José Luis Durán and Andrés Felipe Muñoz
Ingenio Pichichi S.A, Guacarí, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
We developed a solution for weed control in organic sugarcane cultivation. High costs, labor shortages, and climatic conditions negatively affect the timely execution of agricultural practices. After identifying the negative impact of weeds on sugarcane production (40% decrease) if control is not applied, we sought solutions suited to our soil and climate conditions. To address this, we designed a device called the «controller,» which mechanically controls weeds both in the furrows and between the rows of the crop through its rotational action. Giventhe limited availability of labor, we reduced the labor requirement from 10 to 15 men per hectare to just 5 men per hectare after using the equipment. This resulted in significant savings, reducing the average cost from USD 427 per hectare to USD 283 per hectare. One of the most notable results of mechanical weed control is the reduction in CO2 emissions by eliminating the need for herbicides in conventional sugarcane farming. With the implementation of the «controller», an additional advantage was the contribution of plant material that increases soil organic matter and improves its structure. This equipment favors the physiological development of sugarcane by reducing weed competition for nutrients and light.