Abstract

The amount of straw of sugarcane needed to remain in field for sustainability of the production system and quantity that could be used in sectors such as cogeneration and production of bioethanol for optimization of power generation by the sector are unclear issues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different amounts of straw on the development of the sugarcane root system and yield using the variety SP 801816 in a Rhodic Eutrudox in southern Brazil. Six treatments were evaluated: 0 (no straw), 25, 50, 75 and 100% (20 Mg ha^-1) of straw and straw burned at 60, 180 and 270 days after planting in 150 m² plots. Root samples were collected at 0.45 and 0.75 m from the planting line at depths of 0-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.40 and 0.40 to 0.60 m at harvest, and the stems of the plots were weighed to measure yield. In water stress period, the 50, 75 and 100% straw treatments promoted a greater root mass to 0.20 m deep, which was also reflected in the yield. The 50 and 75% straw treatments resulted in 25% greater yield than the 0 and 25% straw and straw burned, resulting in 28 Mg ha^-1 more. The amount, 50% straw retention in the field is sufficient to increase the mass of the roots and, in turn, productivity, which is possible to remove the 50% surplus from the field for industrial processes for the production of energy, without the occurrence of damage to the crop.

Key words: Green cane, biomass, mechanized harvesting, agricultural waste, Saccharum spp.