PROCEDURE FOR BURYING POST-HARVEST SUGARCANE RESIDUE

Abstract

This document describes the mechanized agricultural procedure for the comprehensive use of crop residue, the plant waste resulting from the sugarcane harvest. The main objective is the reincorporation of this biomass into the field to improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil, while facilitating future mechanized work and mitigating the risk of fires from accidental burning. The procedure is structured in a sequence of seven mechanized stages, each with a defined technical purpose. Initially, the land is prepared by clearing the crop residue from the rows (rowing), followed by deep soil decompaction (subsoiling) and the creation of furrows or trenches (furrowing).Once the furrows are prepared, the organic matter is incorporated into them (crop placement), then distributed evenly (crop thinning), compacted to ensure contact with the soil (crop tamping), and covered with soil (crop covering), thus beginning its decomposition cycle and enriching the soil profile. Each stage is defined by the use of specific machinery, with different power outputs and implement configurations, and precise operating parameters to guarantee the efficiency and safety of the process.