Sugarcane

Agricultural Production, Bioenergy and Ethanol

Fernando Santos,Aluízio Borém,Celso Caldas

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9780128025604
• Topic: Tecnología e ingeniería
• Subtopic: Agricultura

Sugarcane: Agricultural Production, Bioenergy and Ethanol explores this vital source for "green" biofuel from the breeding and care of the plant all the way through to its effective and efficient transformation into bioenergy.

The book explores sugarcane's 40 year history as a fuel for cars, along with its impressive leaps in production and productivity that have created a robust global market. In addition, new prospects for the future are discussed as promising applications in agroenergy, whether for biofuels or bioelectricity, or for bagasse pellets as an alternative to firewood for home heating purposes are explored.

Experts from around the world address these topics in this timely book as global warming continues to represent a major concern for both crop and green energy production.

• Focuses on sugarcane production and processing for bioenergy
• Provides a holistic approach to sugarcane's potential – from the successful growth and harvest of the plant to the end-use product
• Presents important information for "green energy" options

Chapter 1

Agricultural Planning

Fernando Bomfim Margarido¹ and Fernando Santos², ¹Santelisa Vale, Brazil, ²Universidade Estadual do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

According to the classical definition, it could be said that managing means planning, organizing, directing and controlling. On the basis of this definition, planning means deciding in advance what should be done for a particular purpose to be achieved, namely, to maximize agricultural and industrial yields and, thus, profits. That is the starting point for good management. Planning plays an important role in farming activities and it has taken on paramount relevance due to the expansion of areas planted with sugarcane, the influence of increased production, and the need to work to a budget. This chapter addresses planning through technical expertise aimed at operational practices. It is, therefore, a simplified view of planning.

Keywords

Sugarcane; Ethanol; Sugar; Planning; Agricultural

Introduction

Nowadays, management involves less risk than it used to. However, the responsibility involved is much greater, considering the technological processes surrounding an administrative decision. According to the classical definition, it could be said that managing means planning, organizing, directing and controlling. On the basis of this definition, planning means deciding in advance what should be done for a particular purpose to be achieved, namely, to maximize agricultural and industrial yield and, thus, profits. That is the starting point for good management.

The sugar and ethanol sector in Brazil is going through one of its best periods. There has been significant change in the sector’s dynamics resulting in reduced competitiveness among industrial units, expansion of cultivated areas and adjustments in strategies adopted by companies. This chapter addresses planning through technical expertise aimed at operational practices. It is, therefore, a simplified view of planning.

1.1 Planning

The main role of agricultural managers is to foment the activity. In simple terms, fomenting the agricultural activity means guaranteeing the supply of raw materials for the industry, which involves, in the case of sugarcane culture, agricultural production, soil conservation and preparation, planting, crop practices for cane-plants, harvesting, cr...