Establishment of sustainable production systems by coupling eucalyptus plantation in land-use sequences

Part 3: Development and problems of sugarcane production in São Paulo

Abstract

As a part of the studies for evaluating sustainable land-use sequences, this study examines the problems of sugarcane production in Brazil from the case of the State of São Paulo. We engaged in fieldwork in Piracicaba and the surrounding areas from 2011 to 2012. The production structure of sugarcane in Brazil is complex and rational in the elements such as land-use, production methods, producers and agricultural policies. The rationalization of the production will progress by means of mechanization and enlargement of production unit. They think the production will not be injured by continuous cropping, because there has been the history of sugarcane production for four. However, the production structure at present, which pursuits rationalization, takes the risk of groundwater contamination and soil erosion. The materials of fertilizers are depend largely on imports. For the sustainable development of agriculture, endogenous development to practice the multiple land-use, including eucalyptus forest, is required.