A review of green cane trash blanketing work in the Burdekin

Only 3.5% of the 1994 Burdekin crop was harvested green, indicating some constraints or barriers to adoption of green cane harvesting in the area. This paper summarises work conducted on green cane harvesting and trash blanketing in the Burdekin. Results show that in many areas of the district, particularly where there are alluvial soils, or where blocks have slopes greater than 1:1 000, green cane trash blanketing can produce crops of similar yields to conventional burnt cane farming systems. However on low sloping land, yields may be reduced under a green cane farming system. It is also probable that the extra cane losses and increased cost associated with harvesting green are not recouped by reduced cost of production or productivity increases.