Measures that increase the quality of the sugarcane field

The health of the sugarcane field is of vital importance for companies in the sugar-energy sector – and can mean the difference between a harvest that brings financial returns or one that is marked by low productivity. Therefore, Biosev S.A. develops actions aimed at increasing the productivity and longevity of the sugarcane field in a sustainable way.

With the aim of following the latest developments in the sector, seeking new solutions and testing innovations, Biosev maintains the CTI (Technology and Innovation Center) at the Santa Elisa unit, in Sertãozinho (SP), in addition to other experimental field areas at its units. .

Carlos Daniel Berro Filho, agricultural director, comments on the company's positive experiences: “Since adopting a set of techniques we have been able to increase agricultural quality and productivity (ATR and TCH) and maintain these until the most advanced cuts, reaching today, on average , up to the eighth cut of the sugarcane, an excellent index of the longevity of our sugarcane fields.” For comparison purposes, in general, for the production of ethanol and sugar, the average practiced in the market is five cuts.

Check out what Biosev has been intensifying and implementing to increase the productivity, quality and longevity of the sugarcane field:

constant training

“The first step seems simple, but it is perhaps the most important. All the investment in research and innovation that the company makes would be meaningless if the application was carried out incorrectly. Here at Biosev we believe that our employees play a fundamental role, and that is why we invest in technical training, with refresher courses, workshops with consultants, and exchange of experiences between units”, says the agricultural director. According to Berro Filho, it is also very important that professionals have space to suggest new ideas. Those on the front line can see important details, or even present innovative solutions for a given process.

Variety for each region

Biosev has eight agro-industrial units, distributed between the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso do Sul. Therefore, climatic and terrain conditions vary greatly depending on geographic location. Therefore, Biosev regularly checks competition trials and nurseries of promising materials, both in favorable and restrictive soils. Currently, around 12 different varieties of sugarcane are used in all of the company's production areas, with another 30 new ones being cultivated on an experimental basis.

u

“If you make a mistake when planting, you will directly lose seven harvest cycles, and a huge investment”, explains Carlos Daniel. According to him, cultural treatments are important, but any slip-up can often be avoided. As for planting, attention needs to be doubled, it needs to be correct from the beginning. After a very successful pilot project, Biosev implemented two production centers for Pre-Sprouted Seedlings (MPBs), located at the Passa Tempo units (in Rio Brilhante, MS), and Lagoa da Prata (in the municipality of the same name, in MG). The technology produces higher quality sugarcane, free from diseases and pests, in addition to reducing the costs involved in the planting process. The MPB model also offers fewer failures, guaranteeing a higher multiplication rate compared to the traditional system, due to the high strength of the materials.

br

The success achieved with MPBs also made it possible for another technique to be used in planting: the Meiosi system (Simultaneously Occurring Interrotational Method). In this case, the sugarcane lines are interspersed with soybeans, peanuts or sunn hemp, and their unfolding occurs manually. “Since the system began to be implemented at Biosev, we have achieved multiplication rates in the range of 1x8 to 1x10, and we consider this the system with the best technical and economic results currently”, comments the agricultural director.

u

After all the effort and investment put into planting correctly and with quality seedlings, a close look is necessary to obtain healthy plants and good growth rates. To this end, Biosev uses waste from the production process in cultural treatments, applying filter cake, soot and vinasse in the sugarcane areas. These sources of organic matter nourish the sugarcane field satisfactorily and reduce costs in purchasing fertilizers and correctives. Currently, almost 100% of the company's sugarcane fields receive the application of localized vinasse, an organic, sustainable and economical fertilizer.