Cultural Practices

Cultural Practices
Why does the residue
reduce yields?
Some Factors
Cool, wet soil.
Delays bud germination by at least a week.
Natural compounds in the residue can
reduce germination of buds by 50%.
When should I remove
the residue?
I want freeze
protection and winter
weed control.
Timing and Method
-1st, 2nd, and 3rd stubble
-Heavy and light soil
-Removal timings monthly from harvest
until March
Sugar yield
(p<0.05)
6000
a
a
5500
ab
b
b
5000
SUGAR
HARVEST
JAN
FEB
MAR
CON
5999
5974
5653
5369
5582
Soil Temperature
-HoCP 9696-540
-Burn, brush, full retention
-Temperature sensors at 1 and 4 inches.
2009 Soil temperature
One inch
(p<0.05)
Four inches
40
30
a
a
a
a
a
a
20
10
0
Degrees
BURN BRUSH
32.9
32.5
CON
33.5
BURN BRUSH
36.8
36.4
CON
35.9
Summary
-Best to remove soon after harvest or when
crop is dormant (often Jan).
-Don’t remove in March unless mechanically.
What are my removal
options and is
mechanical removal
always as good as the
match?
Mechanical removal
-Inconsistent results
-Better than full retention but usually not as
good as burning.
What about
incorporating the
trash?
Tillage X Residue
-HoCP 9696-540
-Burn, brush, full retention
-Cultivated twice after residue trts.
2009 Sugar yield
(p<0.05)
None
Incorporation
a
a
ab
b
a
b
Should I increase my
N where I can’t burn?
Mulch by N Experiment
Nitrogen X Residue
-HoCP 9696-540 1st stubble, 2nd stubble
-HoCP 9696-540 and L 99
99--226 1st stubble
-Burn, brush, full retention
-100, 120,
120, 140 lbs N/A
Summary
-3 of the 4 studies showed equivalent yields
with brushing and burning if you increased
nitrogen rate.
-Repeating at multiple locations with very
large plots with additional tillage treatments.
Why do I have big
stand problem where I
applied Polado and did
not burn?
Residue and Ripeners on
Ratoons
-HoCP 9696-540
L 9999-233
L 9999-226
-Whole plots: 5.3 oz WeatherMAX or none.
-Split plots: burn or residue undisturbed
Sugar yield
14000
(p<0.05)
Ripener
No ripener
13000
12000
11000
a
a
10000
9000
SUGAR
a
b
BURN
NO BURN
BURN
NO BURN
11800
11300
11100
10200
Are there varietal
differences with
residue retention?
New Varieties
-1st ratoon
-Heavy soil
-Burn or full retention
Sugar yield
Summary
-Remove as soon as possible…especially
if ripener was applied.
-If mechanically removed offoff-bar early,
and offoff-bar again after a rain to max soil to
residue contact.
contact.
Should I shred?
540 and 226
-No shred
-Shred
-1st stubble (taken for seed as plant cane)
cane) or
early planted plantplant-cane
540 Tons
(p<0.05)
45
40
35
30
tons/A
a
b
no shred
35
shred
40.3
226 tons
(p<0.05)
45
40
35
30
tons/A
a
a
no shred
34.2
shred
34.3
Things to consider…
•
•
•
•
•
¾ studies showed yield increase.
RSD
Stubble damage
Timing
Burning
Lay-by Experiment
• HoCP 96-540
• 0, 2, or 4 inches at lay-by
• First stubble.
st
1
stubble sugar yield
7000
6800
6600
A
6400
6200
6000
5800
lbs/A
B
B
0
2
4
6200
6600
6000
Summary
• HoCP 96-540 had improved yield with 2
inches of soil added to the row top at layby
relative to 0 and 4 inches.
• Previous work showed that increasing dirting
with plant cane resulted in higher yield with
plant and stubble crops.
Dirting plantplant-cane
- No additional soil or 2
2--3 inches
- Whole cycle : plant, 1st, and 2nd
Plant cane
24000
23000
22000
21000
20000
lbs/A
till
22800
no-till
21600
Summary
• Dirting plant cane increased yields for the
next three years.
• Not excessive dirting to have a pointed row
for combine harvester.
Racoon Damage
• HoCP 96-540, L 99-233, L 99-226, HoCP
00-950, and L 01-283.
• L 99-233 and HoCP 00-950
6,800 lbs/A
• Ho96-540, L 99-226, and L01-283
10,000 lbs/A