Field Crop 2024, Vol.7, No.1, 17-26 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 20 arid or semi-arid areas, large amounts of water are diverted to irrigate sugarcane fields, which puts tremendous pressure on local water resources. In addition, pesticides and fertilizers commonly used in sugarcane fields will flow into nearby water bodies during the rainy season, causing water quality to deteriorate and threatening the health of aquatic life. The impact of sugarcane cultivation on the environment is complex and far-reaching. Although sugarcane has important economic value globally as a cash crop, its environmental costs cannot be ignored. Future sugarcane production will need to focus more on sustainable management and growing practices to mitigate negative impacts on ecosystems. 3.2 Comparison of carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions The introduction of mechanized harvesting is often associated with reduced field burning (pre-harvest burning), a change that has a significant reducing effect on greenhouse gas emissions. Mechanized harvesting allows sugarcane straw to remain in the field instead of being burned, thereby reducing emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. In addition, mechanized harvesting also improves the efficiency of sugarcane processing and reduces carbon emissions during transportation and processing (de Figueiredo et al., 2010). However, mechanized harvesting requires the use of large machinery, which is often powered by fossil fuels, itself a source of carbon emissions. Therefore, when considering the carbon footprint of mechanized harvesting, direct greenhouse gas emissions from mechanical operations must be weighed against the environmental benefits of reduced field burning. In addition, studies in Brazil and other places have shown that the use of sugar cane to produce ethanol can significantly reduce global carbon dioxide emissions. Brazil is the world's largest sugarcane producer. Sugarcane production has a significant impact on the environment, but it also provides opportunities for environmental protection, especially in the production of biofuels. According to research, 5.6% of current global carbon emissions can be reduced by increasing the sugarcane planting area for ethanol production (Castioni et al., 2021). Mechanized harvesting of sugarcane has potential advantages in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially when combined with biofuel production. However, the key to ensuring that these benefits are maximized is to adopt reasonable management and technical measures, such as optimizing harvesting routes and reducing the idling operation of machinery, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of mechanized operations themselves. 3.3 Energy consumption and efficiency in mechanized harvesting In the sugarcane farming industry, energy consumption and efficiency of mechanized harvesting are key factors that determine its sustainability. Although mechanized harvesting has obvious advantages in operational efficiency, its energy consumption is also a link that cannot be ignored. Mechanized harvesting of sugar cane is primarily accomplished through the use of large harvesters, which are capable of quickly cutting the sugar cane and processing it into a form suitable for transportation. However, the energy efficiency of this process is affected by multiple factors. For example, studies have shown that the speed at which a harvester travels significantly affects its operating performance and is positively correlated with fuel consumption. Higher speeds, while increasing throughput per unit time, also increase fuel flow and thus energy requirements. In addition, the handling of sugarcane straw during harvesting is also an important part of energy consumption, and the straw is usually chopped by harvesters in the field, or collected and used to produce energy, such as fuel or power generation (Budeguer et al., 2021). However, these processes also require large amounts of energy, especially when straw transfer and handling facilities are involved, and the energy efficiency of mechanized harvesting is also affected by the machine's operating mode. Optimizing a machine's operating parameters, such as adjusting cutting depth and speed, can reduce energy consumption without sacrificing throughput. In fact, by precisely controlling the working parameters of the harvester, the efficiency of energy use can be significantly improved.
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