Sugarcane straw and the populations of pests and nematodes

Abstract

The green cane harvesting represented a significant change in sugarcane ecosystem due to the presence of straw left on the soil and to the absence of fire. These two factors may affect the populations of pests and their natural enemies. Among the pests benefit from the green cane harvesting stand out the spittlebug, Mahanarva fimbriolata, the curculionid Sphenophorus levis and sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis. In areas of green cane harvesting, the population of these species grew faster than in areas of burnt cane. On the other hand, there are virtually no records of attacks by lesser cornstalk borers in areas of green cane harvesting. Populations of plant parasitic nematodes and the beetles Migdolus fryanus, very important pests of sugarcane, were apparently not affected by the green cane harvesting. Despite the absence of more consistent information, it appears that populations of ants and the giant borerTelchin licus can increase in green cane areas, due primarily to the difficulty of pest control. The partial or total removal of straw from the field represents an additional change to the ecosystem that could alter the status of pests and nematodes. It is likely that spittlebug, the curculionid S. levis and sugarcane borer populations decrease if a portion of the straw is removed from the field. However, the pest populations in areas where the straw is collected will not return to their original conditions at the time of burnt cane harvesting because the absence of fire will be maintained.

Crop residue harvest for bioenergy production and its implications on soil functioning and plant growth: A review

“…The presence of sugarcane straw supported the soil macrofauna, although increased quantities did not cause significant effects (Abreu et al, 2014). Moreover, the maintenance of sugarcane straw on the soil might promote the multiplication of natural enemies and inhibit proliferation of phytoparasitic nematodes that cause significant damage to sugarcane plantations (Dinardo-Miranda and Fracasso, 2013). On the other hand, the maintenance of sugarcane straw also supports the proliferation of important sugarcane pests such as the root spittlebug [Mahanarva fimbriolata (Hemiptera; Cercopidae)] and the sugarcane weevil (Sphenophorus levis Vaurie (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (Dinardo-Miranda and Fracasso, 2013), and if these pests are not properly controlled, they may cause significant losses in sugarcane yields.…”

Nitrogen Use Efficiency for Sugarcane-Biofuel Production: What Is Next?

“…Maintaining crop residues over soil surfaces brings new challenges, however. The main difficulties caused by a thick layer of trash, when compared with sugarcane fields that were previously burned, related to the incorporation of fertilizers [19], loss of N due to NH 3 volatilization from surfaceapplied urea [20,21], and a higher incidence of pests [22]. Maintenance of trash on the soil surface may also delay sugarcane sprouting during the winter in colder regions, subsequently affecting yields [23].…”

Resistance mechanisms of sugarcane cultivars to spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata

“…Recent studies have been conducted to estimate the economic injury level (Dinardo-Miranda and Gil, 2007;Dinardo-Miranda et al, 2008), to determine the temporal and spatial distribution of the pest in sugarcane fields and to evaluate the efficacy of chemical and biological insecticides (Dinardo-Miranda et al, 2002; or cultural practices against the pest (Dinardo-Miranda and Fracasso, 2013). However, information on resistance of sugarcane cultivars to M. fimbriolata is very limited.…”