Method of increasing the yield of sugar from sugarcane
AssigneeBret Barrick
InventorsBret S. Barrick, Dirk W. Franklin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of increasing the recoverable sugar content in sugarcane. The method comprises an efficient nitrogen fertilization practice, and a monitoring system to allow assessment of the nitrogen status of the sugarcane plant, to more effectively predict maturation of sugarcane for applying a ripener prior to harvest.
Claims10
A method for increasing the yield of sugar from a sugarcane crop during a period of time including a growing season and a harvesting season having final stages comprising;
- a. introducing nitrogen to the soil of the crop at the beginning of the growing season;
- b. determining the nitrogen depletion measurements in the leaves of the sugarcane crop prior to harvesting, wherein the determination is correlated to a SPAD chlorophyll meter reading;
- c. applying an effective amount of a ripener to the leaves of the sugarcane crop, based on the specific nitrogen depletion measurements, wherein no ripener is applied when a SPAD reading greater than about 45 is obtained, wherein ripener is applied to the sugarcane crop at a rate of about 6 ounces/acre to about 7 ounces/acre when a SPAD reading between about 44 and about 45 is obtained, wherein ripener is applied to the sugarcane crop at a rate of about 5.3 ounces/acre to about 5.7 ounces/acre when a SPAD reading between about 40 and about 43 is obtained, wherein ripener is applied to the sugarcane crop at a rate of about 4.8 ounces/acre to about 5.2 ounces/acre when a SPAD reading between about 37 to about 39 is obtained, wherein ripener is applied to the sugarcane crop at a rate of about 4.0 ounces/acre to about 4.5 ounces/acre when a SPAD reading of less than about 37 is obtained.
A method for increasing the yield of sugar from a sugarcane crop, during a period of time including a growing season and a harvesting season having final stages, comprising:
- (a.) determining the nitrogen depletion measurements in the leaves of the sugarcane crop prior to harvesting, wherein the determination is correlated to a SPAD chlorophyll meter reading;
- (b) applying an effective amount of a ripener to the leaves of the sugarcane crop, based on the specific nitrogen depletion measurements, wherein no ripener is applied when a SPAD reading greater than about 45 is obtained, wherein ripener is applied to the sugarcane crop at a rate of about 6 ounces/acre to about 7 ounces/acre when a SPAD reading between about 44 and about 45 is obtained, wherein ripener is applied to the sugarcane crop at a rate of about 5.3 ounces/acre to about 5.7 ounces/acre when a SPAD reading between about 40 and about 43 is obtained, wherein ripener is applied to the sugarcane crop at a rate of about 4.8 ounces/acre to about 5.2 ounces/acre when a SPAD reading between about 37 to about 39 is obtained, wherein ripener is applied to the sugarcane crop at a rate of about 4.0 ounces/acre to about 4.5 ounces/acre when a SPAD reading of less than about 37 is obtained.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.