Cenicaña recommends taking preventive measures to avoid excess humidity that affects cane productions
The Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies, IDEAM, announced the start of the transition from the semi-dry season from the beginning of the year to the first rainy season, in the Andean and Pacific regions, which means that April and May 2014 will have a normal rainy season behavior (Read more).
It is important that the sugarcane agroindustrial sector prepares itself to avoid excess humidity, especially in low-permeability clay soils, which may affect cane production.
Recommendations
- Remove plugs at the end of the grooves and build groove foot to facilitate the exit of water.
- Clean ditches, collectors and drain pipes.
- Verify the free discharge of the drainage channels to the collectors.
- Verify that river jugs are in good condition (check anthills, cracks, etc.)
- Prepare motor pumps, especially for flat areas near rivers.
- Carry out the planting on the back.
- Hilling high in established crops.
- Permanently consult the meteorological and climatological information collected by the Automated Meteorological Network, RMA.
Measures to manage fertilization and mechanization
In conditions of excess humidity it is recommended:
- Ensure adequate field drainage (design and leveling).
- Sow in the back and / or hilling high.
- Fertilize with N in ammoniacal and nitric form, with application directed to the vine and high hilling.
- In renovation of plantations, carry out surface tillage with harrows to later furrow. Once the crop is established, make the break using implements with rods.
- Do not exceed the critical depth of tillage.
- Avoid the overweight of preparation equipment and control the traffic of equipment and the loads transported in the harvest wagons.
- Avoid excessive skidding caused by loss of traction of tractors.
- Use high-heeled tires for harvesting equipment and cane transport.
- Use the eccentric ditcher to build rimless ditches and do good surface drainage.
- In extreme conditions, an alternative to renovate plantations is to carry out reduced tillage.
Contact investigators:
- José Ricardo Cruz, soil and water engineer: jrcruz@cenicana.org
- Fernando Muñoz, pedologist: fmunoz@cenicana.org
- Jhon Jairo Valencia Montenegro, researcher in Agricultural Mechanization: jjvalencia@cenicana.org
Further information:
Prepared by:
Communications office - Cenicaña
(57-602) 5246611 ext 5168 - 5169
Cali, Columbia.
