The N concentration of the trash that remained on the field
after green-cane harvest (0.85%) was significantly higher than
for the trash of the burned harvest (0.55%). No significant
differences were found between the concentration of P and K
in the trash of green and burned harvest (Table 3). This was
expected since, of the three elements measured, N is the only
one that volatilises at higher temperatures (>55ºC) and thus is
being eliminated from the vegetal matter by the burning.
Trivelin (1995), cited by Basanta (2004), reported an N
concentration of 0.46 to 0.65% in the trash of green-cane
harvest in Brazil, values slightly lower than the ones found in
our work, probably due to the differences in crop management,
location and varieties.