EFFICIENCY IN THE USE OF FUEL FOR SUGAR CANE (Saccharum spp.) PRODUCTION IN THE GULF OF MEXICO REGION

Abstract

The amount of diesel fuel used in sugar cane (Saccharum spp.) productive processes impacts significantly the production costs of the crop. In this study the amount of diesel consumed in the production, harvest and transport of sugar cane by 14 sugar factories in the Gulf region during the 2014-2015 sugar harvest was compared. The tractors and cane loader machines consumed an average of 316 g kW h^-1, while the “torton” type transport units had a yiled of 2551 g km^-1. The sugar factory, Central Progreso, had the highest diesel consumption with 196.3 L ha^-1, while El San Pedro had the lowest with 36.9 L ha^-1. Regarding the average cane yield, the diesel used by Central Progreso was 3.4 L t^-1 of cane, while San Pedro consumed 0.62 L t^-1, representing 18.2 %. With regard to cane transport, the average consumption in the 14 sugar factories was 2.5 L km^-1, while 0.4 L t^-1 was consumed in cane lifting. The amount of diesel consumed was significant and is due to the obsolescence and scarce maintenance of the automotive units in the field and for transport, inadequate farming tasks, and excessive because they lack more efficient technologies, and with which innovating and sustainable practices in the crop production can be promoted.