Title:
Assessing the Effects of Different Amounts of Sugarcane Straw on Temportal Variability of Soil Moisture Content and Temperature
Author(s):
Corrêa, S.T.R., Carvalho, J.L.N., Hernandes, T.A.D., Barbosa, L.C., Menandro, L.M.S., Leal, M.R.L.V.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Since the Brazilian Sugarcane Mills have adopted the practice of mechanized harvesting, the large amounts of straw mulching on the soil surface have become an important issue to be investigated. This residue represents a valuable feedstock for 2nd generation ethanol production and bioelectricity cogeneration while could be left in the field for agronomic purposes. In the present study, we assess the temporal variability of moisture content, soil temperature and sugarcane yield in response to different amounts of straw mulching (SM), along two seasons (2014/2015 and 2015/2016) in three important locations of sugarcane expansion areas in Brazil. The treatments were bare soil, 50% and 100% straw mulch(SM) and dielectric sensors MPS-2 measured soil water potential and temperature every 6 hours at a depth of 0.20 m.SM suppressed soil temperature during the initial crop development (regrowth); water storage was improved by SM and enhanced the soil moisture maintenance, which in dry periods (early harvest) is essential to the crop establishment; sugarcane yield increased in response to 100 SM in clayey soils, with amounts above 14.9 Mg ha-1of SM; no increase in sugarcane yield was observed in sandy soil with amounts below 9.2 Mg ha-1of SM.
Keywords:
agricultural residues, biomass, soil management, sugar crops, straw mulching
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Environmental impacts of bioenergy
Event:
25th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4AV.2.6
Pages:
1691 - 1706
ISBN:
978-88-89407-17-2
Paper DOI:
10.5071/25thEUBCE2017-4AV.2.6
Price:
FREE
