Trash content was 3.1% higher in green-cane harvest
compared to burned-cane harvest. This increase in trash has a
significant economic impact. Under San Carlos conditions,
every 1% of trash in the delivered cane increases costs by
approximately $11.41/ha, due to the extra volume that the trash
implies ($1.03/ha extra in harvest, $1.36/ha in transport, and
$4.14/ha in milling) and for losses in sugar recovery ($4.88/
ha). Thus, the total estimated cost of the increased trash content
in green-cane harvesting reached $35.37/ha. It is thus important
to develop strategies that minimise trash in green-cane harvest,
such as using modern harvesters and maximising the efficiency
of cleaning by the harvester, training the harvester operators,
and finding the right balance between productivity and final
trash levels in the delivered product. Moreover, reduced cut
to crush time and not burning the cane will improve cane
quality and, therefore, increase sucrose recovery in the mill.