidence that more sustainable practices can result in improved profitability.  To achieve this goal the participants in the BSI have agreed: To maintain open, honest, and respectful communications; To develop a protocol for external communications related to the BSI including the use of sensitive data; To respect differences in experience and opinion, recognizing that impacts will differ from farm to farm and region to region, as will the ability to reduce impacts; To form a steering committee that reflects the interests of the range of stakeholders interested in Better Sugarcane; To address the key global impacts associated with growing and processing sugarcane in the following areas: Field environmental impacts associated with soil health, water use, generation of effluents and habitat loss; Labour issues ranked as work place health and safety, child labour, casualisation of labour and wage levels; Community impacts including access to water, health and education; Processing impacts ranked as food and worker safety, mill environmental issues and water use. We provide background to the BSI, on how it may impact international sugarcane industries and plans for initiatives. We draw on our international experiences and knowledge to inform the conference as to the Best Management Practices (BMP) in their countries of origin and associations, and will be looking for assistance to broaden this knowledge for the betterment of the global sugar industry.  GO TOP AG5_abstract INTEGRATED AGRONOMIC PRACTICES FOR SUSTAINABLE SUGARCANE PRODUCTION – A REPORT ON THE 2006 AGRONOMY WORKSHOP By K.F NG KEE KWONG Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute RNKKwong@msiri.intnet.mu KEYWORDS: New technologies, plant residues, organic matter, environment Abstract  The 2006 Agronomy Workshop was held from 22 to 26 May 2006 in Khon Kaen, Thailand.  The response by sugar cane technologists to the Workshop was very positive with the presence of 92 participants coming from 16 different countries (41 of them travelling from overseas).  The scene for discussion and interaction among the technologists was set by 30 oral presentations and 10 posters divided under the five following specific themes:  New/refined technologies for sustainable sugar cane production Ratoon yield decline and its management Soil management and the utilization of plant residues Challenge of environmental pressure and strategy for the sugar cane grower Modelling sugar cane growth and production It emerged at the Workshop that the key for sustainable sugar cane production lies in soil organic matter conservation.  The benefits from measures that enhance and conserve soil organic matter can, however, be gauged most often in the medium or long term through the improvement in soil health.  Though soil organic matter conservation and build up in the soil are most critical for better management practices, it was also clear that research findings should not be considered as universally applicable and should be tested under the specific local conditions.    The Workshop also provided the opportunity to acquire an overview of the sugar industry in Thailand and the status of research and development in the country.  The problems that the Thai sugar industry has to overcome are not more daunting than those experienced in other sugar producing countries.  With an integrated approach encompassing a more effective technology transfer and a more efficient breeding program to produce cane with improved ratooning ability and resistance to pests and diseases, the Thai sugar industry would certainly be capable of improving very significantly its productivity and sustainability.  GO TOP AG15_final A new approach to implementing computer-based decision support for sugarcane farmers and extension staff THE CASE OF MY CANESIM by A.      SINGELS South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa abraham.singels@sugar.org.za KEYWORDS: Crop model, irrigation, decision support, extension, Internet, weather data. Abstract  Sugarcane production regularly requires complex and quick decision-making under ever changing conditions. Adoption of computer-based decision support systems has been disappointing. This paper reviews a new approach to developing and implementing decision support for sugarcane production.   The main features are (1) use of state-of-the-art technology, (2) limiting users’ exposure to system complexity, and (3) participation of users in system design and implementation.  The My Canesim system consists of a sugarcane model, an on-line weather database and a communication network.  The system uses basic field data, initially entered by the user via the Internet, to calculate the soil and crop status for each day of the growing season as the season progresses.    The system was implemented on a pilot scale on two small-scale irrigation schemes in Pongola and Makhathini, South Africa. Farmers, extension staff and mill cane supply management contributed to the design of the web interface, the advice and the reports generated by the system.  Irrigation advice and yield estimates are disseminated weekly to 39 farmers using cell phone text messages.  Summaries for each scheme are faxed to three extension officers and to mill management.  Reports containing detailed information such as estimated current and predicted future cane yield, sucrose content and soil water deficit can be downloaded from the website. The study revealed various inefficient irrigation practices that could be eliminated and showed that significant savings in irrigation water and costs could be achieved by following the advice. System reports served as a useful benchmark of field and crop status.  These reports were used by extension staff as a basis for discussion during field visits and by mill management as an indicator of crops that are ready for harvesting.  It is believed that a similar approach could be followed to support other aspects of crop production, e.g. fertilizer management and harvest scheduling. GO TOP AG18_abstract Improving Cane Productivity with Dual Row Planting in Mauritius by F. M. ISMAEL, S. SEERUTTUN, C. BARBE AND A. GAUNGOO Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Réduit, Mauritius fismael@msiri.intnet.mu   KEYWORDS: sugarcane, row spacings, dual rows, cane and sugar yield Abstract  Dual row planting, consisting of pairs of cane rows 0.5 m apart with 1.8 m between their centres, was studied in twelve field trials between 1999 and 2004. Dual rows were compared to the standard row spacing of 1.6 m. Two N fertilizer rates (normal and + 25%) and two cane sett densities (normal and a reduced amount) were included as treatments in the early trials whereas the response of sugarcane varieties to the new spacing was evaluated later. Increases in cane yields with dual row planting varied between 3% and 28% depending on cane varieties; M 1400/86 and R 579 were the most responsive with a mean increase varying between 8% and 16%. Yields of plant and ratoon cane showed that dual rows can be planted with an equivalent amount of cane setts and using the same rate of fertilizer as for the conventional spacing. No difference in sucrose content has been observed between the two spacings. Weed management improved with dual rows; and critical periods of weed competition were shortened by at least four weeks. Mechanized harvest of dual rows at some of the sites showed that the pairs of rows can be cut simultaneously without any difficulty; the efficiency of the machines also improved with less driving distance per hectare, less turning time and a higher pour rate. Dual row planting is being increasingly adopted as initial results from commercially planted fields are confirming the gain in productivity. GO TOP AG19_abstract New Herbicide Tank-Mix, Krismat® + Dinamic®: A Cost-effective Broad-spectrum Pre-& Post-Emergence Treatment for Managing Weeds in SugarCane By S. Seeruttun, C. Barbe and A. Gaungoo Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Réduit, Mauritius sseeruttun@msiri.intnet.mu   KEYWORDS: trifloxysulfuron, ametryn, amicarbazone, weed management, sugarcane Abstract  New weed management strategies are being developed to reduce the amount and cost of herbicides used within the Mauritian sugar industry. One approach consists of applying herbicides a few weeks after planting or harvest at the beginning of the critical period of weed competition, with the goal of controlling emerged weeds and providing long-term residual activity. With this objective, new herbicides Krismat (trifloxysulfuron + ametryn) and Dinamic (amicarbazone) were tested alone or in tank-mixes in both plant and ratoon cane. When applied pre-emergence to weeds, Krismat (1.5-1.8 kg a.i./ha) and Dinamic (1.05 and 1.4 kg a.i./ha) were found to be comparable to the standards. Krismat was less effective on Digitaria horizontalis and D. timorensis while Dinamic did not control Cyperus rotundus, Paspalum spp. and Kyllinga spp.; tank-mixing lower rates of the two herbicides overcame their weaknesses while maintaining a residual activity over 14 to 16 weeks. With early post-emergence applications, both Krismat and Dinamic were effective on many broad-leaved weeds and some grasses. The efficacy of Krismat on Paspalum spp., C. rotundus and other sedges, and that of Dinamic on Digitaria horizontalis compensated for their individual inefficacies when they were tank-mixed. The tank-mix, Krismat + Dinamic (1.5 + 0.875-1.05 kg a.i./ha) did not cause crop injury in young plant or ratoon cane. The efficacy (pre- and post-emergence) of the new tank-mix offers a new perspective for managing weeds in sugarcane, as delaying of the first herbicide application will result in savings of at least one herbicide treatment per season. GO TOP  AG22_abstract RECENT ADVANCES TO IMPROVE NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY OF SUGARCANE IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN SUGAR INDUSTRY by J.H. MEYER1, A.W. SCHUMANN2, R.A. WOOD3, D. NIXON4, M. VAN DEN BERG1 1South African Sugar Research Institute,2University of Florida,3 Sugarcane consultant,4Booker Tate. SASRI, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe 4300 jan.meyer@sugar.org.za     KEYWORDS: Nitrogen, N mineralisation, urea, N volatilisation, leaf N   Abstract The nitrogen requirement of sugarcane in South Africa has been the subject of extensive research.  Results of more than 200 trials conducted over the past four decades have shown that the response to applied N can be highly variable and that N use efficiency by the crop can be influenced by ecological factors such as season, rainfall, nature of the soil as well as cultural practices that include variety, irrigation, N form, rate, timing and method of N placement.  Local research results are reviewed and specific outcomes that have modified N use efficiency include: ·         Soil specific nitrogen fertiliser recommendations for the main agro-climatic zones that are based on soil organic matter status and the potential of the soil to release N; ·         For advisory purposes, an analytical method based on Near Infra‑red Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) was pioneered to rapidly measure the organic matter and nitrogen mineralisation potential of soil; ·         A new laboratory test to predict potential ammonia volatilisation losses from surface-applied urea fertiliser; ·         Improved N fertiliser use efficiency through fertigation; ·         Classification of sugarcane varieties into one of three categories of N use efficiency and the impact on N recommendations; ·         The use of the leaf and stalk N/Si ratio as a predictor of risk from stalk borer damage; ·         Development of robust leaf N thresholds using a continuous model Fourier function and the use of DRIS to more accurately diagnose the nitrogen status of sugarcane.   In general, the adoption by growers of a number of these research outcomes over the past two decades has resulted in an improvement of fertiliser N use efficiency from 2.0 kg N/ t of harvested cane in 1980 to the current level of about 1.45 kg N/ t cane, without compromising average cane yields.  This represents an overall improvement in irrigated areas of about 28% in N fertiliser use efficiency. GO TOP AG23_abstract MINIMUM TILLAGE: TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE by P. PRAMMANEE, S. SAENSUPO, P. WEERATHAWORN, A. SRIWAROME  Mitr Phol Sugarcane Research Co. Ltd., Chaiyaphum, Thailand preechap@mitrphol.com   Keywords:  Soil degradation, productivity, economic analysis, nitrogen fertilizer  Abstract Continuous and intensive land preparation, cane burning, together with the introduction of heavy cane harvesters, loaders, and heavy trucks have all contributed to the break down of soil structure. Minimum tillage has been proposed as an alternative practice to reduce loss of soil productivity. The main objectives of this ten-year trial were to determine the effects of different soil tillage methods and nitrogen rates on sugarcane production and soil properties. The five tillage systems tested were: T1 conventional tillage, T2-T4 minimum tillage with different planting methods and T5 no tillage. Nitrogen rates were 144 and 288 kg N/ha. The minimum tillage treatment that used only a stool scrapeout gave higher yields (100 t/ha) than the conventional (92 t/ha) and no-tillage treatments (93 t/ha). The minimum tillage (T2-T4) systems had slightly higher soil bulk densities than the conventional (T1) in the first few years, whilst the no-tillage (T5) systems tended to have the highest. Cane in all tillage treatments did not show any significant response to nitrogen fertilizer. When considering the economic analyses, minimum tillage gave the best net profit of US$1031.2/ha compared to that of conventional tillage US$912.0.  GO TOP AG25_abstract ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY MEASUREMENTS FOR FAST AND PRECISE LARGE SCALE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL LAND OF CAMEROON SUGAR SOCIETY (SOSUCAM) by T. VIREMOUNEIX1, L. GUIARD2, M. DABAS3, B. TSOGO ZAMBA1 1SOSUCAM, BP 857, Yaoundé - Cameroon 2SOMDIAA, 39 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 75001 Paris - France 3GEOCARTA, 16 rue du Sentier, 75002 Paris - France tviremouneix@sosucam.jlv.com   KEYWORDS : Sugarcane, Resistivity, Soil map, Crop management, Sustainable agriculture  Abstract  A good knowledge of soil properties and their agricultural suitability is a major prequisite for managing agriculture in a planned, sustainable, and environmentally friendly manner.  To optimise and extend its agricultural area, Cameroon Sugar Society (SOSUCAM) has thus decided to use an innovative technology based on a survey of the electrical resistivity of soils.  In the first step of the project, the feasibility and interpretation of the measurements were tested on the Oxisols of SOSUCAM by an electrical survey conducted at two depths (0.5 and 1 m) on a 40 ha sugarcane field.  Specialized software was then used to interpolate the measurements.  Soil samples were taken and analysed simultaneously, and sugarcane was monitored in specific areas through measurements of growth, tillering and yield.  Areas with homogenous resistivity and common properties have been identified using the map produced.  The electrical values were correlated with the field’s physical properties such as its stoniness, depth and clay %.  We have also observed different sugarcane growth patterns depending on resistivity values.  In view of these good results, SOSUCAM has decided to extend this experiment to 26 000 ha of sugarcane fields and fallow land, without any particular reference to soil type, through the adaptation of a specific and patented technology, named ARP06© (for Automatic Resistivity Profiling). This technology, which has an adequate system of electrodes configuration, makes it possible to prospect continuously at different depths and get data to elaborate, through interpolation, resistivity maps.  Resistivity surveying should thus be a quick and reliable technique to map the spatial variability of soil properties on large sugarcane areas and to define the latter’s agricultural potential.  Furthermore, it should provide other important elements in field planning, beyond logistic constraints: delineating homogenous zones should improve the use of results of physical and chemical analyses and to identify zones where better practices and operations can be adopted. GO TOP AG29_abstract The effect of a novel system of vinasse application on sugarcane growth and yield in China YANG-RUI LI1*, QIU-ZHEN ZHU 2, WEI-ZHAN WANG 2, SUSHIL SOLOMON3 1Guangxi Crop Genetic Improvement and Biotechnology Laboratory, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi 530007, China; 2Guangxi Sugarcane Research Institute, Nanning, Guangxi 530007, China; 3Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow-226 002, India *liyangrui40@hotmail.com; liyr@gxaas.net KEYWORDS: sugarcane, vinasse, ratoon, field application  Abstract A practical, feasible method of vinasse application for upland sugarcane plantation areas of Guangxi was developed, which does not impede cane sugar productivity and soil health. This method comprised pre-emergence liquid-line application of vinasse in furrows through valve controlled pipes, followed by covering with plastic film. Vinasse was applied @ 45 t/ha, 75 t/ha and 105 t/ha, mixed with water and experimentation was done at six locations in China. This method showed improvement in tillering, stalk elongation and sugar productivity. However, the response varied with the rate of vinasse application. Application of vinasse at 45 t/ha, 75 t/ha and 105 t/ha improved cane yield as compared to non-fertilizer control by 13.24%, 17.55% and 14.92%, respectively. The field data suggest that the vinasse treatments were also good for sugar accumulation as compared with the conventional fertilization application. Vinasse has excellent nutritional qualities, and is a very good complete organic fertilizer for sugarcane. It produced significant increases in cane tonnage, and the benefit-cost analysis favoured its large-scale application under upland conditions. The application of 75 t/ha vinasse showed the best economic benefit in this study. GO TOP AG32_abstract FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH A HEALTHY SOIL IN SUGARCANE PRODUCTION IN KWAZULU NATAL by T. van Antwerpen1, R. van Antwerpen1, J.H. Meyer1, P. Naidoo1, S. Berry1, V.W. Spaull1, K. Govender2, P. Cadet3, S. Rutherford1 and M. LAING2 1 South African Sugarcane Research Institute, P/Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, KwaZulu Natal, 2 University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 3  Institut de Recherche pour le Developpment/CBGP, Montpellier, France Email address of contact author: Tania.van.Antwerpen@sugar.org.za   KEYWORDS: Soil health, biotic factors, abiotic factors, soil micro-organisms  Abstract  Long-term mono-cropping of sugarcane can lead to the degradation of soils and a decline in yield. In Australia, yield decline has been linked to changes in the population structure of soil micro-organisms, in particular to the build up of pathogenic fungi such as Rhizoctonia. While a lack of moisture is a major growth-limiting factor in many of the poorer soils under rain-fed conditions, this does not explain the overall reduction in yields and loss of sugarcane ratoons that have been reported in South Africa, even for good soils under irrigated conditions. It was therefore decided to re-examine the wide range of soil factors that could impact upon cane growth. Information from this project will be used to rate the health of soils in the South African sugarcane industry, in order to advise growers on suitable agricultural practices to maintain or improve the health of their soils and, thereby, to reverse the impact of long-term sugarcane yield decline. A field situated near Glenside in the Natal Midlands, known to be highly variable in cane yield, was identified and a 100-point grid was established across the field. The ten best and ten worst yielding grid points were identified, from which yields were determined. Soil from these high and low yielding grid points was sampled and analysed with the goal of correlating yield with soil health factors. Analyses included a range of soil physical, chemical and biological parameters. Biological factors that were positively associated with higher yielding grid points in this study included high levels of microbial respiration. High counts of the nematode, Xiphinema elongatum, were associated with lower yielding grid points. Aggregate stability (in the range 0.5 to 1.0 mm) was one of the physical factors that was associated with high yields. Soil chemical characteristics that were associated with high yielding plots included higher average pH values, lower Al and Na levels and higher P levels. GO TOP AG37_abstract Ammonia volatilization from urease inhibitor-treated urea applied to sugarcane trash blankets By H. CANTARELLA(1); P.C.O. TRIVELIN(2); T.L.M. CONTIN(1); F.L.F. DIAS(1); R. ROSSETTO(3); R. MARCELINO(1); R.B. COIMBRA(4); J.A. QUAGGIO(1) (1)Instituto Agronômico, Campinas, SP. Brazil; (2)CENA/USP, Piracicaba, SP; Brazil; (3)APTA Pólo Centro Sul, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil; Usina São João, Araras, SP, Brazil Email: cantarella@iac.sp.gov.br   KEYWORDS: urea; NBPT, volatilization.  Abstract  Legal restrictions from burning sugarcane prior to harvest are causing a sharp increase in acreage which is harvested as green cane. The presence of a thick mulch of sugarcane trash after harvest makes it difficult to incorporate fertilizers into the soil. Since large losses of ammonia may occur when urea is surface applied to trash, it is important to find ways to improve urea-N use efficiency. The urease inhibitor NBPT slows down urea hydrolysis and thus may help decrease ammonia losses. Ammonia traps were set up in seven sugarcane fields covered with trash and fertilized with ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate, urea, and NBPT-treated urea. All N fertilizers were surface-applied at rates from 80 to 100 kg N/ha. Very little N was lost when ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate were used. However, volatilization losses as ammonia from the urea treatments varied from 1.1% (rainy days after fertilization) to 25% of the applied N. The percentage of reduction in volatilization due to NBPT application ranged from 15 to 78% depending on the weather conditions during the days following application of N. Addition of NBPT to urea helped to control ammonia losses, but the inhibitor was less effective when rain sufficient to incorporate urea into the soil occurred 10 to 15 days or longer after fertilizer application GO TOP AG39_abstract DRY MATTER PRODUCTION AND N ACCUMULATION IN SUGARCANE FOR USE AS ANIMAL FEED By S. ISHIKAWA(1); S. ANDO(2); T. SAKAIGAICHI(3); Y. TERAJIMA(3); M. SUGIURA(1) AND M. MATSUOKA(3) 1)National Agricultural Research Center for Western Region, Zentsuji, 765-8508 Japan; 2)National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, Nasushiobara, 329-2793 Japan; 3)National Agricultural Research Center for Kyushu Okinawa Region, Nishinoomote, 891-3102 Japan shokoish@affrc.go.jp KEYWORDS: biomass, N accumulation, nitrate, animal feed Abstract The ability of sugarcane to accumulate a large quantity of N is expected to reduce environmental pollution especially of N released from excessive manure generated from the livestock sector.  Based on observations that a high biomass line of sugarcane might be able to accumulate a large quantity of N without accumulating nitrate, more detailed experiments have been conducted to investigate whether the crop could be harvested earlier and used as animal feed. A field experiment was carried out in Zentsuji, Kagawa to investigate the effects of high N inputs on accumulation of N and nitrate in above-ground parts of sugarcane following an early harvest in July at three months after planting compared to the usual harvest in November.  In addition, a pot experiment was conducted with adequate water supply to minimize the limiting effect of water shortage on N accumulation and to explore the optimum N rate required for the maximum dry matter production and/or N accumulation.  For early harvested sugarcane, dry matter and N accumulation was smaller than that of sorghum where the higher N rate was applied.  Nitrate-N concentration in the sugarcane stem was below the critical level considered to be dangerous to livestock, while that of the maize stem exceeded the critical value.  In the pot experiment, N accumulation in above-ground parts did not reach a plateau even with the highest N rate of 900 kg/ha used in this study.  In conclusion, dry matter and N accumulation of early harvested sugarcane needs to be looked at in the context of the two-harvest scenario probably with higher N rates than ever tested.  Low nitrate-N concentration of sugarcane stems suggests a possible advantage of sugarcane as feed. GO TOP AG42_abstract DUAL ROW PLANTING – A SYSTEM TO INCREASE THAI FARMER’S CANE YIELD AND ECONOMIC RETURNS T. Klomsa-ard, C. Prasantree, S. Jomsri, A. Tenglolai, P.Prammanee and P. Weerathaworn Mitr Phol Sugarcane Research Co.Ltd. Chaiyaphum Thailand 36110 thinnakornk@mitrphol.com   KEYWORDS: sugarcane, dual row planting, economic benefits  Abstract  The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of the planting system to increase sugarcane yield and economic return on growers’ farms. Trials to evaluate the dual row planting system were conducted on various sugarcane farms under rainfed conditions in four locations belonging to cane growers. The trials were conducted under rainfed conditions in the Khon Kaen and Chaiyaphum districts of Northeast Thailand. Two planting methods (110-50 cm double row and 100 cm single row) were compared using two varieties (K84-200, poor tillering and K88-92, good tillering). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications, and the work was conducted over the 2003-2006 period. The results showed that dual row planting increased cane yield by 18-53 percent compared with single row planting. The increase in cane yield was found to be significantly correlated with the number of millable stalks. Cane juice quality was not affected by the different planting methods. An economic analysis showed that profits could be increased from 177-629 $/ha due to dual row planting. Based on these results, dual row planting offers the opportunity to increase productivity, and is a profitable farming system suited to Thai growers and the Thai sugar industry. GO TOP AG46_abstract SYSTEMS TO BALANCE PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS OF NITROGEN FERTILISER MANAGEMENT By THORBURN, P.J.1, WEBSTER, A.J.2, BIGGS, I.M.1, BIGGS, J.S.1, STAUNTON, s.P. and PARK, S.E. 1 1CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Brisbane 2CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Mossman 3BSES Meringa Research Station, Cairns E-mail: Peter.Thorburn@csiro.au  KEYWORDS: Nitrogen requirement, N usage, Soil N, NIR, N fertiliser, Plant N Abstract  Replacement of nitrogen from crop off-take and environmental losses has been suggested as a sustainable system of nitrogen management for sugarcane production. Since 2003, we have initiated 12 on-farm field experiments to test the “N replacement” concept in the range of environments spanned by the Australian industry. In conjunction with field trials, we also increased efforts on monitoring N stress in cane using Near Infra Red Reflectance instruments (NIR) located at sugar mills. Field results so far are encouraging, with little average difference (0.3 t/ha) in yield between replacement and conventional N treatments. Soil N does not appear to have been “mined” with reduced N fertiliser application. Profitability has been marginally increased while risks of N losses to the environment, estimated from N balances at the sites, are considerably lower in the N replacement treatments. Good NIR calibrations have been obtained for predicting sugarcane N concentration. Using these, mill-monitored stem N compared well with field measurements at two sites. Where there are needs to improve profitability and reduce environmental impacts of sugarcane production, the N replacement concept may be worth investigation. GO TOP AG47_abstract EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF AND CAPACITY FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ON SECTORS IN THE SUGAR INDUSTRY VALUE CHAIN IN AUSTRALIA By S. Parka*, M. Howdenb, H. Horanc aCSIRO, Sustainable Ecosystems, Tropical Landscapes, Toowoomba, bCSIRO, Sustainable Ecosystems, Sustainable Ecosystems, Agricultural Landscapes, Canberra cCSIRO, Sustainable Ecosystems, Sustainable Ecosystems, Tropical Landscapes, Brisbane *sarah.park@csiro.au  KEYWORDS: impact assessment, APSIM, productivity, sugarcane  Abstract  Australia is predicted to be hotter and generally drier, with more frequent extreme events, in coming decades similar to that expected in most sugarcane producing nations,. To assess the direct and indirect climate change impacts on the cane-growing regions of Queensland, and adaptive capacity, projections for 2030 were considered using (i) a review of literature on climate/plant interactions and sugarcane physiology, (ii) a brief qualitative assessment in collaboration with industry stakeholders throughout the value chain, and (iii) a quantitative estimate of yield potential and the efficacy of an adaptation strategy using an eco-physiological model of plant growth.   The review and qualitative assessment indicated that the greatest impacts are likely to be experienced on the grower sector of the industry. Productivity gains/losses will ultimately depend on the availability of a number of resources, particularly water, and the plant’s physiological response to relative changes in all climate variables. Capacity within the sugar industry value chain is considered sufficient to absorb an increase in yield, but a decrease may financially challenge many mills.   The paper then focused on providing more quantitative estimates of impact using the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) to estimate yield potential in response to temperature and rainfall projections up to 2030 for the most northerly (Mossman) and southerly (Rocky Point) regions of the Queensland sugarcane industry. Response surfaces produced from model simulations suggest yield losses are likely be greater in the cooler southern regions due to increased water stress.   The vast majority of adaptation strategies identified by stakeholders as potentially useful were an extension and enhancement of the current practices used to manage sugarcane production in the highly variable Australian climate. An eco-physiological model (APSIM) was used for the first time to assess the adaptive strategy of changing the date of planting in a sugarcane production system. The simulations suggest that yield potential will increase marginally if the planting date occurs earlier than presently practised in the south, whilst a delay in planting date in the north may increase productivity by the year 2030.   This study showed that collaborative research between industry stakeholders from all sectors and the use of an eco-physiological modelling tool, such as APSIM, can aid in the identification of critical areas of climate change impact, quantify these impacts and assist in the identification of adaptation strategies at a regional scale. GO TOP AG50_abstract PRACTICAL METHODS OF EVALUATING ON-FARM IRRIGATION SYSTEMS By  Dlamini Musa Swaziland Sugar Association, P. O. Box 367, Simunye, Swaziland musadlamn@ssa.co.sz  KEYWORDS: irrigation, efficiency, uniformity, furrow, sprinkler, center pivot, drip, evaluation.  Abstract  Irrigation system evaluation techniques are designed to evaluate the actual operation and management conditions that exist on the farm and help determine the potential for more economical and efficient operation. Optimum on-farm irrigation management and design have traditionally been promoted for reasons of improved yields and farm input costs. More recently, external pressures such as competition for water plus degradation of river flows require even more detail for on-farm irrigation. As irrigation progresses, new techniques to manage water are therefore required. This paper describes practical methods of evaluating the performance of irrigation systems. Measured water distribution efficiencies were 5% lower than the conventional catch can method for overhead (sprinkler and centre pivot) irrigation systems and similar for furrow and drip irrigation systems.  The difference was due to climatic variations as, in the conventional catch can method, the cans are placed on the ground whereas in this method the water was collected before reaching the ground.  The methods described are simple to implement and have been used in the Swaziland sugar industry to provide growers with the necessary information on improvements that can be made to optimize their systems and on how to select potential, economical and practical modifications. GO TOP AG57_abstract SITE SPECIFIC AGRICULTURE AND PRODUCTIVITY IN THE COLOMBIAN SUGAR INDUSTRY By  C. H. ISAACS1, J. A. CARBONELL, 1  A. AMAYA1, J. S. TORRES1, J. I. VICTORIA1, R. QUINTERO1, A. E. PALMA1, J. H COCK2 1 Cenicaña, 2 Consultant previously Cenicaña  Cenicaña chisaacs@cenicana.org  KEYWORDS: Site Specific Agriculture, Agro ecological zoning, Colombian sugarcane industry, Group technology transfer. Abstract  Innovation and technology development using a site specific agriculture approach has contributed significantly to increased productivity and profitability in the Colombian sugar industry. The approach is based on characterization of the social and agro-ecological conditions at the field or plot level, definition of suitable technology for the specific field conditions, provision of suitable social structures for technology transfer and the implementation of an interactive web based information system.  Consolidation of databases including 30 years of weather data, cartography, taxonomy and physical and chemical analysis of soils, socio-economic characterization of 1700 sugarcane growers and commercial production data from all the fields harvested since 1990 underpinned the approach. The agro-ecological conditions were characterized on the basis of soil and climate conditions and their interactions. Social characterization identified innovative adopters of new technology and those who are slower to adopt. The information systems relate commercial production to particular sites with known socio-economic and agro-ecological features and use expert knowledge combined with experimental data to define appropriate management practices for specific conditions.   Farmer groups comprising growers from similar agro-ecological zones, supported by the interactive Web-based information system, ensure effective technology transfer. The ability to access and analyse information from commercial sites similar to their own is particularly appreciated by the growers.  Production was stagnating at about 7 t sugar/ha/y around 1980, but the development of in-house, broadly adapted technology increased productivity to about 11.6 t sugar/ha/y at the end of the 1990s. By the end of the twentieth century, productivity was once again stagnating. The adoption of Site Specific Agriculture raised both tonnage and percent recoverable sugar; the net result was to increase average productivity in the period 2001-2005 to 12.6 t sugar/ha/y.  GO TOP AG59_abstractSUGARCANE WATER USE AND IRRIGATION REQUIREMENTS IN A SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT By R.P. WIEDENFELD Texas Agricultural Experiment Station b-wiedenfeld@tamu.edu  KEYWORDS: evapotranspiration, crop coefficients, subsurface drip irrigation, water use efficiency  Abstract  Water for agricultural irrigation is becoming increasingly limited and, therefore, must be used as efficiently as possible.  Sugarcane is a high biomass crop requiring lots of water.  A field study was conducted to determine water requirements and crop water use by applying different levels of water.  These were achieved by varying crop coefficients used with reference evapotranspiration to determine irrigation scheduling.  Sugarcane yield responses to different water levels varied annually.  The irrigation level producing maximum yields was not the same each year.  Total water input including rainfall and irrigation to achieve maximum yields varied from 973 to 1328 mm/y; while water use efficiency (fresh weight of cane produced per unit of water uptake) varied from 6.0 to 11.7 t cane / ML of water.  These results suggest that the amount of water required to produce maximum yields in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas may be less than the amount theoretically used by this crop under ideal conditions as reflected in the established crop coefficient curves.  Deficit irrigation may lower yields, but may increase the amount of cane produced per unit of water used by the crop. GO TOP AG60_abstract EFFECTS OF TRASH, VINASSE AND NITROGEN APPLICATION ON RATOON SUGARCANE By CASAGRANDE1, A.A.; BUZOLIN1, P.R.S.; MUTTON1 *, M.A.; MUTTON2, M.J.R.; CAMPOS1, M.S. 1Department of Crop Science – FCAV/Unesp, Jaboticabal-SP-Brazil *miguelmutton@fcav.unesp.br 2Department of Technology – FCAV/Unesp-SP-Brazil  KEYWORDS: Vinasse, Fertilizer, Mulching, Cane quality, Leaf Litter, KCl. Abstract  The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of vinasse as a potassium source associated or not with the trash from mechanical green cane harvesting and nitrogen levels on ratoon sugarcane sustainability. Field experiments were developed in two sites and conducted for two consecutive harvests in a typical Haplortox, in Guariba, São Paulo State, Brazil. The main treatments were: presence and absence of trash, while the secondary treatments were the application of potassium at 168 kg of K2O/ha as either vinasse or KCl, and nitrogen at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 240 kg/ha. The following parameters were analysed: cane yield (t/ha), theoretically recoverable sugar (kg/t) and alcohol (m3/ha), P2O5 and K2O content in juice, and trash carbon and nitrogen levels. The trash layer reduced cane yields and increased the levels of P2O5 in the juice. Vinasse application resulted in higher productivity (stalks, sugar and alcohol) and higher levels of K2O in the juice. Application of vinasse did not change trash composition; however, the dry matter and C:N ratio decreased over time with trash decomposition. No effects of N dosages were observed.  GO TOP AG64_abstract MICROBIAL DEGRADATION OF POST-HARVEST RESIDUES R.M. JOHNSON1, R.P. VIATOR1, M.P. GRISHAM1, E.P. RICHARD, JR.1, AND R. BOOPATHY2 1Sugarcane Research Unit, USDA-ARS-SRRC, Houma, LA, 2Department of Biological Sciences, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA, USA rjohnson@srrc.ars.usda.gov   KEYWORDS: Sugarcane, biodegradation, green-cane harvesting.  Abstract Management of post-harvest residues, produced during the green-cane harvesting of sugarcane in Louisiana, has become an increasingly important issue for producers, particularly in areas where burning of the residues is banned or restricted.  If the residues, which range from 4-8 tonnes per hectare, are not removed prior to the emergence of the subsequent ratoon crop in the spring, yields may be reduced from 4.5 to 13.5 tonnes per hectare.  A study was initiated to determine if native bacteria and fungi that were capable of degrading post-harvest residues could be identified and used to accelerate residue decomposition.  Soil was collected from five locations, and nine bacteria and seven fungi capable of degrading cellulose were isolated.  These isolates were evaluated using wet fermentation techniques, and two bacterial and two fungal isolates capable of degrading from 32-52% of available cellulose were selected for further study.  In dry fermentation and in non-sterile greenhouse studies, the most efficient degradation of residue (19-25%) occurred when the isolates were combined into a consortium.  Experiments also showed that the consortium degraded dry sugarcane leaves significantly greater (22%) than green leaves (14%), and sterilizing the residues prior to incubation did not affect decomposition.  When the carbon to nitrogen ratio of the residue was varied from 10:1 to 50:1, the total residue degraded decreased from 28 to 19%.  Finally, results from a field study showed that populations of these isolates steadily increased after soil inoculation indicating their successful establishment in the field. Although total residue levels were not significantly affected, soil organic carbon significantly increased where the consortium was applied compared to the control, suggesting that decomposition is being accelerated by the addition of the microbes. GO TOP AG74_abstract ALLELOPATHIC EFFECTS OF SUGARCANE POSTHARVEST RESIDUE By F. VILLEGAS, J.S. TORRES, J.E. LARRAHONDO and D.F. RESTREPO Colombian Sugarcane Research Center - CENICAÑA fvillegas@cenicana.org  KEYWORDS: Allelopathy, green sugarcane harvesting, harvest residue  Abstract  After harvesting green sugarcane, a large amount of residue remains on the field surface. During subsequent rainfall events, the residue releases substances toxic to the sugarcane itself, reducing the germination of the cane buds. In Colombia, burning before harvesting is banned in about 24% of the total area planted to sugarcane; thus it is necessary to develop management strategies to reduce the allelopathic effects on stubble germination when fields are harvested green.  A greenhouse experiment was conducted at CENICAÑA’s experiment station with the purpose of estimating the allelopathic level of the post-harvest cane residue and finding a suitable system for residue management. Three sugarcane buds were planted in 4-kg pots of soil. Treatments included (i) irrigation with tap water, (ii) irrigation with an old residue extract and (iii) irrigation with a fresh residue extract. Treatments were replicated 10 times, following a randomized complete-block design.  Germination counts at 45 DAP revealed a severe allelopathic effect of green cane residue on the germination of var. MZC 74-275. Only 23% of the sugarcane buds germinated when irrigated with the fresh residue extract. The allelopathic effect of the residue was also reflected on weed proliferation; their populations were lower in the pots irrigated with the fresh residue extract. Based on previous results, field residue placement in the inter-row and hilling of the cane stubble were adopted in commercial cane fields minimizing allelopathic effects on ratoon germination. GO TOP AGRONOMY POSTERS ABSTRACTS AGP1_abstract FALL PANICUM (PANICUM DICHOTMIFLORUM) CONTROL AND CROP SAFETY WITH HEXAZINONE AND DIURON COMBINATIONS IN FLORIDA SUGARCANE By  C.R. Rainbolt University of Florida/IFAS, 3200 E. Palm Beach Road, Belle Glade, FL 33430, USA Rainbolt@ufl.edu   KEYWORDS: Diuron, hexazinone, fall panicum, herbicide injury, Histosols  Abstract  Effective weed control with soil applied herbicides can be difficult due to organic nature of soils, on which the majority of the Florida sugarcane crop is grown.  In 2005, trials were conducted in three fields of CP80-1743 located in the Everglades Agricultural Area to compare combinations of hexazinone and diuron for fall panicum control and crop safety in sugarcane.  Treatments consisted of six different rates and ratios of hexazinone + diuron, hexazinone + diuron + metribuzin, hexazinone + diuron + pendimethalin, pendimethalin + atrazine + ametryn, and an untreated control.  Weed control and crop injury were evaluated visually.  At all locations, crop injury ranged from 3 to 10%, one week after treatment (WAT) with treatments containing hexazinone + diuron.  However, by five WAT, crop injury was no longer visible at any location.  At location 1, control of fall panicum three and five WAT was 91 to 96% with all treatments.  By seven WAT, control was less than 80% with all treatments except with hexazinone at 0.9 kg ai/ha + diuron at 4.95 kg ai/ha and pendimethalin at 2.77 kg ai/ha + atrazine at 4.47 kg ai/ha + ametryn at 0.18 kg ai/ha.  At locations 1 and 3, fall panicum control with all treatments was 80 to 99% one WAT.   By five WAT, control was 30 to 68% and 48 to 72% at locations 2 and 3 respectively.  Control of fall panicum was greater with the higher rates of hexazinone + diuron and pendimethalin + atrazine + ametryn; however, crop injury was severe with the hexazinone + diuron treatments. GO TOP AGP3_abstract SugarCane reduces soil erosion by more than 80% in five major soil groups of Mauritius By  S. Seeruttun, D. Ah Koon, F. M. Ismael And R. Ng Cheong Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, Réduit, Mauritius sseeeruttun@msiri.intnet.mu   KEYWORDS: soil erosion, sugarcane, erodibility, erosivity, crop management factor  Abstract  A project was initiated in 2001 to study soil erosion in five major soil groups of Mauritius. Two standard erosion plots, one with bare soil and the other planted with sugarcane, were established to measure bedload and sediment load over four consecutive years. The soil erodibility (K) factor using the USLE/RUSLE model was determined for each soil group. Soil erosion varied significantly across sites and year; highest soil loss (bare plots) was recorded at Bel Ombre and was followed by Sans Souci, Le Val, St Felix and Etoile with a mean of 37.6, 14.3, 9.5, 4.1 and 0.5 t/ha/y, respectively. The proportion of soil erosion associated to ‘cyclonic’ events was found, on average, to vary between 45% and 68% depending on sites. The K values calculated from the erosion plots were 0.14, 0.05, 0.08, 0.03 and 0.01 at Bel Ombre, Sans Souci, Le Val, St Felix and Etoile respectively. Sugarcane reduced soil erosion by 80% to 99%; cane variety R 570 was more effective in controlling erosion than M 3035/66. The mean cover-management (C) factor varied between 0.07 and 0.09 for R 570 and 0.21 and 0.23 for M 3035/66. This study confirms the contribution of sugarcane in erosion control in Mauritius. GO TOP AGP4_abstract PERFORMANCE OF EXOGENOUS SUGARCANE GERMPLASM ON MINERAL SOILS OF FLORIDA, USA  By  R.A. Gilbert1, J.D. Miller2, J.C. Comstock2, B. Glaz2, and S.J. Edme2 1University of Florida, Everglades Research and Education Center, 3200 E. Palm Beach Rd., Belle Glade, FL 33430. 2USDA-ARS, Sugarcane Field Station, 12990 Hwy 441, Canal Point, FL 33438. Corresponding author email: ragilber@ufl.edu   KEYWORDS: organic matter, CP clones, sand, mineral soil, foreign cane  Abstract  The Canal Point (CP) sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) breeding program has been successful in producing commercial sugarcane cultivars for Florida’s organic soils.  However 20% of sugarcane in Florida is cultivated on mineral soils, and growers have expressed interest in having a larger array of varieties suited for mineral soils.  Fifty sugarcane genotypes from 11 countries were evaluated in three field experiments in Florida.  In experiment 1, Chinese clones were notable for their large stalk weight (avg. 1.7 kg/stalk) and low plant population (7.1 stalks/m2), whereas clones with CP parentage tended to have high sucrose concentration (102 kg/t).  In experiment 2, the six most profitable clones all had CP parentage. In experiment 3, three CP clones (Florida checks) ranked higher in tonnage, sucrose yield and economic index than five exogenous clones.  Our results indicate that exogenous germplasm was inferior to CP clones on mineral soils of Florida. One explanation is that Florida mineral soils cropped to sugarcane generally possess extremely low organic matter (< 3%), whereas the exogenous clones tested were selected in soils with higher clay contents.  Thus, selection of CP germplasm on sandy soils may be a more effective strategy than testing of exogenous commercial germplasm.  GO TOP AGP6 EFFECTS OF VARIOUS GREEN MANURES ON SOIL NUTRIENT STATUS  By  S. BERRY* and R RHODES   South African Sugarcane Research Institute, 170 Flanders Drive, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa *shaun.berry@sugar.org.za   KEYWORDS: green manure, soil nutrients, sugarcane  Abstract  Most studies on the effects of green manures on soil nutrient status focus on the contribution of legumes to soil nitrogen. This study was conducted to determine what effect, if any, green manures had on other nutrients viz. phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Eight green manure crops were planted into pots filled with sandy soil from a sugarcane field in spring 2002. Sugarcane (variety N12) was used as a control. A composite soil sample was taken before the trial, and samples were taken from each pot after four months of growth. Soils were analysed for pH, P, K, Ca and Mg levels. None of the crops had a significant effect on soil pH, but nutritional differences were found. Soil P was significantly higher after sunn hemp, tomatoes and velvet beans, than after sugarcane (P < 0.0003). Soil K was significantly higher (P < 0.002) after marigold, oat, sunn hemp and tomato, than after sugarcane. Soil Ca and Mg were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) after dolichos bean, groundnut, marigold, oat, sunn hemp and tomato. Sunn hemp, a popular green manure in the South African sugar industry, generated a consistently higher soil nutrient status than did sugarcane; interestingly, tomato (a less common choice) did the same. Oat and marigold behaved similarly. Although non-leguminous green manure crops do not ‘fix’ other nutrients as legumes fix nitrogen, it is important to consider that they do have an effect on soil nutrition. Growers should be careful to sample their soils, and obtain fertilizer advice, after growing a green manure crop, before planting the next sugarcane crop. GO TOP AGP7_final DEVELOPING SYSTEMATIC MANAGEMENT FOR WHOLE-FARM INFESTATIONS OF CYNODON DACTYLON IN SUGARCANE By P.L. CAMPBELL1, D. ARMSTRONG2 AND G. OGILVIE2 1SA Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, KwaZulu-Natal, 4300, South Africa. 2 Tongaat Hulett Sugar, Private Bag X50, Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal, 4400, South Africa. peta.campbell@sugar.org.za  KEYWORDS: weeds, weed control, grasses, grass control, GIS   Abstract Cynodon dactylon (Cynodon) is an aggressive invader weed species in the South African sugar industry that can reduce cane yields by as much as 50%. Current control recommendations are effective for small-scale infestations but are difficult to implement where most of the farm area is infested. To address this problem, a whole farm approach was developed at SASRI, in co-operation with Tongaat Hulett managers, to find an optimal way to maintain progress with Cynodon control, given the limited time and other resources common to most growers. In a case study for a farm in Northern Kwazulu-Natal, a farm plan was digitised and linked to a list of field attributes including Cynodon coverage, soil type, field topography, crop variety, age, harvest date and yields. Appropriate Cynodon control methods were assigned according to the above field data and cost / benefit ratios were calculated to prioritise fields for control. The outputs were displayed on the farm plan using GIS.   As a result, nine control methods were assigned to high priority fields, according to current Cynodon density, crop harvest date, crop height and the extent of potential phytotoxicity to the crop. High priority fields typically have low-density infestations, or are due for replant, whereas low priority fields have dense Cynodon on marginal soils. Follow-up control methods were allocated according to the amount of regenerated vegetative growth. Subsequent annual maintenance control involves treatment of low levels of Cynodon infestation (high priority) and appropriate treatment of other weeds.   The system developed improves Cynodon control recommendations by integrating control methods at the whole farm level with field and crop characteristics, linking this with cost / benefit ratios, enabling optimal allocation of available limited resources, and providing seasonal continuity between control operations; hence halting further spread and densification of infested fields. GO TOP AGP9_final EFFECT OF A TRASH BLANKET ON IRRIGATION WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF SUGARCANE  By  F.C. OLIVIER AND A. SINGELS South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) P/Bag X02 Mount Edgecombe 4300 Email: francois.olivier@sugar.org.za   KEYWORDS: Sugarcane, irrigation, water use efficiency, trash blanket, lysimeter  Abstract  In South Africa, there is continued pressure on the limited water resources available to the sugar industry through area expansion, competition with other crops, and frequent droughts. Agronomic practices such as the retention of a trash blanket from the previous crop could be applied to reduce wasteful evaporation from the soil surface and thus increase irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). Field trials were conducted at two locations to determine the effect of a trash blanket on (i) crop water use and (ii) cane yield of fully irrigated sugarcane. Weighing lysimeters in one of the trial sites were used to calculate a detailed water balance. Results at both locations have shown that although initial growth was affected negatively, final cane yield was not significantly reduced. The presence of a trash blanket had a marked effect on daily average crop water use, especially in the period leading up to full canopy closure. As a result, seasonal crop water use was reduced by an average of 21%. Observed increases in IWUE were not statistically significant. These results justify a concerted effort by the industry to further explore the application of green cane harvesting and trash blanketing in irrigated sugarcane production. GO TOP AGP10_abstract TSIGANE: an online geographic information system and decision support tool for the management of sugarcane production By  P. TODOROFF and J-B. LAURENT CIRAD, Avenue Agropolis, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, FRANCE pierre.todoroff@cirad.fr  KEYWORDS: Sugarcane, GIS, crop growth model, web mapping  Abstract  A way to increase crop productivity is to use models and decision support tools. The Tsigane device offers a geographic information system including the crop growth model, MOSICAS, and georeferenced data required for the simulations (agricultural, meteorological, geographic data). Different solutions have been developed to feed the database: an automatic weather stations network, an administrative organization to monitor the location of agricultural land parcels and corresponding acreage, and user interfaces to input agricultural data.             The system makes it possible for the users to consult the data in a cartographic form using queries in the database, to be warned in case of climatic risks (drought, excess of water, etc), and to run crop growth simulations and yield predictions. The yield prediction errors for the 2006 harvest were lower than 5%. We also produced potential production maps of different areas under various scenarios (different climatic type, different harvest dates) with the data of each land parcel of Guadeloupe island.             This system is a very powerful tool for the management of sugarcane production. It is open to everyone thanks to internet technology. Farmers can optimize their agricultural practices; government services get objective and reliable data on the sugarcane land parcels and may anticipate more accurately the sugar production and the required public financial aids; agricultural technical centres can provide farmers relevant cropping recommendations and co-ordinate more efficiently the planting and harvesting operations over a whole region. GO TOP AGP11_abstract EFFECTS OF SEEDCANE QUALITY ON SUGARCANE YIELD COMPONENTS  IN TUCUMÁN (ARGENTINA)  By  M. I. CUENYA, M. B. GARCÍA, C. DÍAZ ROMERO, S. OSTENGO, D. COSTILLA AND E. R. ROMERO  Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres (EEAOC) CC9(4101), Tucumán. Argentina invernaculo@eeaoc.org.ar  KEYWORDS: Micropropagation, Healthy Nurseries, Ratoon Stunting Disease, CP65-357, LCP 85-384 Abstract  Until recently, the main sugarcane varieties planted in Tucumán (Argentina) showed high levels of infection by ratoon stunting disease (RSD), a systemic disease caused by Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli and widely known for its detrimental effect on crop yield. This was a consequence of the fact that the sugarcane growers used commercial seedcane instead of healthy seedcane for new plantations.  The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of seedcane quality on yield components in LCP85-384 and CP65-357, two varieties widely spread in the sugarcane growing area. Two alternatives were tested: 1) healthy seedcane (HS) from a nursery obtained by means of in vitro micropropagation and 2) seedcane from a commercial fourth-ratoon (CS) plantation.  Yield components evaluated in the plant-cane and first- and second-ratoon growing seasons included stalk number, weight, height, diameter and cane yield (tonnes/ha). In both varieties and in different crops, the yield components most affected by seedcane quality were stalk height and weight. In LCP85-384, the HS treatment produced: taller stalks (all three crop years) and heavier stalks (first and second ratoons) when compared to the CS treatment.  In CP65-357, the HS treatment produced taller and heavier stalks in the first- and second-ratoon crops compared to the CS treatment. These results suggest that, by adopting a healthy seedcane program, sugarcane growers in Tucumán could increase ratoon crop yields in these two varieties by 10% to 25%. GO TOP AGP12_abstract SUGARCANE POTENTIAL TRASH ESTIMATION: VARIETY AND CANE YIELD EFFECT  By  E. R. ROMERO, J. SCANDALIARIS, P. DIGONZELLI, L. ALONSO, F. LEGGIO NEME, J. GIARDINA, S. CASEN,  J. TONATTO, J. FERNÁNDEZ DE ULLIVARRI  Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo ColombresLas Talitas – Tucumán - Argentina agronomia@eeaoc.org.ar  KEYWORDS: biomass residual quantity, cultivars, trash, yield.  Abstract  An estimation of potential sugarcane residues available to be used as soil mulch and biofuel is very important in order to define management strategies that ensure sustainable development of both agriculture and energy. The purpose of this study was to  determine sugarcane dry trash quantity before green harvesting for the most important varieties in the sugarcane-growing area of Tucumán (LCP 85-384 (50%), TUC 77-42 (23%), CP 65-357 (18%) and the recently introduced RA 87-3 (4%)). Assessments of dry matter trash were made before and after harvest in 2005 and 2006 during harvesting periods (May to October). In each variety, evaluations were made taking different productivity levels into consideration. Results showed that, with increasing cane yield/ha, dry matter trash quantity per hectare before harvesting increased, but simultaneously the Dry Trash/Cane Yield (DT/CY) ratio in standing cane decreased. The quantity of dry trash before harvest ranged from 6.9 to 16.0 t/ha respectively and was variable among varieties and especially between production levels. LCP 85-384 and CP 65-357 showed higher potential trash yield than the other varieties, including RA 87-3, which recorded the lowest potential trash yield. In general, dry trash amount increased linearly with cane yield (significant at p=0.05). Up to a cane yield of 85-90 tc/ha, the increase rates among varieties were similar and ranged between 14.6 and 16.2 kg of potential dry trash per tonne of cane yield. Results suggest that dry matter trash available in commercial canefields after green harvesting can be estimated using cane yield, but use of the DT/CY ratio to estimate potential trash availability is limited. GO TOP AGP13_final  SUGAR CANE BURNING STATISTICS USING REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY IN TUCUMÁN – ARGENTINA By J. TONATO, J. FERNANDEZ de ULLIVARRI, J. ALONSO, E.R. ROMERO Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres Las Talitas – Tucumán - Argentina agronomia@eeaoc.org.ar  KEYWORDS: fire occurrence, MODIS, daily database, GIS.  Abstract             Spatial and temporal information for registering and studying global environmental processes have been made available in recent years thanks to the development of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing technology.  Since these systems were released, agriculture has been one of their major operating fields, and great efforts were made by EEAOC to introduce them to the sugarcane industry in Tucumán.            The main agricultural activity in Tucumán is sugarcane cropping, where there is frequent burning of the cane crops before harvest and the burning of residues after harvest.  In 2005, law Nº 7459 was enforced, stipulating a gradual decrease of burning in sugarcane plantations (5% per year) but, up to now, there is no reliable and effective method for its surveillance and control.            Fire occurrence was monitored with remote sensing technology using the product Thermal Anomalies - Fire and Biomass Burning Product generated by TERRA and AQUA MODIS Satellite Systems.  The information, made available by NASA and CONAE, is obtained from "fire maps" produced by thermal sensors, generated at 1 km, 500 m or 250 m resolutions.            In the context of the new legal regulations, statistics on sugarcane burning were proposed for 2004-2006 in Tucumán using remote sensing technology.            A daily database was developed that indicated fire outbreaks in the sugarcane plantation area from June to November, for the considered period (2004-2006).  Percentages of fire occurrences, taking into account months and locations, were calculated; starting and ending dates of burning, months with major and minor number of fires, and locations with major incidence of these events were determined.  Eventually, a location burning ranking computed as the number of fires/cultivated area was generated.            Management changes required for the sugar industry in Tucumán will be supported by the application of this systematic monitoring, based on a daily and near real time database with reliable statistics.  Moreover, the implementation of these methods could be focused on a global scale integrating natural resources as well as cultivated area management. GO TOP  AGP14_abstract EFFECTS OF POTASSIUM ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND SUGAR YIELD IN SUGARCANE By T. AZAMA, Y. KAWAMITSU, Y. FUKUZAWA, M. UENO AND Y. KOMIYA Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan Email: kawamitu@agr.u-ryukyu.ac.jp   KEYWORDS: Chlorophyll fluorescence, Photosynthesis, Potassium, Sucrose, Invertase. Abstract  Sugarcane production in Japan has stagnated in the past 30 years, and detailed field studies have shown that stem sugar content has decreased together with an increase in potassium (K) content in sugarcane. In order to clarify the mechanism underlying these changes, sugarcane plants were grown at different K levels, and leaf photosynthesis and sugar accumulation were analysed. The data obtained showed that Mg and Ca absorption decreased markedly as K content in the cane juice increased. Moreover, decreases in leaf photosynthesis and level of sugar accumulation were correlated with increases in K content. As for varieties with higher levels of K absorption, pol levels in the cane decreased significantly. Invertase activity may be linked with increase in K content since glucose and fructose levels also fell notably. GO TOP AGP15_abstract INCORPORATING THE CANEGRO SUGARCANE MODEL INTO THE DSSAT V4 CROP MODELLING SYSTEM By M. JONES1, C. PORTER2, J.W. JONES2, G. HOOGENBOOM3, A. SINGELS1, J. SHINE4, R. NAYAMUTH5, G. KINGSTON6, S. CHINORUMBA7, M. VAN DEN BERG1 1South African Sugarcane Research Institute, 2University of Florida, 3University of Georgia, 4Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative, Florida, 5Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute, 6BSES Limited, 7Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station matthew.jones@sugar.org.za KEYWORDS: Crop model, simulation, decision support system, Canegro, DSSAT Abstract Canegro is one of the leading sugarcane crop growth models and has been used extensively in research and management. An early version of Canegro was included as part of version 3.5 of the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT), an international modelling platform. Subsequent amendments by different research groups resulted in different Canegro versions that were never integrated, nor incorporated, into DSSAT.  Simultaneously, DSSAT (version 4.0) adopted a modular structure, and many utilities were added, such as a powerful graphical user interface allowing non-experts to set up, run and analyse simulations; improvements that were not available to Canegro users. The International Consortium for Sugarcane Modelling (ICSM), established by leading sugarcane industries and research groups, recognised this problem and launched a project to incorporate an up-to-date version of Canegro into DSSAT v4.  SASRI-Canegro was taken as the starting point. The project entails: (i) restructuring the current Canegro code to the DSSAT v4 input/output framework and the generic modules for management, soil, weather and the energy balance, (ii) verification of model results against the current version of Canegro for a predetermined set of simulation runs; (iii) sensitivity analysis on key processes, such as canopy development, crop water uptake, biomass accumulation and partitioning, to changes in soil, weather, management and variety traits; (iv) evaluation of the new DSSAT Canegro model against datasets from Zimbabwe, Australia, USA and South Africa, and (v) documentation of code and concepts, as well as of the model evaluation experiments. Verification exercises conducted thus far show close agreement with the original Canegro results. An up-to-date DSSAT v4 Canegro will allow non-modelling experts to run the model and will advance further development by enforcing a transparent modular structure. Evaluation against field experiments from different regions of the world will provide credibility and a benchmark for future improvements. GO TOP AGP16_abstract SUGARCANE YIELDS AND SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES DUE TO MILL MUD APPLICATION TO A SANDY SOIL By D.R. Morris1, R.A. Gilbert2, C.R. Rainbolt2, R.E. Perdomo3, G. Powell3, B. Eiland3, and G. Montes3 1USDA, ARS, Sugarcane Field Station, 12990 Hwy 441, Canal Point, FL 33438. 2University of Florida, Everglades Research and Education Center, 3200 E. Palm Beach Rd., Belle Glade, FL 33430.  3Florida Crystals Corporation, PO Box 86, South Bay, FL 33493 Corresponding author email: dmorris@saa.ars.usda.gov  KEYWORDS: fertilizer, potassium, mill mud, phosphorus, soil pH  Abstract  Mill mud from the sugar milling process is a potentially beneficial by-product. An experiment was conducted to assess sugarcane yield and nutrient movement into subsoil after mill mud application in sandy soil. Treatments consisted of fertilizer (low fertilizer (LF) and adequate fertilizer (AF)) and mill mud (none and 246 t/ha mill mud applied one time before planting). Sugarcane yields and soil P, K, and pH were measured after plant and ratoon cane harvests in the 0- to 15-, 15- to 30-, and 30- to 45-cm depths. Mill mud application increased fresh cane and sugar yields 200% (2-yr average) compared with LF treatment and 26% (2-yr average) compared with AF treatment. Soil extractable P levels in mill mud treatment were very high (>150 µg/g) and were 8.4 times the no mill mud treatment. Mill mud had a lesser effect in the subsurface soil depths. Mill mud increased surface soil K >2.2 times (2-yr average) compared with no mill mud application. Soil pH increased in all soil depths due to mill mud application across both harvest periods. Our data indicate that, for sandy soil, fertilizer may not need to be applied to plant cane or first ratoon cane receiving 246 t/ha mill mud applied one time before planting. GO TOP AGP17_abstract Integrated Practices for an Improved Sustainable, Subtropical Sugarcane Industry A Case Study  By R. G. Quirk (1) and T. G. Zwemer (2) (1) Sugarcane Farmer, Duranbah, NSW. rgquirk@bigpond.com (2) Private Consultant, Duranbah, NSW   KEY WORDS: Soil, Innovative Systems, Organic Matter  Abstract  Research necessary to minimize the effects of sugarcane farming on acid sulfate soils (ASS) in New South Wales (NSW) laid the groundwork for further investigation of the observed phenomena on the McLeod’s Creek site. Since soil health was seen as less than optimal, a range of innovative, integrated activities were evaluated and adopted in order to create a healthier microenvironment and to improve the farming activities. Green cane harvesting, trash blanketing and direct-drilled break and cover crops were introduced to increase soil carbon, organic matter and macro-biota. Stool raking, split stool fertiliser application and cross block slot drains were employed to manage the water table. Herbicides were used to assist minimal tillage. Companion planting of soybeans, foliar nutrient sprays, and planting chemicals such as calcium nitrate were used to increase the growth of sugarcane. Low Ground Pressure (LGP) and Global Positioning System (GPS) -equipped machinery was introduced to minimize ground compaction and to control land traffic. Finally, a two hectare engineered wetland was constructed to reduce the acid and heavy metal content of effluent water.  By retaining as much organic matter as possible, assuring proper drainage, minimizing tillage, using the proper nutrients and controlling traffic, the cost of sugarcane production over the period 1997 to 2005 has been reduced by 50%, while the value of crop yield has increased by over 75%. Meanwhile, tractor hours have been reduced by nearly 40%, fuel usage has been reduced by nearly 50% while the time spent on the farm has gone from 300 to 100 days a year! GO TOP AGP18 YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE M.A.D. BUT IT HELPS – CHANGING A WHOLE FARMING SYSTEM By M.J. North1, D.K. Bartlett1, A.C. Durrington1 and P.J. McGuire2, 1 Farmer, Condong, NSW, Australia 2 BSES Limited, Condong, NSW, Australia pmcguire@bses.org.au   KEYWORDS: Sugarcane farming system, controlled traffic, legume adoption. Abstract  This paper describes how three farmers, Mark, Anthony and David, formed the M.A.D. partnership in order to change their whole farming system.  In 4 years, they successfully changed from a conventional sugarcane farming system with little fallow to a system based on controlled traffic and legume cash crops.  They not only changed their own farming systems, but led a similar change across their entire harvesting group.  They are now helping other farmers in their own region and other regions to adopt the system.  The system they have developed for the wet, sub-tropical conditions of northern New South Wales (Australia) was inspired by Dr Alan Garside and the Sugarcane Yield Decline Joint Venture research team.  The paper describes the successes and failures they have met with in adapting the system and how the system has been extended to other farms.  The concerns about this farming system and the barriers to adoption are explored.  The paper also describes the changes in farming and harvesting equipment, as well as attitudes that accompanied this transition.  Cost and fuel saving benefits are also described. GO TOP AGP19_abstract A web-based system for scheduling irrigation in sugarcane By N.G. Inman-Bamber1, S.J. Attard1, S.A. Verrall1, W.A. Webb2, C. Baillie31CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Townsville and Ayr, QLD Australia 2 BSES and Dept Agriculture WA, Kununurra, WA, Australia 3 CRC for Irrigation Futures, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia Contact: Geoff.Inman-Bamber@csiro.au KEYWORDS: Modelling, APSIM, Crop factors, Internet Abstract Adoption of decision support services (DSS) based on crop growth models has been poor and yet the concept of transferring an increasing body of scientific knowledge via DSSs remains attractive. This study explores the use of the Internet and participatory action research (PAR) to develop an irrigation management service called WaterSense for sugarcane irrigators in Australia. WaterSense combines two earlier web-based DSSs, one for use of limited water and the other for scheduling abundant water. In both cases, a small number of dedicated growers and extension staff were involved in designing and conducting field experiments to test concepts that were later included in the DSSs.  An optimisation procedure (‘Caneoptimiser’), based on the APSIM-Sugarcane model was developed for applying limited irrigation when most needed.  However, the optimisation took too long to operate as a web service. Growers with abundant water prompted the development of a simple water balance technique (called ‘WaterBalance’) for scheduling irrigation over the Internet.  Growers with limited irrigation wanted the service offered by Caneoptimser with the speed and format of WaterBalance. A new service called WaterSense was developed using algorithms for canopy development and soil water hydrology from Caneoptimser and algorithms for reference evapotranspiration and crop factors from WaterBalance. Adoption by those familiar with the background research has been immediate. Indications are that the combined use of the Internet, PAR and concurrent research and demonstration will open the way for the adoption of research findings in the management of irrigation and possibly other aspects of sugarcane farming. However, widespread adoption of DSSs cannot depend on participation of the intensity required for their development. Processes of adoption beyond the case study need further research.    GO TOP AGP21_abstract EFFECT OF RATE AND SPLIT APPLICATION OF NITROGEN ON AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS, CANE YIELD AND JUICE QUALITY By A. SREEWAROME, S. SAENSUPO, P. PRAMMANEE and P. WEERATHWORN . Mitr Phol Sugarcane Research Center Co. Ltd., 399 Moo 1 Khoksa-at, Phukhieo, Chaiyaphum, Thailand apicharts@mitrphol.com KEYWORDS: Cane yield, Quality, N, split application Abstract Effect of rates and split applications of nitrogen (N) on agronomic characteristics, cane yield and juice quality of sugarcane were evaluated in the upper northeastern region of Thailand.  A factorial experiment comprising two factors (split S1 and S2) x five levels of fertilizer applications arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications was laid down at three study sites.  Five fertilizer application rates were studied i.e.: 0, 47, 93, 140 and 186 kg N/ha. Each N treated plot received 102 kg P2O5/ha and 62 kg K2O/ha.  70% was applied as basal and the remaining 30% was applied as side dressing 120 days after planting (DAP).  N applications were split as follows: S1 (30% of N was applied as basal and 70% as side dressing 120 DAP) and S2 (30% as basal, 30% as side dressing 120 DAP and the remaining 40% as top dressing 150 DAP. N application increased tillers and stalk height.  Increased rates of N resulted in significant differences in number and weight of millable stalks, cane and sugar yields.  The highest rate of N (186 kg.N/ha) produced maximum cane and sugar yields.  Yield and yield components of cane and sugar were lower with zero N application. However, there were no significant differences in juice quality due to N treatment.  Split application of N produced the highest cane yield, sugar yield and profitability However, yields became stable and most profitable at 140 kg N/ha.  GO TOP AGP24_abstract CHANGES IN SOIL PHYSICAL PARAMETERS OF A VIRGIN SOIL DUE TO COMPACTION BY COMMERCIAL SUGARCANE HAULAGE VEHICLES By R VAN ANTWERPEN1, PWL LYNE1, E MEYER2 AND M BROUWERS3 1SASRI, Private Bag X02, Mt Edgecombe 4300, South Africa; 2Broadwood Str, Umhlanga, South Africa 3CIRAD, c/o SASRI, Private Bag X02, Mt Edgecombe 4300, South Africa rianto.van.antwerpen@sugar.org.za  KEYWORDS: soil bulk density, soil penetration resistance, axle load pressure, radial tyres, high flotation tyres  Abstract  Soil compaction is often studied by comparing virgin field sites with commercial fields that have experienced long-term cultivation histories. Implementation of a new experiment farm in a virgin area of Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, provided the opportunity to repeatedly induce compaction over a period of three years to quantify the buffer capacity of a virgin soil against degradation.  The soil of the trial site was a shallow (0.4 m) Cambisol with 38 to 44% clay, and 3.6 to 4.0% organic matter in the A-horizon, overlying weathered basalt. Following clearing of native bush from the virgin site, sugarcane was planted (2002) at 1.8-m row spacing which perfectly aligned with wheel spacing of the haulage vehicles, which were the only vehicles allowed in the field throughout this 4-year study. Three compaction treatments were imposed, including no vehicular traffic (control) and two compaction treatments consisting of pressure applied once per annum with commercial 30-tonne capacity loaded haulage vehicles fitted with either radial tyres or high flotation tyres. Compaction effects on soil properties and sugarcane yield were assessed on both dry soils and wet soils during the latter half of the 4-year study. Results show reduced water infiltration rates, increased soil bulk density, increased penetration resistance, and reduced root distribution in all the compaction treatments. Soils with higher water contents were more susceptible to degradation. It is concluded that even a virgin soil in very good condition will be degraded over a period of a few years to the physical threshold limits. GO TOP AGP26_abstract THIAMETHOXAM STIMULATES SUGARCANE STALK PRODUCTIVITY By M.A. MUTTON1, M.J.R. MUTTON2, O. EUZÉBIO FILHO3, G. NAKAMURA3, P. ARAMAKI3 1 Department of Crop Production– FCAV- Unesp – Jaboticabal – SP – Brazil 2 Department of Technology – FCAV- Unesp – Jaboticabal – SP – Brazil 3 Syngenta-Crop Protection – São Paulo – SP – Brazil miguelmutton@fcav.unesp.br KEYWORDS: Bioactivator, Stalk Yield, Recoverable Sugar   Abstract Thiamethoxam is a nitroguanidine derivative used worldwide on many crops. Besides its efficiency in pest control, researchers and farmers have observed its productivity enhancing effect and the greenhouse experiments have shown it to stimulate plant growth. The present work tested increase in sugarcane productivity promoted by thiamethoxam. Forty-five experiments were conducted from 2003 to 2006 on different sugarcane varieties, soil types, ratoons and regions. The design used was randomized block with 5 replications. The following thiamethoxam dosages were tested: 1) none in controls; 2) 50 g of the active ingredient (a.i.)/ha; 3) 100 g of a.i./ha; 4) 150 g of a.i./ha; 5) 200 g of a.i./ ha. Experimental plots were 15-18 m long and 5-6 rows wide. Cane yield, technological analyses and total recoverable sugar levels were measured. The results showed significant cane productivity gains, averaging 7.1%. Thiamethoxam was more effective on third to sixth ratoon areas, which showed 8.9% average gains. The dosages applied in proportion to productivity gains were approximately 40 kg of cane/ha and 6.5 kg of recoverable sugar/ha per gram of the active ingredient applied. GO TOP AGP 28_final SUGARCANE NUTRITION THROUGH RAIN GUN SPRINKLER IRRIGATION By P.P. SHINDE*  and A.S. DESHMUKH Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune, Maharashtra, India. *E mail: pps_irrigation@rediffmail.com / pps2007@yahoo.com   Keywords: Rain gun sprinkler irrigation, surface irrigation, sugarcane, fertilizer use efficiency   Abstract Water and nutrients are two major inputs in sugarcane productivity. Micro irrigation techniques like drip and rain gun sprinkler irrigation (RGSI) have an advantage over surface irrigation as higher water and fertilizer use efficiencies can be attained. To optimize NPK fertilizer dosage through RGSI for sugarcane, an experiment was conducted for one plant cane and two ratoon crops. The fertilizer levels tested were  125%, 100%, 75% and 50% of the recommended dose through RGSI, and the results were compared with 100% recommended dose of fertilizers under surface irrigation as a control. A fertilizer level of 75% of recommended dose through RGSI has produced a cane yield of 151.8 t/ha, which is significantly superior to the control, while the 50% treatment has produced a cane yield of 137.3 t/ha, which is non-significant compared to the control. It is concluded that 25% of NPK fertilizers can be saved if applied through RGSI for sugarcane, in addition to 32.0% water saving, 14.8% increase in cane yield, 13.1% increase in sugar yield and 70% gain in water use efficiency as compared to surface irrigation. GO TOP AGP29_abstract BETTER MANAGEMENT OF ACID SULFATE SOILS IMPROVES DRAINAGE, WATER QUALITY AND SUGARCANE YIELDS By R.G. QUIRKa, M.D. MELVILLEb, I. WHITEc, B.C.T. MACDONALDc, A.F. KEENEd a NSW Canegrowers Assoc., Condong;  bSchool of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of NSW, Sydney;  cCentre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National Univ., Canberra;  d School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross Univ., Lismore Email Contact: rgquirk@bigpond.com   KEYWORDS: acid sulfate soils, dissolved metals, toxic drainage, improved sugarcane management; increased yields  Abstract The major Tweed River fishkill in 1987, by toxic drainage from acid sulfate soils (ASS) under the floodplain sugarcane fields, caused widespread furore that threatened to close the NSW sugar industry. Individual cane growers and the industry overcame their initial denial of responsibility and, together with Tweed Shire Council, took ownership of the problem and sought solutions. Growers at McLeod’s Creek encouraged collaborative research to better understand the hydrology and chemistry of ASS, and to develop techniques for their better management. The NSW Government followed and encouraged research and developed policies for better ASS management that are being followed by other States in Australia. The McLeod’s Creek research showed that while natural processes prior to European settlement created a large store of existing acidity in the floodplain ASS, the artificial drainage systems provided the conduit for its increased export to estuaries. Also, the exported acidity was sourced from very close to existing field drains, and most acidity was exported in the form of dissolved metals. Laser-levelling, infilling of many field drains, and strategic application of agricultural lime have therefore been widely adopted. The focus of ASS management adopted by all in the NSW industry has been to minimise creation of new acidity and export of existing floodplain acidity, and treat any export in the drainage system. With these and other management techniques we estimate that acidity export has been reduced by up to 80% from that which existed in 1987. As well as this improved environmental outcome, it is possible to improve sugarcane productivity. The collaborative approach adopted with this environmental issue provides a template for sustainable management of coastal environments. GO TOP AGP30_abstract FIVE-CORE: A SIMPLE MODEL FOR FARM IRRIGATION VOLUME ESTIMATES ACCORDING TO CONSTRAINTS AND REQUIREMENTS. APPLICATION TO SUGARCANE IN REUNION (FRANCE) By J.L. CHOPART1, M. MEZINO1, L. LE MEZO1 AND J.L. FUSILLIER2 1 CIRAD, UPR systèmes canniers, Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, F-97410 France 2 CIRAD, UMR G-EAU, Cemagref-Cirad-Engref-IRD, Montpellier, F-34398 France Corresponding author: jean-louis.chopart@cirad.fr   KEYWORDS: Irrigation scheduling, modelling, sugarcane, sugarcane water consumption, irrigation practices efficiency.  Abstract  A simple model to estimate the optimum irrigation water consumption (OIC) of sugarcane and annual crops was developed. The FIVE-CoRe (Farm Irrigation Volume Estimation according to Constraints and Requirements) tool was designed for use at individual farm and irrigated scheme levels. It functions on a daily time step and takes the main physical factors that determine water requirements, irrigation strategy, and some technical constraints associated with this irrigation into account. It was implemented for 3 years in southern Réunion to assess OICs of sugarcane in a cropping area of around 2500 ha (22 micro-areas). The mean cumulated OICs simulated by the model were generally close to the actual irrigation water consumption (AIC) levels. This showed that the model can efficiently estimate AICs despite its simple conceptual design and the 1- to 3-fold variability in annual accumulated irrigation for the micro-zones. In two micro-zones, however, there were marked differences between AIC and OIC values. FIVE-CoRe can be used to test irrigation water volumes under different irrigation scenarios and strategies. Gaps between AICs and OICs were indicators of the efficiency of irrigation practices. FIVE-CoRe could also be used to simulate irrigation water volumes for crops under different climatic scenarios, irrigation strategies and for sensitivity analysis. GO TOP AGP31_abstract METRIBUZIN AND ATRAZINE ADSORPTION BY SUGARCANE RESIDUE By H.M. SELIM and B.J. NAQUIN School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana  70803 Email: mselim@agctr.lsu.edu   KEYWORDS: residue decay, herbicides, retention  Abstract  With worldwide adoption of combine harvest technology, sugarcane residue left on the soil surface following harvest could increasingly affect the environmental fate of herbicides applied during subsequent growing seasons. The objective of this study was to quantify the retention of atrazine and metribuzin in soils when sugarcane residue was present. Adsorption experiments were performed to quantify atrazine retention by the sugarcane residue as a function of time. Atrazine retention was consistently stronger than metribuzin and was well described using a linear model. A partitioning coefficient (Kd) for herbicide retention increased with reaction time from 18.77 to 25.46 mL/g after 1 and 21 day, for atrazine, and 10.58 to 14.20 mL/g for metribuzin. Moreover, atrazine retention did not change significantly with the age of the decaying residue over three growing seasons. Consequently, a single retention parameter is necessary to describe atrazine or metribuzin retention regardless of when herbicide application is made. Based on four growing seasons (1999-2003), the amount of crop residue remaining on the soil surface following harvest ranged from 3 to 7 t/ha.  Based on first-order decay, the rate of residue decay on the soil surface ranged from 13.1 to 22.4 kg/ha/day. GO TOP AGP32_abstract SuSFarMS  ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM an EXTENSION TOOL FOR IMPLEMENTING BETTER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SUGARCANE By MAHER, G.W.1 1 South African Sugar Association Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02 Mt Edgecombe South Africa 4300  email geoff_maher@sugar.org.za   KEYWORDS: sugarcane, environmental management, extension, better management practice  Abstract  WWF, the global conservation organisation, in conjunction with its South African based Mondi Wetlands Project (MWP) formed a partnership with the Noodsberg Cane Growers (NCG) in 2004, to encourage sustainable sugarcane production. Workshops were held in South Africa during 2004 and 2005 with all the major stakeholders including government policy makers, environmental NGOs and sugarcane growers. The result of this process was the development of ‘The Sustainable Sugarcane Farm Management System’ (SuSFarMS). The system is designed to encourage sustainable sugarcane production through the implementation of better management practices (BMPs), which reduce the negative impacts on the environment. These BMPs needed to be: Practical - involving experience rather than just theory. Workable – directed to ensuring the practice is achievable. Sustainable in the long term and acceptable to legislators, environmentalists and growers. Used as an extension tool. An innovative approach using principles, criteria, indicators and verifiers, which support relevant international and South African legislation and applied by means of the BMPs is described. Three main principles form the main framework of this new sugarcane farm management system: Economic principle – economically viable sugarcane production is maintained or enhanced. Social principle – the rights of employees and the local community are upheld and promoted. Environmental principle – natural assets are conserved, critical ecosystem services are maintained and agricultural resources are used sustainably. The audit check sheet used to determine the current performance level and in evaluating progress of the grower is described.   The development of SuSFarMS has provided a very useful extension tool, enabling the extension officer to assess the status of a farm and to provide a more grower specific service. Numerous grower groups throughout the South African sugar industry have shown an interest in adopting the system. GO TOP AGP34_abstract Sugarcane yieldS IN THE Ivory Coast as influenced by soil water balance over two critical growth stages By Crépin B. Péné & Sylvain G. Koulibaly SUCAF-CI Ferké sugar mills, 33 rue des brasseurs, 01 P.O. Box 1967 Abidjan, Ivory Coast cbpene@yahoo.fr  KEYWORDS: sugarcane yield, irrigation management, water uptake, limiting factor, Ivory Coast. Abstract  The influence of water deficit as a main cane yield limiting factor in the Ivory Coast was investigated on two commercial sugarcane plantations, SUCAF Ferké 2 and Sucrivoire Zuénoula. A soil water balance model was used to assess water deficit over two critical growth stages, namely stem elongation and yield formation. Water deficit was correlated with cane yields. Under simulated rainfed conditions, average yields (from 1991 to 1997) at both sites were highly dependent (linearly) on the average crop water satisfaction ratio (ETa/ETm) over these critical growth stages. Under supplementary irrigated field conditions in Ferké 2 (irrigation water being considered in addition to rainfall), cane yields of early as well as late maturing sugarcane varieties were dependent on the average crop water satisfaction ratio over both growth stages. In Zuénoula, cane yield fluctuations were generally not predicted by the crop water satisfaction ratio, regardless of the cropping season considered. However, average cane yields obtained from year to year over the study period in both sugarcane schemes were highly dependent on the water satisfaction ratio. This shows the important contribution of water in predicting yearly variations of average cane yields produced on commercial Ivory Coast  sugarcane plantations. GO TOP AGP37_abstract EVALUATION OF BAGASSE AND FILTER MUD AS SOURCES OF ORGANIC MATTER ON THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF SUGARCANE By L. Abdullahi1, A. A. Moezzi2, H. Amerikhah3, and A. A. Khdemalrasoul4 1. Applied Research Center of Deable Khozaei Agro-industrial Co., Ahwaz, Iran. 2. Assistant Prof. of Soil Science Department of Chamran University, Ahwaz, Iran 3&4. Soil Science Department of Chamran University, Ahwaz, Iran Abd1379@yahoo.com KEYWORDS: sugarcane, filter mud, bagasse, yield and purity   Abstract Important steps toward sustainable agriculture are recognition of an efficient way to increase the efficiency of chemical fertilizers, the use of animal and plant residues to supply a portion of the nutritional requirements of plants, and to address soil productivity in order to improve the consistency of agricultural production. The effects of different amounts of filter mud and bagasse applications, which have respectively 53.5 and 75 percent organic compounds, on quality and quantity of sugarcane yield in a complete randomized blocks design with 7 treatments and 3 blocks were investigated. Final results indicated that the treatments did not have any significant effect on most juice quality factors such as Brix, Pol % and refined sugar, but purity was reduced by all treatments. However, treatments that only had filter mud (T5 and specially T3) affected purity the least. Results also indicated that relative to the control treatment, the T3 treatment had the largest yield response (12 tonnes cane/ha). It was therefore concluded that filter mud was a very beneficial organic nutrient source for the production of sugarcane. GO TOP AGP38_abstract EXPLORATORY ‘TRIALS’: VALUABLE INSIGHTS, OR A WASTE OF RESOURCES? By R. RHODES*, R. VAN ANTWERPEN AND S. BERRY South African Sugarcane Research Institute, 170 Flanders Drive, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa *ruth.rhodes@sugar.org.za   KEYWORDS: exploratory trials, demonstration, scientific trials  Abstract  Scientific trials can be cumbersome and lengthy, while exploratory, farm-based ‘trials’ lack scientific rigour but can be done quickly and cheaply. This paper debates the usefulness of exploratory ‘trials’. Six exploratory ‘trials’ were established on sugarcane farms between 2004 and 2006 to screen various crops for their suitability as green manures. These ‘trials’ were not replicated, and they did not pass through the usual research pathway; but most were carried out on working farms, in collaboration with growers. The authors examined these ‘trials’ to determine whether they have a place in an agricultural research institute’s program of work. The exploratory ‘trials’ helped to achieve a number of things. A small minimum till planter was field-tested for its suitability for planting trials, and its advantages and limitations were identified. Various green manure crops showed promise in different geographical areas, including irrigated areas where little trial work had previously been conducted. ‘New’ crops included velvet beans, which had not been available for many years beforehand. Two growers’ days with field visits to the ‘trials’ helped to transfer the lessons learned. These exploratory ‘trials’ had non-replicated treatments and lacked scientific rigour, which effectively prohibited scientific publication of results. A shortage of planned, comprehensive measurements (e.g. changes in soil properties over the duration of the growing period) was a further disadvantage. The advantages of these exploratory ‘trials’, however, included allowing us to get preliminary results quickly, gain basic knowledge and experience with minimal time and expense, and involve growers, which gave them first-hand experience at working with green manures and encouraged them to spread the word to neighbouring growers. Two practical publications and a number of growers’ day presentations based on these results made them a valuable extension tool; information was generally acceptable to growers, having been carried out under farm conditions. GO TOP AGP39_abstract EFFECT OF ORGANIC AMELIORANTS TO IMPROVE SOILS USING SUGARCANE AS A MODEL By R. TANGKOONBORIBUN1/, S. RUAYSOONGNERN2/, P. VITYAKON2/, B. TOOMSAN3/ AND M. S. RAO4/ 1/ Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Thailand 2/ Department of Land Resources and Environment, Khon Kaen University, Thailand 3/ Department of Agronomy, Khon Kaen University, Thailand 4/ Mitr Phol Sugarcane Research Centre, Thailand t_rochana@hotmail.com and t_rochana@yahoo.com  KEYWORDS: Organic ameliorants, soil improvement, sugarcane  Abstract Two field experiments were established to investigate the method and type of organic and clay amendments for sugarcane productivity improvement. Treatments consisted of organic materials including filter cake @ 50 t/ha, cattle manure @ 25 t/ha, bagasse @ 12.5 t/ha, and clay soil (montmorillonite @ 0, 25, 50 and 75 t/ha). The organic and clay material amendments enhanced sugarcane productivity especially cattle manure @ 25 t/ha, filter cake @ 50 t/ha and clay soil @ 75 t/ha, which increased yields from 60 t/ha up to 100 t/ha.  The best material for soil fertility improvement and sugarcane production was cattle manure @ 25 t/ha which decreased soil bulk density (13%) and increased soil pH (28%), organic matter (8%), exchangeable potassium (7%), exchangeable magnesium (7%) and CEC (15%). Filter cake @ 50 t/ha increased aggregate stability (50%), organic matter (17%) and available phosphorus (56%). Clay @ 75 t/ha decreased soil bulk density by 9%, and increased the clay fraction (5%), soil pH (24%), exchangeable calcium (15%) and CEC by 16%.  The cost benefit analysis indicated that the use of filter cake gave the highest profit (US$ 915/ha).   GO TOP AGP40_abstract AGROCLIMATIC AND HYDROLOGICAL RESPONSE SURFACES FOR SUGARCANE PRODUCTION IN SOUTH AFRICA  By C.N. BEZUIDENHOUT*, P.J. HULL*, R.E. SCHULZE*, M. MAHARAJ*, P.W.L. LYNE+ * School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa +South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI), Private Bag X02, Mt Edgecombe, 4200, South Africa bezuidenhoutc@ukzn.ac.za   KEYWORDS: climate, hydrology, map, response surface, spatial trends  Abstract  As is the case in many other regions in the world, sugarcane production in South Africa is governed strongly by a wide range of climatic variances. Cane in South Africa is grown under many conditions, e.g. under irrigation in the warm dry north, and rainfed coastal plains and cool highlands. As a result, many different external factors affect cane production in South Africa, including a range of pests and diseases, frost occurrences, and excessively wet and/or dry conditions. The objectives of this research were to (1) identify a number of important variables that affect cane production, (2) employ suitable models reflecting these drivers and (3) spatially simulate and map the extent and severity of these variables at a reasonably high resolution over the South African sugar producing region. The Eldana stalk borer, the Chilo stalk borer, cold events, soil compaction, monthly cane growth potentials, irrigation needs, flowering proficiency, water stress and heat units with selected base temperature thresholds were mapped at a spatial resolution of one arc minute, i.e. on a grid of 1.7 ´ 1.7 km. The results provide a suitable basis to support regional decision making strategies, such as, variety selections, breeding, quantifying environmental impacts and agronomic and harvesting practices. GO TOP AGP41_abstract early and late-season Screening of aeArly-season sugarcane varieties in northern Ivory Coast by C.B. Péné RCC.B. Pene and K. Tuo SUCAF-CI Ferké sugar mills, 33 rue des brasseurs, 01 P.O. Box 1967 Abidjan, Ivory Coast  KEYWORDS: sugarcane variety, screening, eaerly-season, sugar yield, Ivory Coast.  Abstract  The performance of 81 aerly-season cane varieties in terms of sugar yields wasas tested  under sprinkler irrigation system over five consecutive years (plant crop and 4 ratoons) on SUCAF-CI/Ferké 2 sugarcane plantations, in northern Ivory Coast (09° 35’ N, 05° 12’ W, 323 m) for screening purpose. The climate is of tropical type with a rainy season (from May-June to October) and a dry season (from November to March-April). Most soils in the region are classified as oxisols (or ferralsols), depending on the system of soil classification used. The study involved 2099 field experiments which were conducted over 10 years (from 1991 to 2000) and laid out following a randomised complete block design with six6 to eight treatments (cane genotypes) andin six6 replicates. Two cane varieties, namely Nco 376 and Co 449, were used as control treatments. As a result, 8 SixEight high yielding varieties (SP 791230, N19, MEX 73523, SP 718210, SP711081, SP75184, SP711406 and FR8069, SP711406, FR 8069) compared to the control treatments were selected for additional large scalelarge-scale 3- year -observation tests as pre-commercial varieties materials developped locally. It came out that the Ccommercial varieties material offrom Brazilianbresilian origin (SP) appear more suited was most adapted to the SUCAF-Ferké local environment than the pre-selected non- commercial material of Gguadeloupean origin. GO TOP AGP42_abstract SOIL DYNAMICS AND CANE YIELD AS INFLUENCED BY ORGANIC AND INORGANIC MANURES IN A SUGARCANE SYSTEM By  R.B. KHANDAGAVE Godavari Sugar Mills Limited, Sameerwadi–587 316  Karnataka, India Email: drrbk123@yahoo.com KEYWORDS: Soil properties, microbes, bhumilabh, press mud Abstract A field experiment was conducted on a vertisol to study the influence of organic materials and mineral fertilisers on sugarcane and on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil.  A split plot design with four replications was employed and two levels of press mud (12.5 and 25.0 t /ha), two levels of a blend of mill by-products with microbial culture called bhumilabh  (2.5 and 5.0 t/ha) and a control (no organics) were assigned to main plots and four levels of chemical fertilisers [100%, 75%, 50% and 0% of the recommended dose of fertiliser (RDF)] were applied to sub plots. Pooled data indicated that the application of bhumilabh at 5 t/ha and press mud @ 25 t/ha significantly increased cane yield to 101.9 t/ha and 91.0 t/ha respectively, over control (80.3 t/ha). However, lower doses of these organics failed to produce significant yield increase as compared to the control. Integrating bhumilabh with 100 and 75 per cent RDF produced significantly higher cane yield than application of these fertilisers alone. All organics tended to reduce bulk density with higher contents of organic carbon and available N, P2O5 and K2O. They also caused an increase in the population of P-solubilisers, Azotobacter, Actinomycetes and fungi. Microbial counts were significantly higher at fertiliser levels of 100% RDF than at lower levels. It is concluded that a combination of organics and chemical fertilisers helps to achieve improved soil properties as well as increasing cane yields. The superior effect of greater response of bhumilabh over press mud in obtaining higher cane and sugar yields was attributed to higher nutrient content of bhumilabh and its positive effect on soil microbes. GO TOP AGP43_abstract USE OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS TO DETECT DIFFERENCES IN DROUGHT TOLERANCE AMONG SUGARCANE GENOTYPES M.A. Silva1*; J.A.G. Da Silva2; J.L. Jifon2 and V. Sharma2 1APTA Regional Centro-Oeste, Jaú (SP), Brazil 2Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A & M University, Weslaco (TX), USA *Email: marcelosilva@aptaregional.sp.gov.br   KEY WORDS: Chlorophyll a fluorescence, leaf temperature, water deficit stress   Abstract  Drought is a major limitation to sustainable sugarcane production worldwide, and selection for improved drought tolerance can help sustain productivity while conserving water. Water deficit stress is known to alter a variety of physiological processes, which ultimately determine yield.  Identifying suitable selection tools and drought tolerance traits would facilitate the crop improvement process. In this study, we evaluated the ability of three relatively rapid and nondestructive tools (namely, chlorophyll a fluorescence, CF, leaf chlorophyll content, CC, and leaf temperature, LT) to distinguish between sugarcane genotypes known to be either drought tolerant or susceptible, based on their yield performance under drought conditions in south Texas, U.S.A. Four susceptible, and four tolerant genotypes were grown in a field near Weslaco, S. Texas, and subjected to drought stress over a 90-day period and CF, CC and LT were measured three times during the treatment period.  At 45 days after onset of treatments (DAT), CF (measured as the maximum photosystem II, PSII, photochemical efficiency), and leaf chlorophyll content (CC, measured with a Minolta SPAD meter) declined compared to values measured at 0 DAT. However, the reductions in CF and CC were only significant in leaves of drought-susceptible genotypes. Leaf temperature (measured with an infrared thermometer) increased in drought-stressed plants but the increase was significant only after 90 DAT and only in the drought-susceptible genotypes. The data indicate that either CF or CC can be used as rapid, nondestructive screening tools for drought tolerance among sugar genotypes.  GO TOP AGP44_abstract MANIPULATION OF CUTTING AGE, VARIETIES AND PLANTING TIME TO IMPROVE SUGAR AND CANE YIELD  By R.B. KHANDAGAVE AND B.H. PATIL Godavari Sugar Mills Limited, Sameerwadi–587 316 Karnataka, India drrbk123@yahoo.com     KEYWORDS: harvest age, month of planting, variety, tropic.   Abstract  During early and lag ends of the crushing season, the industrial sugar recovery is low in tropical climatic conditions of India. Optimum cutting age, planting months and varietal composition for different phases of the crushing season are known to improve recovery and cane yield. Hence, to ascertain the same, six field experiments were carried out at the K.J. Somaiya’s Karnataka Institute of Applied Agricultural Research, Sameerwadi during 1996-97 and 97-98. Results indicated that increasing age at harvest from 10 to 16 months across the varieties and months of planting enhanced the average cane and sugar yield from 72.3 to 99.4 and 8.24 to 12.92 t/ha, respectively. Further, cane planted during January irrespective of ages of harvest and varieties gave the highest average cane yield (93.2 t/ha). However, February planted cane produced the highest average sugar yield (13.29 t/ha) compared to other planting months. Comparing varieties irrespective of planting month and ages of harvest, CoC92061 recorded the highest average cane yield (91.9 t/ha) followed by Co86032 (91.2 t/ha). Sugar yield was highest with CoC92061 (12.99 t/ha) followed by CoC671 (12.62 t/ha).    Based on these experimental results and to obtain higher cane yields and sugar recovery, it is recommended to harvest CoC671, CoC92061 and Co85246 at a crop age of 14-16 months during October-December, while CoC92061, CoC671, Co86032, CoM88121 and Co87044 should be harvested at 14 months of age during January-March and, from April onwards, CoC671 and Co854246 should be harvested at 14 month crop age. GO TOP AGP45_abstract Sodic Soil Management of the Sugarcane Area in Western Thailand By Khodphuwiang, C., Kongyoo, P, Prammanee, P. and Weerathaworn, P.   Mitr Phol Sugarcane Research Center Co. Ltd., 399 Moo.1 Khoksa-at, Phukieo, Chaiyaphum, Thailand 36110 Tel: (0)-4488-189, (0)-4488-152, Fax: (0)-4488-152 E-mail: jamnank@mitrphol.com   Keywords: sodium, soil amendments, minimum tillage, flooding  Abstract Sodic soils are widespread throughout the western part of Thailand.  The high concentration of sodium in the soil adversely affects root and aboveground growth of sugarcane.  Severe sodicity causes death of cane.  Management of sodic soil in this area was studied on the cane farm of Mitr Phol sugar mill, Danchang, Thailand, during 2003 to 2005.  The experiment was a split-plot design with four replications, but data could only be recorded from one replication. Main treatments were three different soil management practices (flooding, deep tillage and minimum tillage). Sub-treatments were six different soil amendments (filter cake, mill ash, compost, gypsum, dolomite and rice husk) and a control with no amendment. Minimum tillage with any of the soil amendments gave higher cane yield and number of millable canes, both in plant and ratoon cane. No differences in cane yield were found among the treatments with different types of soil amendments, but the application of 15.0 t /ha of filter cake (dry weight) tended to give higher yield and quality of cane. GO TOP AGP46_abstract VARIETY EVALUATION IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN SUGARCANE INDUSTRY: AN OVERVIEW By S.RAMBURAN, K.A. REDSHAW, M. VAN DEN BERG South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa Sanesh.Ramburan@sugar.org.za   KEYWORDS: Agronomic evaluation, variety, environmental conditions  Abstract  Information on the performance of released varieties under varying site and management conditions is an essential component of agricultural research and forms an important basis of recommendations to growers. The objective of this paper is to provide a brief overview of the variety evaluation program at the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI).   The foundation for the program involves conducting variety trials throughout the sugarcane industry across different environments and subjecting varieties to various management practices. The variety evaluation program currently encompasses 37 trials evaluating 32 varieties in total. Trials are either managed by growers who are supervised by SASRI extension officers, or are conducted on research stations. Important traits assessed at and before harvest include cane yield, stalk components (sucrose, non-sucrose, fibre etc.), lodging, leaf counts, Eldana damage, and milling characteristics. Trial results are statistically analysed and stored in a database.  Information from the program is conveyed to growers by means of SASRI’s extension services, grower days, personal communication, as well as by information sheets and popular articles. The flexibility of the database also allows specific queries to extract data for scientific articles.  The results and industry feedback thereon show that the program provides an invaluable contribution to the performance of the South African sugarcane industry. Opportunities to be fully explored include enhancing feedback and feed forward links between the program and more basic SASRI research and to continuously adapt the program to new industry demands while maintaining continuity and consistency. GO TOP AGP48_abstract Evaluation of pump delivery rates in the Swaziland Sugar Industry By P.V. Mkhaliphi and M.V. Dlamini Swaziland Sugar Association Technical Services P. O. Box 367, Simunye, Swaziland Email: patrickm@ssa.co.sz and musadlamn@ssa.co.sz  keywords: Irrigation management, water use efficiency, pump delivery rates, sugarcane, discharge, ultrasonic flow meter, flow rates, irrigation efficiency. Abstract  Sugarcane in Swaziland is grown in an area of about 50 000 ha under full irrigation. Irrigation systems used are sprinkler (dragline, semi-solid and solid set), furrow, drip (surface and subsurface), centre pivot and floppy. Pressurised irrigation systems currently are covering about 75% of the total area. All the pressurized irrigation systems use electric pumps of varying capacities. However, there is little quantitative information about the delivery rates of the pumps in most pump stations of the sugar industry; yet the implementation of the new Water Act in the country will require each water user to measure flow rates. A method used to evaluate the delivery rates of the electric water pumps in pressurized irrigation on commercial sugarcane farms is reported in this paper. A clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter was used to measure the flow rates of the pumps. Most of the pumps were not discharging the amount of water as expected; a flow rate of 5800 L/s was measured against a target amount of 11 810 L/s at Mnjoli while, at Magwanyana, pumps discharged 37 L/s and 49 L/s when expected to deliver 50 L/s each. The findings outlined in this paper highlight the value of evaluating the performance of pumps in irrigation systems as an important part of effective irrigation management. GO TOP AGP49_abstract Quantifying the effects of environment and genotype ON Stalk elongation rate in sugarcane By M.A. SMIT and A. SINGELS South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa michiel.smit@sugar.org.za   KEYWORDS: Stalk elongation rate, temperature, radiation, genotype.   Abstract  Stalk elongation rate (SER) was measured for cultivars NCo376, N31 and N37 grown in field trials in different climates (two sites and two start dates) as well as for cultivar NCo376 grown in three glasshouses set at day/night temperatures of 22/12, 27/17 and 32/22oC. The relationship of SER to temperature was confirmed, although variation in field data was unexpectedly large. The response of SER to temperature (expressed as the SER change in mm per day per unit change in temperature above Tb in oC) was significantly different between sites, cropping cycles and cultivars.  Lower radiant flux (75%) may have caused the observed reduction in δSER/δT in the glasshouses, indicating a source limitation.  Later emerging shoots presented significantly higher SER than early emerging shoots on the same stool. These impacts must be taken into account when SER is used to quantify plant growth status for production management and variety improvement purposes.  GO TOP AGP52_abstract THE INFESTATION OF Mahanarva fimbriolata (STÅL, 1854) AFFECTS CANE QUALITY, JUICE CLARIFICATION AND SYRUP PRODUCTION By MUTTON, M.J.R1*, MADALENO1, L. L., PRESOTTI1, L.E., RAVANELI1, G.C., MUTTON2, M. A. 1Departamento de Tecnologia – FCAV –Unesp, 2 Departamento de Produção Vegetal;  Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n. Phone/Fax: +55 16 3209-2675; CEP 14.884-900, Jaboticabal, SP –Brazil; *mjrmut@fcav.unesp.br   KEYWORDS: Saccharum spp.; spittlebug; thiamethoxam; sugar production  Abstract The production and quality of sugar are affected by many factors, especially the occurrence of pests in sugarcane fields. This research was undertaken to evaluate the effects of spittlebug infestation on sugarcane quality, juice clarification and syrup production. The highest spittlebug infestation levels resulted in significant reduction in the levels of Pol and theoretically recoverable sugar, but no effect was observed on clarified juice pH, volume dry mass, density of the sediment, and impurity decantation speed. Controlling the pest with thiamethoxam resulted in juice total acidity and colour increases, as well as reductions in the dry mass and density of the clarified juice sediment. Syrup, Pol and total reducing sugars were lower in higher infestation levels, but controlling spittlebugs resulted in recovery. Syrup colour was not influenced by any of the treatments. GO TOP AGP53_abstract ETHANOL PRODUCTION IN SPITTLEBUG-INFESTED SUGARCANE By M.J.R. MUTTON1*; M.A. MUTTON1; G.C. RAVANELI1; T.D. GONÇALVES1; L.L. MADALENO1; L.E. PRESOTTI1; E.R. GUIMARÃES1 1 São Paulo State University – UNESP – Brazil *mjrmut@fcav.unesp.br   Keywords: Mahanarva fimbriolata, thiamethoxam, ethanolic fermentation  Abstract The spittlebug has become a key pest of sugarcane in Brazil with the increase in green cane harvesting, causing stalk yield and cane quality losses. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of this pest on ethanol production in the seasons 2002/2003 and 2003/2004. Fermentation was conducted with the baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae at a concentration of 30 g/L. Microbiological analyses were performed at the beginning and end of the fermentation process. The alcohol content and total residual reducing sugars were measured in wine samples. In both experiments, spittlebug attack negatively influenced yeast cell and bud viability. Consequently, there was an increase of total residual reducing sugars and a reduction in the alcohol content. Controlling the pest with thiamethoxam improves the fermentation process and increases ethanol yield, indicating the importance of high quality cane for fermentation. GO TOP AGP54_abstract FREE PROLINE ACCUMULATION IN SPITTLEBUG-INFESTED SUGARCANE By GUIMARÃES, E.R.1; MUTTON, M.A. 1; FERRO, M.I.T. 1; MUTTON, M.J.R. 1; KALAKI, D.B. 1; 1São Paulo State University – UNESP – Brazil mjrmut@fcav.unesp.br   KEYWORDS: Compatible osmolytes, water deficit, Mahanarva fimbriolata, plant-insect interaction  Abstract  The spittlebug species Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål, 1854) has become a key pest to sugarcane with the increase of green cane harvesting in Brazil. Spittlebug nymphs suck root xylem sap and produce symptoms that are very similar to water deficit. Since the level of free proline has been widely used as an indicator of water deficit, this work was carried out to verify if the accumulation of this amino acid can be used as an indicator of the stress caused by M. fimbriolata. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse and arranged in a completely randomized design, in a 3 x 2 x 4 factorial with 3 sugarcane genotypes, 2 infestation levels (control and 10 nymphs per plant, no-choice test), and 4 sampling dates (8, 17, 39 and 68 days after inoculation), with four replications. Data were subjected to an analysis of variance and means were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. Proline was measured in +1 leaves (Küijper system), through a ninhydrin-based method. Our results showed that the biotic stress promoted by spittlebug infestation does not result in free proline accumulation, which is an indication that it is not the water deficiency itself that promotes proline accumulation. GO TOP AGP57_abstract Evaluation of MOSICAS SUGARCANE GROWTH model in Brazil By M.S. BERNARDES1, C. SUGUITANI2, P.R. LACLAU1, J. MARTINÉ3 and  J. CHOPART3 1. LPV-ESALQ/USP, C.P. 9, Piracicaba-SP, 13418-900, Brazil 2. Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira, C.P. 162, Piracicaba-SP, 13400-970, Brazil 3. CIRAD-CA, UPR Systemes Canniers, 7ch de l’IRAT, 97410 St Pierre, Réunion, France msbernar@esalq.usp.br KEYWORDS: sugarcane, simulation model, growth, yield, irrigation   Abstract  Sugarcane computer growth simulation models developed in Brazil were rarely used and their programming became outdated. MOSICAS is a simulation model developed by Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Dévelopment (CIRAD) with successful application by sugarcane farmers and their associated mills and available for research cooperation. The model consists of a carbon balance, with partitioning to roots, leaves and stalk (fibre and sucrose) according to the interception of solar radiation by a given leaf area. This is linked to the water balance by the canopy transpiration. A field trial to test this model was conduced at Piracicaba, one of the main regions for sugarcane growing in Brazil. The model was tested for two local varieties, RB72454 and SP83-2847, in reference to R570 and to NCo376. The simulations for total above ground biomass, millable stalk dry matter, yield, leaf area index, plant height, root density, maximum root depth and soil water balance presented a significant correlation with observed data. These results are promising and MOSICAS has potential for use in research for understanding sugarcane growth and yield under Brazilian conditions. GO TOP AGP58_abstract A SUSTAINABLE FERTILIZATION PROGRAM FOR A SUGAR FACTORY IN CHIAPAS, MEXICO S. SALGADO-GARCIA, D. PALMA-LÓPEZ, J. ZAVALA-CRUZ, L. LAGUNES- ESPINOZA, M. CASTELÁN-ESTRADA, F. ORTIZ-GARCIA, J. JUÁREZ-LÓPEZ, J. RINCON-RAMIREZ Colegio de Postgraduados – Campus Tabasco. Apdo.Postal 24.  86500  Cárdenas, Tabasco, México salgados@colpos.mx  KEYWORDS: Saccharum officinarum, fertilizer recommendation, soil specific management, conceptual model  Abstract This work was carried out in order to calculate soil specific optimum fertilization rates for sugarcane produced for the sugar factory Pujilitc. A soil map of the area was composed on the basis of interpretation of aerial photographs, soil drilling (1.2 m deep) and other field observations. For each soil subunit identified, agrologic profiles were described and physical and chemical analyses were done to classify soils according to the World Reference Base. A conceptual model was used for estimating N, P, and K fertilization rates (FR) for each subunit. This model is based on the balance among the crop’s nutrient demand (DEM), the nutrients supplied by soil (SUP) and fertilizer efficiency (FE). To estimate the demand, dry matter production and N, P, K accumulation on sugarcane aerial biomass were determined. The P and K supply was calculated from the sum of soil chemical analysis, plus the N contributions from crop wastes and their management. Eleven soil subunits were identified. Fertilization rates adjusted for each soil subunit were (N, P2O5, K2O kg/ha): 120-80-80 for Chemic Chemozen, Mollic Cambisols, Calcaric Fluvisols and Calcaric Regosols; 160-80-80 for Hypo-calcic Calcisols, Rendzic Leptosols and Eutric Vertisols; 120-60-60 for Vertic Calcisols and Pachi-leptic Phaeozens; 140-80-120 for Mollic Gleysols and 100-60-60 for Pelli-calcic Vertisols. These rates were adjusted for expected sugarcane yield and maintenance in each type of soil fertility. GO TOP AGP59_abstract SOIL TILLAGE METHODS IN UNBURNT, MECHANICALLY HARVESTED SYSTEMS By DIAS, F.L.F. 1*, ANDRIOLI, I2, ROSSETO, R.1, MUTTON, A. M2, CASAGRANDE, A. A.2 1IAC/APTA - Centro de Cana-de-açúcar, C.P. 206 - CEP: 14001-970 - Ribeirão Preto, SP - Brasil. 2FCAVJ/UNESP – Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Jaboticabal, SP - Brasil. *E-mail: dias@iac.sp.gov.br  KEYWORDS: sugarcane; economic analysis; reduced tillage; conventional tillage Abstract This study was conducted on two soil types, Red and Yellow-red latosols, under mechanically harvested, unburnt sugarcane. A randomized block design with split plots was applied, with six repetitions. The main treatments on each soil type were: (MT) minimum tillage – old ratoon killed with glyphosate; (RT) reduced tillage – old ratoon killed with glyphosate + subsoiling; (PT) reduced tillage - old ratoon killed with glyphosate + mouldboard plough and (CT) conventional tillage - harrowing + subsoiling. The sub-plots were planted with three varieties (RB855113, RB855257 and RB855536). The observations were performed in the final ratoon and plant cane crops. Physical and chemical properties of soils, and cane and sugar yields were recorded, and an economic analysis was conducted. No interaction was found between soil tillage systems and varieties, although the variety RB855536 gave the highest yield. Among the soil tillage systems, the reduced tillage with glyphosate and mouldboard plough produced the greatest yield and economic return. Among the analysed physical parameters, differences were not detected among the preparation systems, although the minimum prepare (MP) showed the biggest values of resistance to the penetration of the soil. For both soils, the reduced tillage method (PT) performed better than the other systems. GO TOP AGP60_abstract EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC FERTILIZERS, ASSOCIATED OR NOT WITH CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS, IN THE PRODUCTION OF SUGARCANE AND THE THEORETICAL YIELD OF CACHAÇA By GARCIA, J.C.1; ANDRADE, L. A. B.2 1IAC/APTA - Centro de Cana-de-açúcar, C.P. 206 - CEP: 14001-970 - Ribeirão Preto, SP - Brasil. 2UFLA – Universidade Federal de Lavras - Caixa Postal 3037 - CEP 37200-000 – Lavras, MG - Brasil. Email:juliogarcia@iac.sp.gov.br KEYWORDS: Sugarcane, organic fertilizer, mineral fertilizers, lime, sugarcane  cachaça, cane yield. Abstract We evaluated the effects of several organic fertilizers, combined or not with mineral fertilizers, in plant cane on the yield of sugarcane and the theoretical yield of cachaça, a distilled drink popular in Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with nine treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of different combinations of liming, reactive rock phosphate, chemical fertilizer, cattle manure, chicken manure, and cane bagasse. The rock phosphate, chemical fertilizer, cattle manure, chicken manure and cane bagasse were applied in the planting furrow. Limestone was broadcast before planting. The sugarcane variety utilized was SP79-1011. The results show that nutrients available in the cattle manure and chicken manure were sufficient to substitute for the chemical fertilization of plant cane. Based on our results, in the environmental conditions tested, the cane bagasse, when used as an organic source applied in the furrow, should always be complemented with chemical fertilization. GO TOP AGP61_abstract ANALYSIS AND FORECASTING OF THE SUCROSE CONTENT OF SUGARCANE CROPS DURING THE HARVEST PERIOD IN REUNION ISLAND By .F. MARTINE CIRAD, Station de la Bretagne, BP20, 97408, Saint Denis Messagerie Cedex 9 Ile de La Réunion, France Email : jean-francois.martine@cirad.fr   KEYWORDS : Sugarcane, , sucrose content, forecast, temperature, climate index  Abstract  In Réunion Island, in a stable monovarietal sugarcane cropping system, sucrose content patterns through the harvest season differ between years and cropping areas. The sugar industry generally considers that this variability is due to climatic differences, but the impacts have not been quantified. A quantitative explanation of this variability should facilitate the forecasting of sucrose content patterns and highlight opportunities for improvement. We thus used a growth model to calculate bioclimatic indices. This tool, associated with optimisation procedures, can be used to determine bioclimatic indices that would clearly explain the variability in sucrose content in different sugarcane-growing areas. These indices are calculated on the basis of climatic (temperature, radiation, rainfall, potential evapotranspiration) and plant (age, water status) factors. The indices combining temperature, radiation and water deficiencies ratios, from the time when millable stalks are formed, best explain variations in sucrose content during the harvest season. Other periods taken into account are not as critical. Sucrose content forecasting models have been validated on the basis of the results achieved in different years. Just before harvest season, these models can predict the sucrose content pattern at the start of the forthcoming harvest season and give indications to millers and growers for harvest schedules. GO TOP AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING PAPERS ABSTRACTS GO TOP AE1_abstract SEQUENCE OF TILLAGE PRACTICES AND REDUCTION OF LAND PREPARATION COSTS ON A MOLLISOL OF THE CAUCA VALLEY, COLOMBIA By  J.S. TORRES1, G.A. CRIOLLO2 and R. FRANCO2 1Colombian Center for Sugarcane Research, Cenicaña, Colombia 2Mayaguez Sugar Mill, Colombia jtorres@cenicana.org   KEYWORDS: Sugarcane, Compaction, Stool damage, Harvesting, Machinery Traffic   Abstract Intensive tillage for land preparation is a common tendency around the world as a premise to ensure a good seedbed and therefore a good yield. Intensive tillage often results in higher costs with negative effects on soil physical properties. A program was undertaken at Mayagüez Sugar Estate in a Mollisol soil with sandy loam texture to determine if changes in sequence of tillage operations could reduce land preparation costs without negative impacts. The trial investigated both different tillage operations and different tillage sequences, e.g  executing shallow tillage initially followed by deep tillage practices.   Land preparation treatments varied from eight to four tillage practices, all of which resulted in similar soil aggregates distribution and subsequently similar plant growth and final cane and sugar yield. When the four pass tillage treatment was used land preparation, cost was reduced by 60%. Heavy harrow disking used for crop eradication was replaced successfully by a single pass of a chisel plow arranged in such a way as to eradicate the old crop. When subsoiling was executed as the last practice after the crop had already been planted, the soil profile depicted benefits such as lower soil density.    The results obtained with this investigation open up the possibility to reduce land preparation costs under different soils and climatic conditions. Cenicaña will carry on the appropriate research to achieve this commitment. GO TOP AE2_abstract PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT UNDER GREEN CANE HARVESTING CONDITIONS C. NORRIS1, J.C. MIRANDE2, R. GUILLEN3,  E. JACQUIN4, C. RICHARD5, P. LYNE6, J. SCANDALIARUS7 1Booker Tate Ltd, Masters Court, Church Rd, Thame, Oxon OX93FA UK. 2 Ledesma Sociedad Anonima Agricola Industrial, Gorriti No 521 - B0, Ledesma, L.G.S. Martin, Jujuy, 4512 Argentina. 3Pantaleon Sugar Holdings, Diagonal 6 10-31 Zona 10, Guatemala, CA 01010, Guatemala 4 SUCRIVOIRE, 01BP8484, Abidjan 01, Ivory Coast 5C Richard & Associates, 129S Cortez Street, New Orleans, 70119, USA 6 SASRI, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa 7Estación Experimental Obispo Colombres, Av. William Cross 3150, Casilla de Correo No 9, Las Talitas 4101, Tucumán, Argentina CPNorris@Bigpond.net.au  KEYWORDS: sugarcane, green cane, harvesting, trash handling, sugar manufacturing soil health, bio-energy   Abstract  The paper summarizes the proceedings of the International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ISSCT) Agricultural Engineering Section Workshop held between 4th and 7th of September 2006 in Tucumán. Observations from the Post Workshop Field Tour between the 7th and 9th to the Northern Sugarcane growing areas are also discussed.  The workshop style paper presentations were grouped under the general headings of green cane harvesting and transport, green cane cultural management, green cane agronomic considerations, productivity of green cane harvesting systems, and constraints and costs associated with green cane systems. In addition to the workshop style papers, more detailed presentations were given on topics relating to the impact of green cane on sugar manufacture, the impact of cultural practices on soil health, and sugarcane as a bio-energy source.  The main issues emerging from the deliberations are discussed, and the issues that remain to be resolved are noted. Both the workshop and post workshop tours highlighted the increasing adoption of green cane harvesting and cultural practices, as well as the broader issues of sugarcane as an energy crop. GO TOP AE5_abstract PERFORMANCE OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AND WATER USE OF SUGARCANE: A FIELD TO CATCHMENT SCALE PERSPECTIVE By 1N.L. LECLER, 2D.J. CLARK, 2R.E. SCHULZE, 3B.A.K. GRIFFITHS AND 2J.C. SMITHERS 1South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa 2School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa 3Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station Private Bag 7006, Chiredzi, Zimbabwe Neil.Lecler@sugar.org.za  KEYWORDS: sugarcane, irrigation, hydrology, water balance, efficiency  Abstract In this paper a perspective of irrigation systems performance is provided.  To contribute to this perspective, an appropriately representative agro-hydrological simulation model is described and was used to estimate the water balance and various fates of applied irrigation water for typical and top performing furrow irrigation systems compared to equivalent typical and top performing centre pivot irrigation systems.   Characteristics of the different systems, such as the uniformity of applied water, were derived from representative in-field evaluations.  Often, when irrigation efficiencies are quoted or interpreted, the fates of applied water are poorly specified or appreciated, which leads to the widespread belief that water just disappears with low irrigation efficiencies and will re-appear with improvements.  As demonstrated in this paper, such beliefs are an over-simplification. Often the amount of water actually consumed in irrigation, i.e. the evaporated component, remains little changed at various levels of ‘efficiency’, or can even increase when changing to irrigation systems which are often perceived to be relatively more efficient.  Simulations showed that reductions in non-beneficial water balance components were affected more by design and management considerations than by the type of irrigation system.  Changing from furrow irrigation to centre pivots, which are often perceived to be more efficient, did result in slightly improved crop yields.  However, availability of water to other users supplied from a downstream dam was less, owing to the timing and magnitude of associated irrigation return flows and the higher evaporation losses simulated under the pivots.  Quantification of the water balance in an integrated systems context is essential for assessing the performance of irrigation and water management systems and should be promoted rather than promoting the plethora of often misinterpreted irrigation performance indices. GO TOP AE6_final DEVELOPMENT AND MODIFICATION OF MACHINERY FOR AN IMPROVED FARMING SYSTEM IN THE AUSTRALIAN SUGAR INDUSTRY By J.G. KIDD1, B.G. ROBOTHAM2, C.WHITEING1 AND A.L. GARSIDE3 1BSES Limited, Bundaberg, Australia, 2GPS-AG, Bundaberg,  formerly BSES Limited, 3BSES Limited, Townsville, Australia jkidd@bses.org.au  KEYWORDS: Sustainable sugarcane production, Controlled Traffic, Precision Agriculture, Elevator Extension, Double-Disc Opener,   Abstract  The need for sustainable sugarcane production in the Australian sugar industry prompted the development of an improved farming system that incorporates the use of legume fallow crops, reduced tillage operations and controlled in-field traffic.  This system, which is based on a set of principles rather than ‘recipe’ style guidelines, necessitated the identification and subsequent development and/or modification of appropriate machinery for use on-farm.   Significant economic and environmental benefits can be obtained from adoption of improved farming practices.  To implement this system successfully, some modification of machinery is necessary.  This paper examines some of the machinery needs associated with the adoption of the improved farming system within the industry.  The development of appropriate planter technologies and modifications for chopper harvesters is discussed, and the introduction of machinery for successful management of legume crops is described and assessed.  The development and/or modification of machinery and equipment has been, and continues to be, an important component of this process.  Future enhancement may include incorporation of emerging precision agriculture technologies, with the aim of additional economic and environmental benefits. GO TOP AE7_abstract SUGARCANE TRASH COLLECTION AT THE SMALL FARMS IN SOUTHERN INDIA By VINCENT PAUL H., Dr. KRISHNAMURTHI M EID Parry (INDIA) Limited hvincentpaul@gmail.com KEYWORDS: Trash, small farms, baling, sugarcane, biomass  Abstract  To extend the operation of a bagasse based co-generation power plant, both the procurement of supplementary fuels and the extending of the crushing season in the sugar mill were required. The collection of sugarcane trash for use as supplementary fuel was taken up at EID PARRY sugar mill at Nellikuppam in Tamil Nadu, India on a trial basis, to determine the viability of this strategy.   Trials were done by windrowing trash in the field and collecting and baling it, initially using small rectangular and later, round hay balers. Windrowing was initially undertaken manually. However, a mechanical rake was later used to windrow the trash for trials.   Different baler types were tested to find the factors impacting on baler productivity. Modifications were undertaken to adapt the balers to suit Indian field conditions, and appropriate field operating procedures were developed. Manual collection of trash was also introduced at places near to the mill to increase the supply of trash to the mill.   Both the small rectangular balers and the round baler had similar outputs in the actual field conditions experienced.  The transport efficiency was lower with round bales as they required specialised loading equipment and longer low bed trailers, which could not effectively negotiate the narrow rural roads. Rectangular bales were manually loaded and were simple to handle and transport. Whilst the performance of balers was initially good, performance declined in the second year primarily due to maintenance and wear issues. Although the ability to bale trash was established, the throughput of the equipment must be increased to achieve a viable operation. Apart from small field size, several other field factors were also identified as obstacles to the baling and transport of residues. Farm layouts and farming practices needed to be changed to suit mechanised operations. GO TOP AE8_abstract Mill-scale supply chain and logistics model integration for improved decision support By  P.Y. Le Gal1, C.N. Bezuidenhout2, P.W.L. Lyne3 1CIRAD, UMR85 Innovation, Montpellier, F-34000 France 2School of Bioresources Engineering and Environmental Hydrology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa 3South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private Bag X02, Mt Edgecombe, 4300, South Africa pierre-yves.le_gal@cirad.fr KEYWORDS: simulation, optimisation, logistics, mill supply, sugarcane Abstract The management of cane procurement and general logistics at a mill scale remains complex and contains valuable opportunities for improved efficiencies and cost savings. In the past, several researchers have focused on different logistical and supply chain issues. This paper reviews these works and attempts to synthesize valuable modelling contributions towards a more holistic supply chain decision support system. Three previously independent research projects that focused on modelling supply chain and logistics issues at the Sezela sugar mill in South Africa are reviewed. Firstly, a simulation logistic model was used to assess the impacts of logistics on harvest-to-crush delays. Secondly, an optimisation model was used to quantify the impacts of different management rules on transportation and mill performance. Thirdly, a weekly supply chain model was used to estimate the potential benefits of different management strategies on capacities, utilization and sugar production. The integration of short time stepped logistical models and larger time stepped supply chain models are discussed in order to create a suitable decision support environment that will assist mill scale management to assess the impacts of their decisions at various levels across the supply chain and over extended periods of time. An integrated modelling system, therefore, has the ability to assess the logistical impacts of longer term supply chain decisions, and vice versa. Integrated systems, however, pose challenges in finding suitable input data and software interfaces. It is concluded that an integrated supply chain modelling system, although difficult to conceptualize and construct, offers real potential benefits to the optimal management of sugar cane supply chains. GO TOP AE9_abstract EVALUATION OF GREEN-CANE HARVESTING AND CROP MANAGEMENT WITH A TRASH-BLANKET By Oscar Núñez1 and Egbert Spaans2 1San Carlos Sugar Mill 2ALIA2 Asesores Líderes Integrales para la Agricultura y el Desarrollo S.A.; onunez@isc.com.ec; espaans@alia2xti.com   KEYWORDS: sugarcane, green cane, trash blanket, burned, Ecuador   Abstract  To evaluate the feasibility of green-cane harvest at San Carlos Sugar Mill in Ecuador, the agronomic parameters that may be affected when changing from burned to green-cane harvest were evaluated.    Two sites were harvested green by hand and compared with two adjacent sites that were also harvested manually but burned. Manual, green-cane harvesting was found to be not feasible for San Carlos Mill due to the prohibitive increase in harvesting cost caused by the reduction in productivity of 68% of the field labourers. Subsequently, an experiment was undertaken with mechanical harvesters, comparing six sites that were cut green and another six adjacent sites that were burned before harvest.  In mechanical green-cane harvest, the machine productivity was reduced by 43% and the trash content in the delivered cane was higher by 38%.    Several advantages of the green-cane harvest were, however, found.  The mass of crop residues that remained in the field after mechanical harvest was significantly larger under green harvesting (17.31 t/ha) when compared to the burned treatment (3.7 t/ha).  The contents of P and K in the residues were the same, but N content in the green harvest residues (0.85%) was significantly higher than in the burned residues (0.55%).  In addition, after green-cane harvest, the cost of weed control was reduced by 35% and of irrigation by 10%. Whilst sucrose recovery was not affected, insufficient data were available to draw valid conclusions on cane yield.    After considering the impact of all the parameters that were monitored, economic analysis currently favours burned-cane harvest.  Conversely, we believe that if better trash-extraction was achieved and if the nutrient recycling of the trash blanket was quantified, the balance would tip in favour of green harvest.  It is necessary to continue the evaluation of mechanical green-cane harvest to understand the conditions under which it is favourable and to assess its long-term effects on soil health and cane yield.  GO TOP AE14_abstract HIGH EFFICIENT DIAGNOSIS OF SUGARCANE FARM LAND USING NIR SPECTROSCOPY NETWORKING SYSTEM By EIZO TAIRA, MASAMI UENO, YOSHINOBU AND RYOTA MATSUKAWA University of the Ryukyus e-taira@agr.u-ryukyu.ac.jp   KEYWORDS: NIR spectroscopy, networking system, nutrition diagnosis.  Abstract  A new quality evaluation system using NIR spectroscopy for the shredded cane has been introduced into the Okinawa sugar mill groups in Japan. Using appropriate inputs based on the data from NIR spectroscopy, a simple and effective diagnosis system was developed to increase production and quality of sugarcane.   The evaluation system is composed of the local systems, network system, data and file servers and others. A NIR spectrometer and a cutter grinder are main elements of the local system. The local system is installed in ten raw sugar mills on the eight islands which grow sugarcane. All data obtained by the local systems is collected into the central facility through the Internet. The NIR absorbance spectrum obtained from the each local system is collected into the centre and the components calculated. Value added functions are installed into the quality evaluation system.   The analysis of the shredded cane with respect to total nitrogen, CN ratio and minerals is measured by the new system. Nutrition status of a sugarcane field is then checked by the central diagnosis system. The results are then returned to the local system, where relevant changes to fertilizer application, scheduling of farming operation and other parameters are made. GO TOP AE15_abstract A REVIEW OF THE CANE HAULAGE PROBLEMS AT HIPPO VALLEY ESTATES By S. Chidoma Hippo Valley Estates Limited P.O. Box 1, Chiredzi, Zimbabwe schidoma@hippo.co.zw KEYWORDS: Burn-to-grind delay, ‘no-cane’ mill stoppages, conventionally cut cane, mechanically loaded cane Abstract  Hippo Valley Estates, a sugar producer in the south-eastern Lowveld of Zimbabwe experienced some problems with its cane haulage system from 2000 to 2005. These manifested themselves as erratic cane supplies, ‘-no-cane–’ mill stops, increased haulage costs, long burn-to-crush delays, and distortions to season length. These problems had serious operational and cost implications for the Estate, hence the need to review the system.   The review incorporated a number of research methods. These included time and motion studies to measure the time spent by the various machines in loading and hauling the cane, as well as tracking the times spent by cane consignments at the various stages of the cane supply chain. Questionnaires were used to evaluate cane haulage operators’ assessments of the factors they felt contributed to their failure to achieve set targets.   The study confirmed the existence of the cane haulage problems. The causes of these were the use of old equipment, high downtime, slow reaction to breakdowns, poor coordination and communication between the mill, cane haulage and cane harvesting fronts, zone and mill delays, low stack weights, use of many cutting fronts and poor roads.   Several recommendations were made to address the identified problems. These included the timely replacement of old equipment, improved servicing of broken down vehicles, improved synchronisation and communication, and the use of fewer consolidated cutting and harvesting fronts. There is also need to reconfigure the estates’ cane haulage fleet to tractors with greater horsepower designed for cane haulage for increased payload and operational and cost effectiveness. GO TOP AE16_abstract Mechanization of Sugarcane Production in India R.N.S. Yadav Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (ICAR), Bhopal-462 038, India rnsyadav@ciae.res.in KEYWORDS: Sugarcane cutter planter, ratoon management, farm implements, National Agricultural Technology Project. Abstract  In India most of the cultural practices associated with sugarcane production are undertaken by using traditional tools, equipment and machinery. Mechanization of sugarcane cultivation is evolving as a shift occurs from traditional practices to modern cultivation methods. These include appropriate mechanization of tillage, planting, weeding and inter-row cultivation, plant protection, harvesting, loading, transport and other post-harvest operations including ratooning. The advantages include enhanced productivity, timeliness of operation, work quality, and utilization of inputs and resources such  as seed, fertilizer and chemicals, along with reductions in total cultivation costs and human drudgery.  In India, the cost of sugarcane cultivation is US$800-1000 per hectare. About 25-30 percent of the cost is for manual labour which may equate to $US220 per hectare. In comparison to traditional practices, there is a cost saving of about 30 to 60% under mechanized farming systems. Mechanized sugarcane cultivation can reduce the cost of wages incurred for the various cultural operations and has economic benefits as well as timeliness and crop husbandry. Feedback studies conducted under the National Agricultural Technology Project on Sugarcane Mechanization (ICAR) indicate that sugarcane growers are slowly adopting modern sugarcane machinery for selected operations such as tillage and planting, either on ownership or custom hire basis.  Under Indian conditions, overall productivity of sugarcane can be increased by 10-15% through appropriate mechanization. However, access to the equipment by growers is a constraint. The commercialization of a suitable design of sugarcane combine harvester is also urgently needed.  GO TOP AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING POSTERS ABSTRACTS AEP1_abstract PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMICS OF THE ILLOVO MECHANICAL CANE CUTTER By P.W.L. LYNE1, M.I. LANGTON2, C.N. BEZUIDENHOUT2 AND J.C. SMITHERS2 1South African Sugarcane Research Institute, Private bag X02, Mt. Edgecombe, 4300 2School of Bioresources Engineering & Environmental Hydrology, University of K email address: peter.lyne@sugar.org.za  KEYWORDS: mechanical harvesting, brush-cutter, cutter performance, ergonomics, Illovo-cutter  Abstract Labour for cutting sugarcane is becoming a constraint because of a rising standard of living, labour aspirations and the fact that manual cutting is classified as “hard work”.  In addition, manual harvesting in South Africa is often favoured because of the high cost of mechanical harvesters and steep slopes. To deal with this, a brush-cutter with a redesigned blade configuration, called the Illovo mechanical cane cutter, was developed and various performance parameters were measured in field trials. The cutter efficiency, blade durability, performance standards, ergonomics and economics were measured and analysed. These were carried out during field tests where the system was introduced to a commercial farming operation and operated in parallel with the conventional system. A work study was carried out to collect performance data, and an ergonomic study was carried out on both the mechanical and conventional system. The tests highlighted some problems and, with further development, these were dealt with and the system is now a functional cutting system. The ergonomics showed that the cutter is less demanding than the conventional system and the costs compare favourably with the conventional manual system. The system offers a viable alternative to the conventional method of manually cutting sugarcane. GO TOP AEP2_abstract EVALUATING THE APPLICABILITY OF MODIS DATA FOR FORECASTING SUGARCANE YIELDS IN COLOMBIA By E. BASTIDAS-OBANDO1, J. CARBONELL-GONZÁLEZ1 1 CENICAÑA, Cali, Colombia ebastidas@cenicana.org   KEYWORDS: MODIS, Remote sensing, Sugarcane, Yield forecasting  Abstract  Information on growth dynamics and crop conditions can be used to estimate crop production. Remote sensing technology can provide such information by offering temporal and spatial data during the growing season. In this paper, we evaluated the potential of using images coming from the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectro-Radiometer (MODIS) for yield forecasting. A group of 28 images from MODIS land product MOD13Q1 were used for the growing period between January 17th 2002 and April 17th 2003. The HANTS smoothing algorithm was implemented to reduce data noise, and the effect of clouds from the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) available in the MOD13Q1 product. Commercial information from 33 fields across the Valle del Rio Cauca was used to correlate yield data with cumulated EVI data for three periods during the growing season. Results showed that linear models had an accuracy of 74% for estimating crop production at the early growing stage (5th month) when fields were managed by mills. Accuracy of crop production from fields managed by farmers ranged from 37% at the early growing stage (5th month) to 68% at the late crop stage (10th month). MODIS information can provide spatial and temporal information for forecasting crop production. Further yield estimation improvements should include multiple growing periods.   GO TOP AEP3_abstract DISCRIMINATION OF  SUGARCANE VARIETIES CC 85-92 AND CC 84-75 USING LANDSAT 7 ETM+ SATELLITE IMAGERY By P. J. MURILLO1, J. A. CARBONELL 1, C. A. OSORIO1, E. BASTIDAS-OBANDO1. CENICAÑA1, Cali, Colombia. pjmurillo@cenicana.org   KEYWORDS: sugarcane, varieties, Landsat 7, Jeffries-Matusita.  Abstract  This work evaluates Landsat 7 ETM+ data for discriminating between sugarcane varieties CC 85-92 and CC 84-75 in the Valle del Río Cauca in Colombia. Fields at different growing stages were chosen: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11 and 12-14 months. Their spectral separability was calculated with Jeffries-Matusita distance. Results indicated that there is a clear discrimination between 4th and 5th month, with an overall accuracy of 80% and kappa index 0.62. This can be explained because there is a clear difference between population density stalks. The other periods didn’t present spectral separability between the varieties, which suggests the use of images of better spectral resolution. This application is a preliminary step in identifying and monitoring areas planted with varieties bred by Cenicaña. The information coming from satellite imagery could be used to create a spectral library, with the objective to compare biophysical parameters between varieties such as: leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll and biomass, among others. GO TOP AEP7_abstract OPTIMIZED AGRICULTURAL PLANNING OF SUGARCANE USING LINEAR PROGRAMMING By SCARPARI, M.S.1*; LANDELL, M.G.A.1, BEAUCLAIR, E.G.F.de2 1IAC/APTA - Centro de Cana-de-açúcar, C.P. 206 - CEP: 14001-970 - Ribeirão Preto, SP - Brasil. 2Depto. de Produção Vegetal - USP/ESALQ, C.P. 9 - CEP: 13418-900 - Piracicaba, SP - Brasil. *E-mail: msscarpa@iac.sp.gov.br  KEYWORDS: harvest, GAMS, administration, optimization, operational research. Abstract Optimized agricultural planning is a fundamental activity in enterprise profitability because it can increase the returns from an operation with low additional costs. Nonetheless, the use of operational research adapted to sugarcane plantation management is still limited, resulting in decision-making at management level being primarily empirical. The goal of this work was to develop an optimized planning model for sugarcane farming using a linear programming tool. The programming language used was General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) as this system was seen to be an excellent tool to allow maximization of profit and optimization of the harvesting time schedule in the sugar mill studied. The results presented support this optimized planning model as being a very useful tool for sugarcane management. GO TOP Return to Programme