Study of Sugarcane Health Through Evaluating the Tolerance of Brazilian Green Cane Across Multiple Locations

Abstract

The health and selectivity of green cane to herbicides applied in the field can be attributed to various factors, including the harvest season, soil texture, sugarcane straw on the soil surface, the selection of the correct herbicide molecule, and the appropriate timing of application. Our study aims to evaluate sugarcane development across multiple experimental sites in relation to herbicide management. We consider different amounts of sugarcane straw (0, 5, 10, and 15 Mg ha⁻¹) in conjunction with the beginning, middle, and end of the harvest season, across varied edaphoclimatic conditions. Five experimental sites were chosen for evaluation over two years. The primary treatments involved straw amounts placed on the soil surface: 0, 5, 10, and 15 Mg ha⁻¹. Secondary treatments included herbicide application and no herbicide application. Parameters measured were phytotoxicity percentage and sugarcane yield. Our findings indicate that higher amounts of sugarcane straw (10 or 15 Mg ha⁻¹) on the soil surface, especially in sandy soils and areas harvested early in the season, result in a higher incidence of phytointoxication compared to scenarios involving clayey soils or other harvest periods. However, phytointoxication injuries did not reduce sugarcane yield, demonstrating selectivity and health for sugarcane in the green cane under our evaluated conditions.