Deep plowing and deepening mechanization technology in sugarcane production
June 27 11:15:12, 2025
Sugarcane is a tropical and subtropical crop that requires high temperatures, ample sunlight, significant water, and a long growing season. Over 70% of China's sugarcane areas are located in non-irrigated drylands and hilly regions. Given the climatic conditions and limited irrigation, seasonal droughts are a major challenge for sugarcane production. In addition to selecting drought-resistant varieties, deep tillage techniques play a crucial role in ensuring high yield and sugar content.
**First, Deep Plowing Technology**
Deep plowing involves using a moldboard plow to turn over the topsoil and invert the subsoil, breaking up the soil structure in the plow layer. This technique is typically carried out with large or medium-sized tractors equipped with a rake, reaching a depth of 30–40 cm.
**1. Role and Mechanism of Deep Plowing**
Deep plowing helps deepen the plow layer, loosen the soil, increase porosity, and improve rainwater infiltration. It reduces surface runoff, breaks up the hardpan layer, and promotes soil maturation, which ultimately supports better sugarcane growth and productivity.
**2. Technical Requirements**
The ideal soil moisture content for deep plowing is between 15% and 22%. The plowing depth should be consistent at 30–40 cm, and the backfill rate should not exceed 3%. It’s important to avoid repeated plowing and ensure the operation is done before the rainy season to maximize water absorption.
**3. Equipment Used**
Common equipment includes the 1LD-440 four-plow plow, 12F-125 plow, 1L-330 three-plow harrow, and 1LS-245 deep plowing harrow.
**4. Economic Analysis**
Comparative studies show that mechanical deep plowing reaches an average depth of 35 cm, while manual plowing only reaches 17 cm. Mechanical plowing increases yield by 37%, and the sugar content rises by 1.29%.
**5. Important Considerations**
- Deep plowing should be done immediately after harvesting the previous crop, depending on soil moisture.
- It’s a heavy operation requiring large machinery and should be adapted to local conditions.
- A typical cycle is one year of planting, two years of regrowth, and deep plowing every three years.
- Organic fertilizer should be applied to replenish nutrients in the deeper soil layers.
**Second, Deep Loosening Technology**
Deep loosening uses a non-moldboard plow to break up the soil without turning it over. It is usually performed after shallow plowing, with large tractors operating subsoilers to reach depths of 30–50 cm.
**1. Role and Mechanism of Deep Loosening**
This technique breaks up the compacted soil layer, allowing rainwater to penetrate deeper and increasing soil water retention. It also minimizes evaporation loss and preserves surface vegetation. There are two types: full-depth loosening and partial loosening.
**2. Technical Requirements**
The recommended depth for sugarcane is 30–50 cm, with optimal soil moisture between 13% and 22%. Deep loosening should be done before sowing, and fertilizers can be applied during the process.
**3. Common Tools Used**
Popular machines include the 1KL-3, 1SQ-240, 1SQ-340, and 1SQ-335 deep loosening machines.
**4. Economic Analysis**
Studies show that mechanical deep loosening achieves a depth of 30–40 cm, compared to 15–20 cm with manual methods. Yield increases by 23.4%, and sugar content improves by 0.29%.
**5. Things to Keep in Mind**
In sandy or low-fertility soils, deep loosening should be done more carefully, with added fertilization. Avoid deep loosening in rocky or gravelly soils. A cycle of once every 2–3 years is generally recommended.