Yanmar Agri Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Japan-headed Yanmar Holdings, has announced that it has developed deep-planting cultivation technology to improve sugarcane productivity while minimizing environmental impact. This technology was created in collaboration with the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS).
For the sustainable production of sugarcane, it is essential to maintain ratoon cropping, a high-productivity and environmentally friendly cultivation method, over an extended period.
However, in ratoon cropping, the depth at which new shoots emerge from the underground stubble after harvest tends to become shallower, leading to lower yields and a reduction in regrowth cycles.
Improved yield, longevity, and lodging resistance
To address this issue, deep-planting cultivation technology was developed to increase the yield and longevity of ratoon cropping in the drought-prone northeastern region of Thailand.
In the Philippines, the effectiveness of this method for stable production during drought years has been demonstrated. Additionally, improved resistance to lodging is expected to help mitigate typhoon damage.
Lodging occurs when crop stems are displaced from the vertical by stem buckling or root displacement. This can be caused by factors like wind, rain, hail, or inadequate stem strength.
Currently, the Philippine Department of Agriculture’s Sugar Regulatory Administration is promoting a block farming policy, a collective farming system that consolidates small-scale sugarcane farms to promote irrigation and mechanization, thereby improving productivity and income.
Launch of subsoilers and deep-planting planters
Based on the results of this research and development, Yanmar Agri is launching full-scale sales of subsoilers and deep-planting planters optimized for deep-planting sugarcane cultivation among block-farming households in the Philippines.
Furthermore, in Japan, demonstration trials for introducing this technology are being conducted in collaboration with a local sugar factory on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture.
Yanmar Agri’s deep-planting technology supports the Yanmar Green Challenge 2050 by improving sugarcane productivity while reducing environmental impact.
It promotes efficient land use, enhances resilience to droughts and typhoons, and minimizes resource consumption, aligning with Yanmar’s commitment to sustainable agriculture.
