Sugarcane Yield per Hectare by Cycle Years

Sugarcane Yield (TCH — Tons of Cane per Hectare)

In Brazil, sugarcane productivity gets reported as TCH = tons/hectare. The first cut, called cana planta, hits 70–90 t/ha when the field is managed well. The calculator works out total yearly production from total = area × productivity; the multi-year version then factors in the drop you get at every harvest.

Each following harvest (soca, then ressoca) gives up something like 5–10% productivity per cut. Growers usually run 5–6 cuts before tearing the field up and replanting. São Paulo state leads production, with sugar yields near 4 t/ha of TCH equivalent. CONAB's 2023/24 harvest survey put total Brazilian output above 700 million tons, and EMBRAPA RB cultivars cover most of the planted area.

Applications

Mill economics, ethanol energy balance (bioenergético), CTBE Sorocaba research benchmarks, supplier contracts that pay for cane by ATR (total recoverable sugar), agronomic planning around renewal cycles, plus carbon footprint accounting under RenovaBio.

FAQ

What is TCH? Tons of cane per hectare. It's the productivity number mills and CONAB lean on when they report sugarcane yield.

Why does productivity drop with each cut? The ratoon system wears down soil nutrients and root vigor. Mechanical harvesting packs the soil and damages the stools on top of that, so every cycle comes in below the one before it.

When should I renew the canavial? Usually after 5–6 cuts, once the yield slips under the point where replanting with modern cultivars (RB867515, RB966928, CTC4) pays for itself.