Mechanization technology: The key to sugarcane production in China

Authors

  • Ou Yinggang College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University
  • Malcolm Wegener School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
  • Yang Dantong South China Agricultural University
  • Liu Qingting South China Agricultural University
  • Zheng Dingke South China Agricultural University
  • Wang Meimei South China Agricultural University
  • Liu Haochun South China Agricultural University

Keywords:

mechanization technology, sugarcane production, sugarcane harvester, sugarcane machinery, development pattern

Abstract

Sugarcane is an important cash crop in southern China now planted on about 1.5 million ha in the main production areas in Guangxi, Zhuang Autonomous Region and Yunnan, Guangdong, and Hainan Provinces. Since the cost of labor in China is increasing rapidly and the price of local sugar is uncompetitive with the product from mechanized international producers, China needs to change its sugarcane production methods from manual work to mechanization in order to catch up with international trends in this global industry. Although a lot of effort in China have gone into sugarcane mechanization since the 1960s, the overall level of mechanization in sugarcane production is still only approximately 30%, which is about 20% lower than that achieved in the other main field crops. Almost all of the sugarcane grown in China is still harvested by hand. In order to summarize past experience and promote the mechanization of sugarcane production in China, this paper reviews the whole process of developing mechanization since 1960s and describes the current state of sugarcane mechanization in China. The research currently being undertaken and the main obstacles to be overcome in developing a mechanized sugarcane production system, are described. The design and testing of sugarcane harvesting machinery and its key components has been a significant research area by some Chinese universities, research institutes, and manufacturing companies in these past decades. This paper reviews that research and outlines the main achievements which have been made in this area. Mechanized harvesting systems for sugarcane, and the appropriate harvesting patterns suitable for different growing conditions applying in China, have also been studied. The paper concludes with some comments on the future directions for progress in China

Author Biographies

Ou Yinggang, College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University

PhD, Prof., Former Dean

Malcolm Wegener, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

PhD, Senior Research Fellow. He has had a long career in Australian agriculture as an agricultural and resource economist at The University of Queensland and as a principal extension officer in the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and as a senior information manager in the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations. Tel: 61 7 3365 8839 (w); 61 7 3204 6560 (h); 61 4 0962 0597 (m)

Yang Dantong, South China Agricultural University

M.Eng, Associate professor, major in agricultural mechanization especially on sugarcane mechanization.

Liu Qingting, South China Agricultural University

PhD, Professor, research focuses on sugarcane machines design and mechanization.

Zheng Dingke, South China Agricultural University

PhD, Associate professor, research focuses on machines design and mamufacture.

Wang Meimei, South China Agricultural University

doctorial student

Liu Haochun, South China Agricultural University

master student

References

[1] Ou Y G. Mechanization in sugarcane production. In development report on agricultural mechanization science and technology in China (1949-2009). Edited by Bureau of Agricultural Mechanization, Agricultural Ministry. Beijing: China Agricultural Science and Technology Press, 2009-9. pp. 132-140.
[2] Liu Q T, Mo J L, Ou Y G. Mechanization status in China's sugarcane industry. The Annual report of technology in sugarcane industry 2012.
[3] Zhu X X. The discussion about developing full mechanization in China's sugarcane industry. Guang Xi agricultural mechanization, 2010; 4: 11-14.
[4] Shen G F, Wang M H . The research on development strategy of Chinese agricultural mechanization (Vol.1): China Agriculture Press. 2007. 242 p.
[5] Zheng D K. Trends and challenges in mechanizing sugarcane production in China. Townsville, Australia: ISSCT workshop hosted by BSES Limited, 9-14 September, 2012.
[6] Chen C P. The report of inspection in United States and Brazil about sugarcane mechanization. Tropical Agricultural Engineering, 2004, 2: 1-6.
[7] Delegation for Brazil. The report of Brazil

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Published

2013-03-19

How to Cite

Yinggang, O., Wegener, M., Dantong, Y., Qingting, L., Dingke, Z., Meimei, W., & Haochun, L. (2013). Mechanization technology: The key to sugarcane production in China. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 6(1), 1–27. Retrieved from https://ijabe.migration.pkpps03.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/ijabe/article/view/726

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2013): IJABE

Section

Invited Review/Research Article

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