A comparison of green and burnt cane harvesting in the Burdekin

Green cane harvesting has become the preferred harvesting technique in much of the wet tropics. In 1987, 65% of the Macknade crop was cut green, yet the proportion was only 2% in 1980. Many other northern mills also process a considerable percentage of green cane. This paper reports on the comparative performance of a Versatile Toft 7000 cane harvester in green and burnt Q96 for a plant and a ratoon block on Kalamia Estate, Ayr. The ratoon cane was lodged and yielded an average 119 tonnes per hectare. The plant cane was standing and had an average yield of 114 tonnes per hectare. Comparisons were made of tonnages, pour rates, mill c.c.s. and extraneous matter (E.M.), but no attempt was made to measure losses.