THE AGE OF CANE AT CUTTING AND AGROINDUSTRIAL RECOVERY OF SUGAR BY

The age of cane at harvest is one of the factors that most influences agroindustrial recovery of sugar (ARS). Regression models of ARS as a function of age were conducted, separating data by factory, year and cut as an approximation to site-specific management. An economic methodology was applied to quantify the monetary effect of harvest at unsuitable ages. ARS varied, not only as a result of age at cutting, but also by mill and year of harvesting. Cutting at an inappropriate age can have significant economic effects. The analysis of the results began with the analysis ARS is the percentage (in weight) of sugar recov- of variance of the general linear model (Craybill, ered per tonne of cane milled in the factory. Factors 1976) incorporating main effects and interactions and that influence ARS include the age of cane at the continued with an analysis of regression between time of cutting, climatic conditions during growth yield and age at harvest, taking into account the and at the time of harvest, time left in the field after significance of the factors and their interactions. cutting, and extraneous matter. The effects of cutting age have been quantified in the evaluation of cane Results and discussion varieties and, based on experimental results, recom- mendations have been made on the optimal cutting age for varieties to obtain maximum ARS (Ranjel, 1992). Nevertheless, the overall management of the crop and the pressures from industry to meet their financial commitments have had an adverse impact on obtaining higher cane and ARS per harvest at non- recommended ages. The purpose of this study is to develop decision- making models using regression analyses of ARS as a function of cutting age and to use these models to quantify the financial consequences of harvesting at unsuitable ages. Materials and methods