Severe Frosts Affect Sugarcane Fields in Central-South Region

The winter of 2025 is already considered one of the most severe in recent years in Brazil. The cold wave recorded on June 25 brought intense frosts to sugarcane-producing regions in the Center-South, such as Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Paraná. With temperatures near or below 0°C, the sugarcane fields suffered significant damage, visible from the seventh day after the climatic event. Burned leaves, cracks in the stalks, and death of apical buds are some of the symptoms identified in the field. These damages directly impact agricultural performance and require a quick technical response. Detailed mapping of affected areas, through remote sensing and field evaluation, allows defining harvest priorities and recovery strategies. Among the recommended actions are lowering the canopy in compromised ratoons, nutritional corrections with potassium, calcium, and silicon, in addition to the use of irrigation or fertigation to stimulate regrowth. The application of ...