Optimization in the Selection of Sugarcane Varieties in a Sucro Energy Plant Located in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Sugarcane crops have undergone several changes with the intensification of agricultural machinery in Brazil in the last years. This occurs, mainly, due to the transfer of the semi-mechanized system to the mechanized one during harvest operations. Thus, studies are needed on the optimization of sugarcane production in relation to mechanized processes, since it is necessary to verify the adaptability of sugarcane varieties to the mechanization of the plantation. This study aimed to develop and apply a mathematical model of optimization to select sugarcane varieties that maximize production and meet the quality standards required by the industry for sugar and fiber contents. The data were collected in a sugarcane mill located in the interior of Sã o Paulo state. The result obtained by the optimization process evinced an increase of 16.65% when compared to the productivity of the initial scenario.