Application of fusel oil in the chemical eradication of sugarcane

• Grant number: 05/02762-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2006
• End date: August 31, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Alberto Mathias Azania
• Grantee: Carlos Alberto Mathias Azania
• Host Institution: Instituto Agronômico (IAC). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Fusel oil, generated in the distillation of alcohol, is the only waste substance from the sugar-alcohol sectorthat does not have applicability in agriculture, being sold at low cost as a raw material to chemical industries. However, according to some recently developed research, a potential use as herbicide was pinpointed for fusel oil. Thus, within this context, it has become important to study fusel oil as a herbicide substitute. Given this, the objective of this work is to study the efficiency of fusel oil in chemical eradication in sugarcane. The work will be conducted in pots at the premises of the Sugar Center of the Campinas Institute of Agronomy, located in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. The experiment will be installed in a completely random layout with 4 repetitions and analyzed in factorial scheme 7 x 3. The factors will consist of different concentrations of fusel oil and a single dose of glyphosate (7 levels) and by different volumes of application solution (3 levels). The efficiency of the fusel oil in terms of sugarcane chemical eradication will be evaluated gauged by the percentage of attacks and height of the plants at 7, 15, 30 and 60 days after treatment (DAT); re-growth and dry mass at 60 DAT. At the end of this work it is hoped, in addition to find the best concentration and volume of solution for the eradication of sugarcane, to gain funding for future research in this area. (AU)