2024
w w w . s u g a r . o r g . z a
SOUTH AFRICAN SUGARCANE
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
MECHANISATION
REPORT No. 2
South African Sugar Association
170 Flanders Drive, Mount Edgecombe, KwaZulu-Natal
Private Bag X02, Mount Edgecombe, 4300
Telephone: +27-31-508 7400 Facsimile: +27-31-508 7597
Website:www.sasri.org.za
South African Sugarcane Research Institute is a division of the South African Sugar Association
MECHANISATION REPORT NO. 2
2024 UPDATE
SYSTEMS AND COSTS OF LAND PREPARATION, PLANTING AND
RATOON MANAGEMENT
The costs given in the following tables are based on replanting 20 hectares per year and using new equipment with
60 kW 2WD tractor costs based on an annual usage of 1000 hours. Expensive implements are under-utilised and this
results in high implement costs. The larger the area to replant, the greater the utilisation of the implement and hence
its cost per unit of area will be reduced. The examples merely serve as a guide and growers should carefully compare
the operations included and adjust these to suit their systems, if necessary. Growers are referred to the table on the
last page for costs of individual operations.
LAND PREPARATION
Operations involving land smoothing, drainage and conservation structures are considered to be part of soil and water
conservation and will therefore not be considered in this exercise on land preparation.
The main objectives in land preparation are assumed to be:
• to effectively destroy the old crop
• to prepare a seedbed for planting.
The two categories of soil to be considered in this exercise are:
i) heavier soils (loams and clays)
ii) lighter soils (loamy sands and sands).
The operations listed in the tables that follow may be considered to be the basic minimum, the number of harrowings
for example being dependent on factors such as the presence or absence of grass weeds, soil moisture content, season
of operation and volunteers. If a lime application operation is required, please refer to the table on the last page for
individual operation costs.
1. Traditional system:
TRADITIONAL SYSTEM: FUEL: COST:
Operations: (l/ha) (R/ha)
Deep plough (2f rev disc) 30 1457
Disc Harrow 16 817
Plough (2f rev disc) 30 1457
Disc Harrow 16 817
Disc Harrow 16 817
Ridger only 10 867
TOTAL: 118 6232
-2-
2. Conventional tillage system (heavier soils):
CONVENTIONAL SYSTEM: (HEAVY SOILS) FUEL: COST:
Operations: (l/ha) (R/ha)
Shallow (100mm) 2f m/b 1way (May) 20 1289
Disc harrow (June) 16 817
Plough (200-250mm) 2f m/b 1way (Aug) 25 1442
Disc harrow (150mm) (Aug) 16 817
Ridger only 10 867
TOTAL: 87 5232
3. Conventional tillage system (sandy soils):
CONVENTIONAL SYSTEM: (LIGHT SOILS) FUEL: COST:
Operations: (l/ha) (R/ha)
Shallow (100mm) rotary hoe (May) 25 1603
Disc harrow (100mm) (June) 8 558
Disc harrow (100mm) (Aug) 8 558
Ridger only 10 867
TOTAL: 51 3586
4. Minimum tillage system, chemical (heavier soils) - Option 1:
MINIMUM TILLAGE SYSTEM (SANDY SOILS) FUEL: COST:
Operations: (l/ha) (R/ha)
Full cover spray Glyphosate 360gm/l @ 8l/ha (1 labour-day) 0 248
from Oct to Mar onwards (8l/ha) 0 1200
Min tiller (2r rotary hoe+ridgers+fert appl in interrow (Oct-Mar) 15 1617
TOTAL: 15 3065
Add stool plough- improved efficacy 12 749
Note: The efficacy of chemical stool eradication in heavier soils is improved if the stools are undercut (±100 mm)
by using a stool plough one week after spraying. This will increase the costs as indicated in the table above.
5. No-tillage system, chemical (sandy soils):
NO TILLAGE SYSTEM (SANDY SOILS) FUEL: COST:
Operations: (l/ha) (R/ha)
Full cover spray Glyphosate (1 labour-day) 0 248
from Oct to Mar onwards @ 8l/ha 0 1200
Ridger only 10 867
TOTAL: 10 2315
6. Reduced tillage system, manual (sandy soils) − Option 2:
REDUCED TILLAGE SYSTEM -
MANUAL (SANDY SOILS) FUEL: Mech Cost: Labour-days Labour Operation
Operations: (l/ha) (R/ha) per ha cost (R/ha) cost (R/ha)
Chipping (May) @ 40 labour days/ha 0 0 40 9929 9929
Ridger only 10 867 0 0 867
TOTAL: 10 867 40 9929 10796
Note: Irrespective of the system of crop eradication used, the cost of hand labour for
roguing must be added to the above costs.
-3-
PLANTING
In comparing the various planting methods, the following assumptions are made:
• flat culture is desirable;
• some fertiliser is required in the planting furrow;
• plant cane warrants one pre- and one post-emergent application of herbicide for weed control;
• the cost of materials is the same for all systems and is excluded from these comparisons;
• one labourer costs R248,22 per day (9 hours);
• Glyphosate (360 g/l) costs R150,00 per litre (assumed retail price)
1. Machine planting
MACHINE PLANTING Fuel Mech Cost: Labour-days Labour Operation
(l/ha) (R/ha) per ha cost (R/ha) cost (R/ha)
Machine planting (at 1ha/day) 22 2962 6 1489 4451
Pre-emergent herbicide 2,5 205 1 248 453
Top dress fertilizer 3 246 1 248 494
Post-emergent herbicide 2,5 205 1 248 453
Hand-hoeing grasses 0 0 10 2482 2482
Spot spray 0 0 1 248 248
TOTAL: 30 3618 20 4964 8582
* This value can range typically from 6 to 10 labour days per hectare depending on labour productivity.
2. Semi-mechanical planting
SEMI MECHANICAL
PLANTING Fuel Mech Cost: Labour-days Labour Operation
(l/ha) (R/ha) per ha cost (R/ha) cost (R/ha)
Ridging and Fert applic (2 row) 5 590 1 248 838
Planting 0 0 20 4964 4964
Covering 12 972 0 0 972
Pre-emergent herbicide 3 205 1 248 453
Top dress fertiliser 3 246 1 248 494
Post-emergent herbicide 3 205 1 248 453
Hand-hoe 0 0 10 2482 2482
Spot spray 0 0 1 248 248
TOTAL: 25 2218 35 8688 10906
3. Manual planting
MANUAL PLANTING Fuel Mech Cost: Labour-days Labour Operation
(l/ha) (R/ha) per ha cost (R/ha) cost (R/ha)
Ridging only 10 867 0 0 867
Fertiliser application 0 0 1 248 248
Planting 0 0 20 4964 4964
Covering 0 0 5 1241 1241
Pre-emergent herbicide 0 0 1 248 248
Top dress fertiliser 0 0 1 248 248
Post-emergent herbicide 0 0 1 248 248
Hand-hoe 0 0 10 2482 2482
Spot spray 0 0 1 248 248
TOTAL: 10 867 40 9929 10796
Operations such as the application of nematicides and filtercake and seed-dipping, are excluded as they are specific
to soil types and season. Costs of materials were excluded in the planting costs.
-4-
RATOON MANAGEMENT
Within the industry there are three common situations which require different management.
Relatively few operations are required in the management of ratoon crops but weed control is the most difficult to
cost as there is no best procedure. The type and number of operations depends on factors such as time of harvest, soil
type and the spectrum and density of weeds that occur.
Operations such as subsoiling, stool pruning, furrow-forming and nematicide application are not included as they are
not generally necessary.
1. Cane burnt and tops windrowed
CANE BURNT & TOPS
WINDROWED Fuel Mech Cost: Labour-days Labour Operation
(l/ha) (R/ha) per ha cost (R/ha) cost (R/ha)
Raking tops 4 273 0 0 273
Topdress fertiliser 3 246 1 248 494
Post-emergent herbicide (long term) 3 205 1 248 453
Hand weed 0 0 10 2482 2482
TOTAL: 10 724 12 2979 3703
2. Cane burnt and tops left scattered
CANE BURNT & TOPS LEFT
SCATTERED Fuel Mech Cost: Labour-days Labour Operation
(l/ha) (R/ha) per ha cost (R/ha) cost (R/ha)
Spread tops and clean up 0 0 3 745 745
Topdress fertiliser 3 246 1 248 494
Post-emergent herbicide (long term) 3 205 1 248 453
Hand weed 0 0 8 1986 1986
TOTAL: 6 451 13 3227 3678
3. Mulch blanket
MULCH BLANKET Fuel Mech Cost: Labour-days Labour Operation
(l/ha) (R/ha) per ha cost (R/ha) cost (R/ha)
Spread residue & tidy field 0 0 3 745 745
Topdress fertiliser 0 0 1 248 248
Spot spray, twice 0 0 2 496 496
Hand weed 0 0 4 993 993
TOTAL: 0 0 10 2482 2482
For all systems:
• material costs are excluded
• add verge control:
Assume 10% of total area will be slashed 4 times annually i.e) 10% of 200 ha = 20 ha
Cost per slashing = R691 per ha x 20 ha = R 13821
Cost for slashing = R 13821 x 4 = R 55285
Cost per hectare under cane = R 55285 ÷ 200 ha = R 276,43 /ha
Copyright 2024. All copyright and other intellectual property rights subsisting in this work, including without limitation all text, images,
graphics and code contained in this work (collectively, the "Contents") are owned by the South African Sugar Association (‘the Owner’).
Neither this work nor any of its Contents may be shared, modified or copied in whole or part in any form, or be used to create any
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is at your own risk. The entire risk arising out of your use or the performance of this work remains with you, and neither the Owner nor
its consultants or staff can be held liable for any loss or damage, whether direct or indirect, caused by any data, information, record or
results available on, obtained through or resulting from the use of this work or caused by the reliance on the information contained in
this work. The use of proprietary names should not be considered as an endorsement for their use.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND COSTS FOR MECHANICAL SUGARCANE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS: 200HA CANE FARM REPLANTING 20HA/YR
Costs are based on a 60 kW 2wd tractor: R 346.44 /hour + implement cost NB: The operational costs per hectare shown below are for 1 pass only; For steep or poorly laid out fields these figures below must be inflated
Lighter soils Heavier soils
Machinery Cost Work- Effic- No. Annual Imple- Opera- Annual Imple- Opera-
and price ing iency of Speed Work- utilis- ment tion Fuel Speed Work- utilis- ment tion Fuel
equipment width passes rate ation cost cost rate ation cost cost
(Rand) (m) (%) (no.) (km/h) (h/ha) (hours) (R/h) (R/ha) (l/ha) (km/h) (h/ha) (hours) (R/h) (R/ha) (l/ha)
Subsoil: single tine 29500 1.2 90 1 4.0 2.31 46 86.66 1003 15 3.0 3.09 62 66.20 1274 20
Ripper : 3 tine 56500 1.5 90 1 4.0 1.85 37 202.91 1017 20 3.0 2.47 49 156.68 1242 25
Plough : 2f rev mb-shallow 105000 0.8 85 2* 4.5 3.27 131 124.29 1538 16 4.5 3.27 131 124.29 1538 20
2f rev mb 105000 0.8 85 2 4.5 3.27 131 124.29 1538 20 4.0 3.68 147 113.51 1691 25
2f mb beam-shallow 22000 0.8 80 2* 4.5 3.47 139 24.85 1289 16 4.5 3.47 139 24.85 1289 20
2f mb 22000 0.8 80 2 4.5 3.47 139 24.85 1289 20 4.0 3.91 156 22.72 1442 25
2f-3f disc plough 46000 0.8 85 2 4.5 3.27 131 54.45 1310 25 4.0 3.68 147 49.73 1457 30
3f rev mb 140000 1.2 85 2 4.5 2.18 87 232.54 1261 28 4.0 2.45 98 210.21 1364 32
chisel plow -5 tine 135000 2.0 90 4** 5.0 1.11 89 228.02 638 15 4.5 1.23 99 209.08 686 18
Disc harrow: light, <150mm 65000 1.8 80 3 6.0 1.16 69 135.96 558 8 5.0 1.39 83 116.32 643 10
heavy, >150mm 140000 2.0 80 3 5.0 1.25 75 264.37 764 12 4.5 1.39 83 242.13 817 16
Stool plough: 25000 1.2 90 1 - - - - - - 5.5 1.68 34 98.41 749 12
Weeding: 2 row cultivator 27000 2.4 85 2 6.0 0.82 33 109.25 372 4
Rotary hoe: very fine tilth 115000 2.0 85 1 2.6 2.26 45 361.93 1603 25
normal tilth 115000 2.0 85 1 3.5 1.68 34 464.15 1362 18
Min. tiller: rotary + ridger/bedformers 132000 2.4 80 1 2.6 2.00 40 460.78 1617 15
Lime box: 3m wide 76000 3.0 50 1 6.0 1.11 22 449.89 885 4
Fert. spreader: (2 row) 500kg mounted 28000 2.0 50 1 4.5 2.22 400 22.81 821 8
Fert. spreader: (pendulum) 500L mounted 50000 4.0 50 1 4.5 1.11 200 53.41 444 4
Fert. spreader: (1D broadcast) 500L 13500 6.0 50 1 5.0 0.67 120 17.96 243 3
Fert. spreader: (2D broadcast) 1000L 81000 6.0 65 1 5.0 0.51 92 133.15 246 3
Herbicide applicator: (boom) 4-600L 39000 6.0 70 2 4.5 0.53 212 40.66 205 3
Herbicide applicator: (boom) 800L 63000 10.0 70 2 4.5 0.32 127 80.22 135 3
Mist blower (300-500L mounted) 95000 18.0 70 1 3.5 0.23 41 314.94 150 2
1 furrow ridger 23000 1.2 90 1 4.5 2.06 41 75.09 867 10
2 furrow ridger + 2 fert applicators 37000 2.4 90 1 4.5 1.03 21 227.06 590 5
3 furrow ridger + 3 fert applicators 47000 3.6 90 1 4.5 0.69 14 426.75 530 3
Coverer: (one row per pass) 32000 1.2 85 1 4.5 2.18 44 99.51 972 12
Planter: 1 row 130000 1.2 45 1 3.0 6.17 123 169.66 3186 22
Planter: 2 row min till 230000 1.8 60 1 2.5 3.70 74 453.24 2962 22
Planter: seed drill/planter 120000 1.8 60 1 4.0 2.31 46 358.50 1632 14
Rake or windrow tops: 18000 2.5 90 1 6.0 0.74 133 22.13 273 4
Grader-land plane: 40000 2.0 80 3 4.5 1.39 83 71.58 581 15
Verge control: M/D (slash 10% total area) 42000 1.5 80 4 4.0 2.08 167 51.69 829 11
Verge control: H/D (slash 10% total area) 69000 2.0 80 4 4.0 1.56 125 95.84 691 12
* Same plough used for shallow ploughing and conventional ploughing
-5-
Mar-24 ** Used for stool eradication (2 passes) + two passes for seedbed preparation
