Sugarcane straw removal effects on plant growth and stalk yield

There is growing interest in sugarcane straw removal from the field to use as raw material for bioenergy production. In contrast, sugarcane straw removal may have negative implications for many soil ecosystem services and subsequent plant growth. A two-year experiment was conducted at Bom Retiro and Univalem mills within the dry and wet seasons for assessing the impact of straw rates removal on plant production. The experimental design was randomized blocks with five treatments proportional to 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of straw removal. Plant parameters evaluated included: tillering, phytomass accumulation, stalk yield and stalk industrial quality. Straw removal increased plant tillering at Bom Retiro mill in both seasons and within dry season at Univalem mill, however the plant population at the end of each ratoon cycle was not affected by straw management. Phytomass yield across each ratoon cycle was fit to a sigmoidal model (R2 ≥ 0.92, p < 0.05). Time necessary for plant completes its lag-phase is higher at the treatments applied in the dry season, whereas there was no time-pattern for plants to complete the linear and stationary growth phases. Moderate amounts of straw: 4-9 Mg ha−1 (dry base) on soil surface enhanced stalk yield. Different rates of straw removal did not affect stalk industrial quality. Overall, partial straw removal, at least in the short-term, could be a win-win situation, sustaining sugarcane yields and providing feedstock for bioelectricity cogeneration and/or 2G-ethanol production.