Ratoon Sugarcane Stubble Cutting and Mulching Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sugarcane ratoon management methods fail to effectively promote the germination of underground buds and growth of new-born root systems, leading to low yields and shortened ratoon age limits, due to inadequate stubble cutting, soil hardening, and labor-intensive operations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving stubble depth surveying, precise cutting with sugarcane stubble cutting machines or sharp hoes, application of bio-organic and chemical fertilizers, and hilling up with fully-biodegradable plastic film mulching to maintain underground buds at optimal depths for rapid germination and root system development.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If smashed sugarcane leaves are used for mulching, then organic matter in soil increases, but it causes mildew and disease on stubbles during rainy days
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful aspect (smashed sugarcane leaves causing mildew) is extracted and removed from the system. Instead of using smashed leaves for mulching, the patent uses alternative mulching materials or methods that do not create the harmful effect of moisture retention and disease promotion on stubbles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies asymmetric treatment to different parts of the field. Rather than uniformly applying smashed leaf mulching across the entire field, it uses selective mulching approaches where certain areas receive mulching protection while stubble areas are kept clear to avoid disease, creating an asymmetric management strategy.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple times of mechanical rolling is applied to soil, then soil preparation is improved, but soil bulk density increases and germination is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing stubble cutting and soil loosening operations before planting, ensuring that the soil is properly prepared without requiring multiple subsequent rolling operations. This preliminary preparation maintains soil porosity and promotes germination while still achieving good soil preparation quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of soil preparation by limiting the number of mechanical rolling passes and instead using alternative methods such as controlled traffic farming or reduced tillage techniques. This parameter change prevents excessive soil compaction while maintaining adequate soil preparation for germination.
3Productivity
If intensive cultivation management is applied, then yield is increased, but production cost increases due to high labor and material investment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service principles by using stubble residue from harvesting as a resource for mulching and soil protection in the subsequent crop cycle. This eliminates the need for external organic matter inputs and reduces management complexity while maintaining yield benefits through improved soil moisture retention and temperature regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers value from what would otherwise be discarded materials. Stubble residue that is normally removed or left to decompose is instead utilized as mulching material or incorporated into the soil as organic matter, transforming waste into a resource that supports continued high yield while reducing input costs.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for promoting germination of underground buds and growth of new-born root systems of ratoon sugarcane is to cut stubbles based on a depth survey of the stubbles of the ratoon sugarcane, particularly including steps of: for a ratoon sugarcane field after mechanical harvesting, cutting the stubbles with a sugarcane stubble cutting machine, and remaining underground stubbles of 5-7 cm after cutting; for a ratoon sugarcane field with manual harvesting, cutting the sugarcane with a hoe, and remaining underground stubbles of 10-12 cm after cutting, so as to realize sugarcane cutting and stubble cutting in one step; thereafter, applying fertilizers and pesticides, and hilling up, wherein the underground buds of the stubbles are controlled to be distributed 10-15 cm below ground after hilling up; and finally conducting whole film mulching. The present invention is advanced and practical, and easily used and promoted.