A METHOD TO OPTIMIZE CONVEYING SUGARCANE FROM PLANTATION TO SUGAR MILL
JOSEF OUBRECHT
Abstract
The transport of sugarcane stalks to the sugar mill
is a difficult operation and always comprises two stages: one takes place in
the field and the other on the road or railway. The transport of whole stalks
(without chopping) is practiced in developing countries in which growers do
not possess modern harvesters. Divided harvest during which the stalks cut by
hand from a strip 3.6 to 4 m wide are laid onto a swath requires the use of
a powerful pick-up chopper in the second operation. Direct combining eliminates
hand work and is used on an increasing scale mainly in Florida. As only two
rows are as a rule harvested by the direct combining system, performance per
1 second is half that of the divided harvesting method. Each plantation has
its specific solutions for conveying the cane because the important factors
underlying the system used include not only the means of mechanization available
but also the equipment of the plantation itself. Modern plantations have a drainage
network which allows to drain the field dry for the harvest so that the machines
can move along hard-surfaced paths. Some plantations have a railway track extended
right to their centre.
Key words:
field and road tractors, harvesting technologies,
performance, semi-trailers, trailers