Productive sugarcane fields have a year-round management schedule

For sugarcane mills and suppliers, plantation productivity is essential. Brazil is a world leader in this type of cultivation and to ensure that this position is maintained, with quality hectares, the producer needs to prepare a plan for the harvest and determine management strategies that keep pests, diseases and weeds at bay.

“These three problems are the main causes of damage in the field, as they compete with the crop for water resources, light and nutrients, which affects the longevity of sugarcane fields. To draw up an effective plan against them, you need to know how to recognize them, identify the place where they occur and the damage they cause”, says Roberto Toledo, Herbicide Products Manager at Ourofino Agrociência.

When managing weeds, establishing a schedule of activities for the area and following it exactly is important for the final result, according to Toledo. This includes preparing the field for the crop to be planted in the clear, eradicating older sugar cane from the previous harvest and eliminating weeds present. In this scenario, herbicides with glyphosate are the main option, as they speed up the cleaning process. In Ourofino's portfolio, Templo® is the most suitable for this stage.

“Choosing the right product for each situation, season and type of cultivar determines how optimized the phases of the sugarcane field will be. So, the sugarcane supplier who is planting in the summer knows that there will be rain interference during the period, and therefore needs to prepare, plan good machinery logistics, choose good materials, know if the plant is more sensitive to the herbicide that will be used in the area and identify the type of weed present in the plantation”, advises the company's specialist.

Colony grass, signal grass, crabgrass, viola strings and sour grass are the most aggressive invaders for sugarcane cultivation and require the producer to work different products at a given time. Thinking about situations like this, Ourofino Agrociência works in the field with the Ciclo 100 program, which offers integrated solutions for managing weeds, pests and diseases in sugarcane. Furthermore, the initiative provides data, studies and consultations with researchers and cultural experts.

Another point that Roberto Toledo highlights as a discussion in the agricultural scenario is what is spent and what is investment in the field. Cost is important for the producer and there are often doubts about when to invest in products and when to wait, but the ideal, according to him, is to start a plantation following the indicated procedures. “Although this generates an expense of, on average, around R$150, depending on the product, investing in herbicide will provide longevity for the sugarcane field, generating a return above three digits in tons.”

He also points out that this investment, when made assertively, provides four to five successive cuts in the sugarcane field, that is, it reduces weed infestation over the next few years, in the complete cycle.

Within Cycle 100, there are versatile herbicides to be used all year round. FortalezaBR, for example, has physical-chemical characteristics that allow it to be worked on the plantation all year round. It has effective action against grasses, signal grass, colonial grass and provides support for broad leaves and guitar strings. PonteiroBR is also multifaceted, acting against nutsedge, broad leaves and supporting some grasses. These are two products that, when combined, can be used for long periods.

In addition to chemical care, Ourofino's Herbicide Manager says that preventative control of weeds is important, which includes taking care not to carry seeds from one location to another, cleaning the machinery before using it and preparing the soil to receive the herbicide. Knowing the quality of the seedling to be planted, whether it adapts to local conditions, adequate spacing and nutritional management are also precautions that will further improve the results of each harvest.

“The solution for productivity in the field is the sum of a technological package and Ourofino is in the market for this, to help producers use the right tools to their advantage”, says Roberto Toledo. For more information about the company's portfolio and the Ciclo 100 program, simply access ourofinoagro.com.br.