Drip irrigation in sugarcane under mechanized harvesting

The use of drip irrigation in sugarcane also began in the late 90s in Brazil, and uses some common characteristics that make both technologies viable.

The most common machines are with a center spacing of 188 cm, such as the John Deere 3520 or Case A8000. The most commonly used spacing for drips is also 1,8 m to 1,9 m, which can be combined in double rows: 1,40 x 0,40 or 1,50 x 0,40 or single rows of 1,4 to 1,5, XNUMX m.

The field design when using drip irrigation must be designed to adapt to the mechanized harvesting system, reducing trampling of the lines to a minimum. 

Irrigation is an integral part of advanced agronomic implementation practices, a method that aims to increase yields, therefore, high-yield mechanical harvesting requires a strong emphasis on sugarcane field maintenance and uniformity. To achieve this, factors such as harvester speed, base cut height and machine maintenance must be observed.

The harvester has an average yield of 25 tons of cane/hour, while it guarantees high yields to be harvested, therefore, monitoring the speed is important.

In a study carried out in partnership between Netafim and John Deere Máquinas, at Fazenda Natal, located in Igaraçu do Tietê, in São Paulo, we monitored mechanical harvesting for three years. In this study, it was assessed that mechanical harvesting in double rows (1,4 x 0,4 m) would be successful, maintaining high yields and a good stand for the following years.

As seen in the results above, it is possible to  harvest high-yielding sugarcane fields without this affecting productivity. However, aligning the best spacing with the spacing of the machines (transshipment and harvester) is essential