Field Crop 2024, Vol.7, No.1, 17-26 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 18 By deeply exploring the specific economic and environmental costs and benefits of mechanized versus manual harvesting, this article aims to provide policymakers and industry with scientific data support to promote more equitable and environmentally friendly production practices. This is not only a question of agricultural technological progress, but also a socio-economic issue that must be considered when the world faces environmental challenges and population growth pressure. 1 Overview of Sugarcane Harvesting Methods 1.1 Traditional manual harvesting Traditional manual sugarcane harvesting is a labor-intensive method rooted in agricultural history and is still practiced today in many areas dominated by small-scale farming. The manual method of harvesting sugar cane involves using machetes or similar tools to cut the cane, which requires a lot of physical effort. Although the initial investment is low and no expensive machinery is required, hand harvesting often involves burning the field to remove weeds and pests before cutting, a practice that can have adverse effects on the environment. During the 17th and 18th centuries, sugarcane cultivation and harvesting had spread across the globe, especially in the Caribbean colonies. The sugar cane plantations at that time were huge and required a considerable amount of labor. Harvesting tools are basically hand tools, and the use and maintenance of these tools require certain skills and training. These early sugarcane cultivations had profound impacts on the environment and local socioeconomics (Yadav et al., 2020). Although traditional manual sugarcane harvesting has a greater direct impact on the environment, this method remains a viable option in some areas due to its low cost and contribution to local employment. With the development of modern technology, traditional harvesting methods are facing competition with mechanized harvesting methods, which also prompts the need for continuous adjustments in relevant policies and practices to seek sustainable development of agricultural production. 1.2 Mechanized harvesting In the mechanized field of sugarcane harvesting, common machinery types include whole plant harvesters and chip harvesters. The basic operations of these harvesters include bottom cutting of sugar cane, cleaning, and cutting the sugar cane stems into small segments of 15 to 40 cm, which are then loaded onto transfer equipment and transported to processing centers (Doriguel et al., 2017). With the advancement of technology, the mechanization of sugarcane harvesting has been widely used and researched around the world, especially in countries such as Brazil and Australia. In these countries, mechanized harvesting has become feasible and widespread, helping to increase production efficiency and solve labor and environmental issues. However, in countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Indonesia, the development of mechanized harvesting is relatively slow, and manual harvesting is still retained in some areas (Thomas et al., 2021). A major trend in mechanized harvesting is the use of raw, unburned cane, which is more favorable both environmentally and in terms of productivity. In contrast, the traditional practice of burning sugar cane before harvesting it cleans the cane and makes manual operations safer and easier, but this practice has been gradually criticized and is in decline due to its negative impact on the environment. In addition, with the continuous research and development of mechanized sugarcane harvesting technology, modern sugarcane harvesters have become more efficient and environmentally friendly. Mechanized harvesting not only improves sugarcane harvesting efficiency, with each harvester capable of cutting approximately 80 tons of sugarcane per hour, but also helps reduce environmental impact and improve the overall sustainability of the sugarcane industry. 2 Economic Impact of Sugar Cane Harvesting 2.1 Productivity differences between manual and mechanized methods Labor cost is a key factor when comparing manual versus mechanized methods in sugarcane harvesting. Although
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