Double furrow planting, technological alternative to reduce the percentage of weeds in sugarcane

Abstract

The experimental work was carried out during the wet period of the Integral Weed Control Campaign, in plantations of the cold season (June - December) of 2018, in the Sugarcane Growers Farm “Vitalio Acuña”, belonging to the Sugar Mill Dos Ríos, Santiago de Cuba. The objective was to assess the effectiveness of two planting methods for weed management in sugarcane. The experiment was laid out in split plot design using three replications, each plot contained 14 furrows of 100 m long, on a cambisol soil. In each planting methods the weeds coverage at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after the application of herbicide were determined and field closure was evaluated. The Environmental Impact Coefficient and the pollutant load to the atmosphere were determined. Field closure in dual furrow system occurred 60 days before the traditional one, thus limiting the presence of weeds. There were significant differences between the two planting systems. Traditional plantation required four more tasks for weed control. The performance of more control tasks increased the environmental impact coefficient and the expulsion of polluting gases into the atmosphere. The most effective planting method for weed control in sugarcane was dual furrow system, which at the same time reduces pollution to the environment.

Keywords

• field closure
• weed cover
• planting distances
• planting method
• environmental impact