Field Crop 2024, Vol.7, No.1, 17-26 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 24 burning cane, mechanized harvesting leaves residues on the soil surface, which can mitigate the effects of soil compaction. Measurement of preconsolidation pressure can be used to assess the sustainability of the soil structure and estimate the soil's historical stresses and thus its load-bearing capacity. Understanding the carrying capacity of different soil types and assessment of traffic impacts may be key to reducing impacts on soil structure. The study of soil compaction models and knowledge of the load-bearing capacity of different soil classes are critical to minimizing the impact on soil structure. 6 Discussions During the sugarcane harvesting process, mechanization presents both key challenges and opportunities, as well as potential technological innovations and policy recommendations. Challenges of mechanized harvesting primarily include potential impacts on the environment, such as soil compaction and reduced biodiversity. Additionally, mechanization may lead to a loss of employment opportunities in traditional farming communities as machines replace large amounts of manual labor. This change requires new labor skills and places new demands on education and training systems to help the workforce adapt to the new work environment. However, mechanized harvesting also presents significant opportunities. For example, it greatly improves the efficiency and yield of sugarcane production, reduces losses during harvesting, and helps to better control production costs. Mechanization can also reduce the physical labor intensity of workers and improve their working conditions. In addition, reducing field burning can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to environmental protection (Dumont et al., 2021). In terms of technological innovation, future directions may include the development of more efficient harvesting machinery that can reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. For example, harvesting machinery that utilizes electric or hybrid systems could further reduce dependence on fossil fuels and reduce environmental impact. In addition, digital technologies, such as precision agriculture tools and data analysis, can optimize the sugarcane planting and harvesting process and improve the overall sustainability of agricultural production (Shabbir et al., 2021). In terms of policy and management strategies, it is recommended to develop supportive policies to promote the acceptance and widespread application of the technology. This could include financial incentives such as subsidies and tax incentives to reduce the financial burden on farmers to adopt new technologies. At the same time, policies should also support agricultural education and training programs to help the workforce transform and acquire new skills. In addition, establishing sustainable agricultural practice standards and encouraging environmentally friendly agricultural technologies and methods are also key strategies to ensure the positive impact of mechanized harvesting. Acknowledgments We would like to express our gratitude to the two anonymous peer reviewers for their critical assessment and constructive suggestions on our manuscript. Funding This project was funded by the Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources under the contract for the research project "Screening and Breeding of Sugarcane Resources" (Grant No. H20230101). Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Beatriz S.V., de Andrade N., Lucas P.C., André L.C.F., Arthur P.A.P., and Maurício R.C., 2024, Edaphic mesofauna responses to land use change for sugarcane cultivation: insights from contrasting soil textures, Front. Ecol. Evol., 11: 1305115. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1305115
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