Comparative Evaluation of Harvesting Systems in Sugar Cane

The aim of the present experience was to evaluate the harvesting systems on the basis of trash content of raw material and the losses of millable cane, as a consequence of the harvesting operation. The analysed harvesting alternatives include differences in mechanical, semi-mechanical and manual systems and they have been evaluated in plots of 960 m2 of a same uniform sugar cane field, the test being repeated in five oportunities and for two varieties. The principal tconclusions reached are the following: . 1. The percentage of trash of raw material varied between 1 and 1,5O/0 for manually harvested cane and 4,97 and 9,13 for the rest of the systems. 2. The harvesting with chopper cane harvester caused a field loss of about 16,4% whereas the rest of the systems have very low values of 9,6% for topper-cutter system, 7,90% for cane cutters, 8,50% for soldier type harvester (Louisiana type), and 5,O0/0 for manual. 3. Burning as a means of replacing manual labor in the <> of cane, increased the trash to 7%, whereas in the chopper cane harvesting system it was lowered to 1,38%. 4. The varieties showed a differential ability for harvesting.