Completed projects and reports
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Sugar Research Australia, Sugar Research Development Corporation and BSES reports from completed research projects and papers.
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Item Improving the yields of ratoon crops of sugarcane : SRDC Final report BS7S(SRDC, 1992) Chapman, LS; Ferraris, R; Ludlow, MM; Hurney, APThe economics of sugarcane growing improve with the number of ratoon crops which can be grown from a single planting. In Australia, declining yields with increase in the number of ratoons limit a cycle to three to five ratoons, according to district. However, studies by BSES indicate that the most economic strategies involved growing up to six ratoons. If this decline in yield could be reduced, then more ratoons could be obtained from a single planting with the associated economic benefits.Item A literature review of harvesting operations and their implication on soil compaction and yield in sugar cane : Final report PR02012(BSES, 2002) Blatch, TA significant effort has been applied to the investigation of soil compaction in the sugar cane industry. Most recently research performed by Dr Mike Braunack at Tully in the wet tropics of Queensland, Australia, has attempted to quantify the relationships that exist between harvesting of sugar cane, soil compaction and yield. Harvesting has the greatest impact on soil physical properties as the cane harvester and haul-out machines, the heaviest machinery used in the production of sugar cane, traffic the interspace at least two times for each implement and are required to harvest at soil moisture contents that range from field capacity to wilting point to ensure continuity of supply to their respective sugar cane mill.Item Final report - SRDC project BSS142 : Economic cost of soil compaction(2000) Braunack, MVThis project was developed as a result of a study tour undertaken by Dr Braunack (Braunack, 1994) where the concept of the degree of compactness was thought to be applicable to the Australian sugar industry.The overall aim of the project was to assess the economic cost of soil compaction and the benefits from reducing soil compaction for the Australian sugar industry.Objectives for the project were: 1: Adapt a Scandinavian model to determine the effect of soil compaction on crop yield for the Australian sugar industry. 2: Relate crop response to degree of compactness by examining current and previous trials on soil compaction. 3: Estimate the economic value of reducing soil compaction. 4: Provide software and preliminary training to extension officers. 5: Subject to the successful completion of this project, apply for further funding to support a planned extension program.Item Development of a fungicide spray schedule to determine the effect of sugarcane rust (Puccinia melanocephala) on yield(BSES, 1984) Taylor, PWJ; Croft, BJ; Ryan, CCThis study reports on work carried out to develop a fungicide spray program which is suitable for yield loss assessment investigations. Aspects examined include the efficacy of various concentrations of chlorothalonil and oxycarboxin on rust, the frequency of application of one concentration of chlorothalonil or oxycarboxin on level of infection, and arrangement of spray nozzles to give good coverage of fungicides.Item The effect of soil physical properties on growth and yield of sugarcane(1991) Braunack, MVThe literature reporting the effect of soil physical properties on sugarcane growth and yield has been reviewed and areas for further investigation are suggested. There is conflicting evidence in relation to the number of cultivations and cane yield, with little or no effect in plant cane but a significant interaction with the ratoon crop. The effect of soil compaction on cane growth has also been variable, with little or no effect in some instances and dramatic decreases in others. Overall as bulk density increased, the yield of cane decreased. The compaction effect depends on the soil water content at the time of impact. A major concern in the sugar industry is the trend to larger and heavier equipment and the effect this will have on the soil resource. To reduce the effect of compaction it was suggested that harvesters and haulout equipment be fitted with load sharing, high flotation running gear. When compared with equipment on conventional running gear, again the effect on soil compaction has been variable. It is difficult to isolate any one soil property influencing cane growth and yield. Green cane harvesting with trash blanketing has been introduced to reduce costs and it is hoped to improve soil structure. However, few studies have examined the effect on soil properties. Soil water and temperature are modified by the trash blanket and soil structure has been observed to improve after three years. Long term studies are required to substantiate these trends and resolve problems with insects and pathogens. It is concluded that soil properties do influence cane growth and yield, but further work is required to resolve the inconsistent results of previous workers.Item Soil constraints to productivity improvement(1990) Croft, BJ; Magarey, RC; Hurney, AP; Reghenzani, JRYields of most crops are known to decrease if that crop is grown continuously without fallowing or rotation with other crop species. Sugarcane has been grown continuously on many fields in Queensland for 50-100 years. As early as 1934 soil-borne factors which restricted root and shoot growth were identified in fields which had grown sugarcane for a number of years. During the 1970s nematodes were found to be causing serious losses in Bundaberg on certain soil types and a serious root disease complex known as poor root syndrome was identified in northern Queensland. During the 1980s intensive research into poor root syndrome identified the important new disease Pachymetra root rot and a number of minor fungal pathogens. Poor root syndrome has been identified in all regions of Queensland and general poor root health has been noted in all soils which have grown sugarcane for a number of years. Yield increases of 50-100% were obtained in areas severely affected by poor root syndrome in northern Queensland by soil fumigation with methyl bromide and metham sodium, and by soil solarisation. Recent experiments have recorded yield responses of 20-40% to methyl bromide fumigation in all major sugarcane regions. These experiments suggested that yield losses due to soil-borne factors may be greatly restricting yields throughout the sugar industry. Research to identify the causes of the yield losses has commenced and progress to date is summarised in this paper.Item The effect of zinc deficiency as a factor limiting sugarcane growth (SRC Project BS14S - Final Report)(1990) Reghenzani, JRResults from this project confirm that substantial yield responses to zinc application can be expected in deficient soils in North Queensland. Deficiency is commonly associated with lime application. Three soil and two foliar analytical techniques have been evaluated for detecting zinc deficiency. Currently used critical levels for zinc in cane third leaves have been confirmed as the most reliable index of deficiency. The carbonic anhydrase assay on fresh leaf extracts shows promise for measuring active zinc and providing a rapid and reliable foliar index of zinc deficiency. Critical levels for soil zinc have been established for the standard DTPA extract and for two hydrochloric acid extracts. Both acid extracts are more reliable than the DTPA extract.Item The influence of time of harvest on yields and CCS and the subsequent ratoon crop(1975) Moller, RBThis report deals with the second trial of the growth analysis trial programme on the Bundaberg Sugar Experiment Station. Full details of the purpose of this programme are outlined in Project Report 1973Item Improving the yields of ratoon crops of sugarcane : SRDC Final report BS7S (AMENDED)(1993) Chapman, LS; Ferraris, R; Ludlow, MM; Hurney, APThe economics of sugarcane growing improve with the number of ratoon crops which can be grown from a single planting. In Australia, declining yields with increase in the number of ratoons limit a cycle to three to five ratoons, according to district. However, studies by BSES indicate that the most economic strategies involved growing up to six ratoons. If this decline in yield could be reduced, then more ratoons could be obtained from a single planting with the associated economic benefits.