Farming systems and production management

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://elibrary2.sugarresearch.com.au/handle/11079/13844

Research outcomes: Growers and harvesters benefit from the ongoing research in productivity improvement, production management and agronomical techniques. Developed technologies and management practices that enhance productivity and demonstrate a high rate of return on investment.

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Optimisation of cultural practices for efficient mechanical harvesting : SRDC Final report BS20S
(1991) Ridge, DR
Some progress has already been made in identifying field conditions and practices which lead to high dirt levels. These include lodged cane, wet field conditions and cutting with the harvester basecutter below ground level. The project aimed to extend on these findings by looking at varietal factors contributing to lodging and stool tipping, and cultural practices which lead to harvester operators cutting below ground level. The aim was to develop alternative practices to minimise dirt problems. This included investigation of the effect of row spacing on row profiles in ratoon crops.
Analysis of field and factory options for efficient gathering and utilisation of trash from green cane harvesting : SRDC Final report BS157S
(2000) Ridge, DR; Hobson, PA
The objectives of this project were: to determine field costs for harvest\transport of cane with varying levels of cleaning by the harvester; to determine similar costs for field to factory transport; to establish the total industry cost of the various options; to determine the feasibility of cleaning at the mill; and to determine the economic feasibility of importing and burning additional extraneous matter for co-generation of power.
Beneficial use irrigation strategies with treated urban effluent : Final report 972471
(2000) Ridge, DR
Objectives for research:1. To identify the demand for effluent water by comparing three levels of water application to assess economics of crop response to water, and the impact on balancing storage capacity;2. To select irrigation strategies which (a) minimise impact on deep drainage and watertable elevation, (b) which sustain or improve water quality of adjoining streams and (c) which allay any concerns with community health issues;3. To develop a soil management system to optimise capacity of the crop to take effluent waters, while maximising productivity under wet conditions. This will allow future adoption of the green cane production system and its large environmental and community benefits;4. To monitor changes in soil salinity and sodicity associated with irrigation;5. To use historic weather records and a water balance model to place project results in an historic perspective and determine long-term probability for water use and storage needs;6. To ensure community and industry ownership of the project, and its outputs, through a participative extension process.
Evaluation of the chop-throw system for incorporation in a two-row harvester : SRDC Final report BS103S
(2000) Ridge, DR
This report outlines a three-year project to develop a two-row, chop-throw harvester in conjunction with a Bundaberg innovator and evaluate its performance under commercial conditions. The role of the BSES in this project was to provide some technical input into cleaning system design, and to evaluate field performance. It was evident during this project that background research under non-commercial conditions was required to perfect the chop-throw device and design a suitable cleaning system. The various cleaning systems tried on prototype chop-throw harvesters were not optimised due to commercial pressures, and it is recommended that modelling of the chop-throw cleaning system be carried out to assess cleaning potential before further commercial development is attempted.
Management strategies for drip irrigation systems in sugarcane : SRDC Final report BS64S
(1998) Ridge, DR
Two drip irrigation trials were conducted on clay (krasnozem) and sandy loam (gley podzolic) soils to investigate the optimum positioning of drip irrigation tape for effective irrigation on contrasting soil types. Further trials were established on the gley podzolic soil to compare fertiliser application through tape with conventional application; to compare drip and furrow irrigation and to compare drip irrigation performance at different row spacings. The trials comparing deep and shallow placement of drip tubing showed that both are satisfactory for the soil types tested. More frequent watering is necessary if deep tape placement is used on sandy soils and water use efficiency is likely to be less on both soil types if extra water is needed at crop establishment to wet up the soil profile. It is recommended that tape be placed at 100-150 mm below planting depth to minimise these problems. Fertigation through the drip tape showed no difference in crop response compared to conventional solid fertiliser application at recommended nitrogen rates, and the 75% nitrogen rate applied through drip performed similarly to the 100% conventional rate. It was found that application through the drip system in splits throughout the season reduced ccs at the 100% nitrogen rate but there was no effect on ccs at the 75% rate. The comparison between drip and furrow irrigation showed a small but non-significant advantage in water use efficiency with drip but no yield difference between methods. This suggests that under trial or commercial conditions which give abnormally high water use efficiency with furrow irrigation there is no significant benefit from drip irrigation. In the row spacing trial planting at 1.65 m compared to 1.5 m spacing gave similar yields for six varieties showing that some reduction in tape costs could be achieved by moving to wider row spacing. The dual row planting on 1.8 m centres with one tape per two rows gave poor yields due to crop establishment problems but other trial work suggests that this is also a viable alternative for reducing tape costs. Management techniques such as regular chlorination of drip tape and application of trifluralin through the tape to prevent root intrusion into emitters adopted for the trial are recommended as standard practice for drip users to ensure longevity of the drip tape.
A management assistance package for optimising harvester; infield transport productivity : SRDC Final report BS124S
(BSES, 1998) Ridge, DR; Powell, J
The two year project to develop a management assistance package for optimising harvester/infield transport productivity was completed during 1997.
A reactive extension and monitoring program to reduce dirt levels in the cane supply : SRDC Final report BS1495
(1997) Ridge, DR; Linedale, AI
Optimum time of harvest for high early sugar varieties : SRDC Final report BS705
(1997) Ridge, DR; Cox, MC
To assess the optimum time of harvest for high early ccs varieties, two experiments were conducted on the BSES Experiment Station at Bundaberg between 1993 and 1996. The first experiment included eight varieties selected to represent early, mid-season and late maturing varieties, planted in both spring and autumn. the varieties were harvested in May, June, July, August and September in plant, first and second ratoon crops. Ratoon crops were 12 months old at harvest. Data on cane yields and ccs for each harvest date allowed assessment of the benefits of high early ccs varieties for extending the harvest season and for increasing productivity during the normal harvest season. The objectives for this report was to determine yield and ccs of cane varieties, particularly high early ccs types at various times during the season; evaluate ratooning of varieties harvested at different times; assess the effect of harvesting system on ratoon performance; examine the economic implications of strategic timing in the harvest of varieties.
Optimising cane harvester extractor performance : SRDC Final report BS65S
(1996) Ridge, DR; Pearce, F
The three year project to optimise cane harvester extractor peformance was directed into three separate areas - evaluation of existing commercial or semi commercial cleaning system -development of an extractor hood design with improved aerodynamic properties - and - refinement of the design of the extractor chamber to improve cleaning performance. Initial testing of the Alfarm Mizzi harvester fitted with a pre-cleaning chamber to extend the length of the path for cleaning by the primary extractor proved inclonclusive, du to mechancial problems with the test harvester. However, it was observed that the precleaning chamber was ineffective at high feed rates and this problem has been partially addressed in the latest Joe Mizzi harvester by increasing the height of the chamber. Preliminary testing confirmed that cleaning performance of a vertical arm extractor was superior to a cross-arm mounted extractor and efficiency was affected by factors such as the deflector plate angle and blade tip clearance . The development of a protype 'lobster' shaped steel hood showed that air velocities in the extractor chamber were increased by widening the cross-section of the hood towards the outlet and providing a more streamlined shape. A prototype moulded polythlene hood was developed from the 'lobster' hood to facilitate manufacture of the tapered and smoothed shape. After refinement of the plastic hood in a further steel protype a final plastic hood mould was constructed with the extractor fan mounted on a vertical shaft supported by external steel legs. This hood is mounted on an extended steel barrel. Detailed testing of a range of extractor chamber configurations and inlet vent positions was carried out with results showing the following: improved cleaning and reduced cane loss with an additional rear vent directing air against the flow of cane from the chopper; similar improvements by introducing additional air into the bottom of the cleaning chamber by widening the base of the air inlet cone. It was noted that there needed to be a balance between the different locations for introducting air into the chamber to optimise separation of cane and leaf and trash without causing excessive cane loss. The final cleaning system development incorporated the plastic hood with extended steel barrel, additional air vent in the rear of the extractor chamber and a widened base on the air inlet cone. Field testing confirmed that this system garve superior cleaning and reduced cane loss compared to a standard steel hood with vertical arm extractor. It is recommended that the plastic hood, extended steel barrel and vertical extractor with support legs be developed as a retrofit option for pre-1996 Austoft 7000 harvesters. Commercial use is considered to be limited to wheeled harvesters due to excessive height of the extended barrel system on low loaders. There is also the option of developing a suitable folding system to lower the height for transport.
Optimising rejection of dirt by cane harvesters : SRDC Final report BS26S
(1994) Ridge, DR; Dick, RG; Garcon, CA
Project objectives were

Farming systems and production management

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