THE HANDLING OF SUGARCANE TRASH I. YIELD AND ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS

Abstract

1. Experiments on handling of sugarcane trash were established at Río Piedras and Isabela, with treatments consisting of burning, burying, and aligning the trash. 2. In Río Piedras there was no difference in sugarcane yields that could be attributed to any of the treatments until the fifth and six ratoon. Here significant differences in yields were obtained from aligning trash accompanied with burning or burying it. 3. At Isabela, no differences in yields were obtained for four crops of a plant cane, two ratoons, and a plant cane. No manipulation of the trash gave yields equal to aligning, burning, or burying it. 4. Field observations indicated that weeding costs were greater when the trash was burned or buried, as compared with aligning or with no manipulation of the trash. 5. The various practices and their value from the standpoint of yields, costs of cultivation, and soil erosion value are discussed. The general recommendation from present data for Puerto Rico is that the sugarcane trash should be aligned.