Miguel Fernando Diaz Huertas and Diana Marcela Campo Nuñez
Ingenio Pichichí S.A, Guacarí, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
A multi-stage field sampling method was developed to select sugarcane stalks, which were then longitudinally split to determine the percentage of stalks damaged by Diatraea spp. borers. Physical comparisons (height, thickness, and weight) were made between healthy and damaged stalks. This percentage of damaged stalks was compared to the conventional infestation intensity measurement reported by the sugar mill. Subsequently, a Direct Analysis of Cane (DAC) was conducted in the laboratory to assess sucrose content in both healthy and damaged stalks. A regression model, quantifying the impact of damage on sucrose content, shows that sucrose loss increases with stalk damage; sucrose content decreases by 0.044% and yield decreases by 0.056% for every percentage unit of stalk damage. There was a 91% correlation between stalk damage and Diatraea spp. infestation intensity, indicating that infestation increases by 0.075% for every percentage unit of stalk damage. Damaged stalks exhibited a reduction of 10% in height, 6% in thickness, and 15% in weight. Hence, stalk damage is a reliable indicator for quantifying borer infestation and its impact on sucrose recovery. This facilitates decision-making in pest control and represents a successful case study for the sugar mill.