Crop Performance and Management

Key Areas

This programme develops models and better management practices to sustain and enhance sugarcane production within the following broad areas:

Research in this Key Area focuses on the gathering of crop physiological data and the use thereof to facilitate modelling, with a view to:

  • Developing high throughput phenotyping tools to assist Commercial Breeding under current and predicted future climatic conditions;
  • Refining the accuracy of crop models and crop yield forecasting. The resources and technologies developed will ultimately enhance the quest for improved efficiencies in Commercial Breeding; and
  • Refinement of harvest age and associated variety management recommendations to growers.

Research in this Key Area focuses on the development of knowledge, technologies and resources to further enhance the accuracy of fertiliser recommendations to the grower community, including:

  • Accurate quantification of soil and leaf nutrient concentrations and the determination of improved leaf nutrient threshold values;
  • Development of near and mid infra-red spectral libraries for rapid, routine diagnostics and analysis of soil fertility
  • Assessment of the efficacy of various sources of nutrients, fertiliser formulations and application rates; and
  • Grower decisions support to optimise whole-farm fertiliser use.

Research in this Key Area focuses on the development of knowledge, technologies and resources to enable the maintenance of, and where necessary, the restoration of soil health. In progress are studies to develop:

  • Knowledge on how soil acidity related processes affect management practices used in sugarcane;
  • Demonstration of the value of best management practices for soil and crop health in partnership with growers; and
  • A labile carbon measure for use in a commercial laboratory to assess impacts of changes in sugarcane management practices on soil health.

Research in this Key Performance Area focuses on the development of knowledge, technologies and resources to enable effective and beneficial Crop Residue Management practices in the industry.

Particular emphasis is placed on the long-term effects of residue retention on crop productivity and soil health so that specific recommendations to growers may be formulated.

Research in this Key Area focuses on the development of knowledge, technologies and resources to enable and demonstrate effective sugarcane chemical cane quality management practices in the industry. Under development are technologies and models that will assist the grower community with chemical ripener decision-making. Proof-of-concept studies are also underway to assess the feasibility of using multi-spectral imagery from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for precision sugarcane quality management.

See Ripener Trial Summaries

 

Research in this Key Area focuses on the assessment of potential impacts of climate change on the industry and exploration of ways in which field management might be modified to adapt to the projected changed climate.

Dr Riekert van Heerden

Research Manager
View Details

Current Projects

Midlands variety management
Developing P calibration response curves for sugarcane using multiple extractants
Improving Si uptake in sugarcane under field conditions
Modelling leaf nutrient concentrations in sugarcane using in situ hyperspectral data
The development and linking of soil management units (SMUs) to better management practices (BMPs) in the Northern Irrigated Regions
Long-term burning and mulching project
Ripener x varieties evaluation project
Feasibility assessment of using aerial multi-spectral imagery from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for precision sugarcane quality management
Phased investigation of the usefulness of SAR images for sugarcane crop assessment
Characterising past climate change and its impacts on yield
Upgrades to the StalkGro DSP
A plant and soil spectral library for the SA sugar industry

Details

Research Manager

Tel: 031 508 7400 (Switchboard)
Tel: 031 508 7439 (Direct)
Email: riekert.vanheerden@sugar.org.za

Role

To manage SASRI’s research and technology development project portfolio by providing guidance to all programme- and project managers in a fashion that:
- ensures alignment with SASRI’s strategic mandate,
- satisfies the needs of all stakeholders, and
- meets international standards of research excellence.  

Qualifications

M.Sc. – Plant Physiology (University of Stellenbosch, South Africa)
Ph.D. – Plant Physiology (North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa)

Expertise

  • Research experience in the development and refinement of best management practices for sugarcane cultivation with specific focus on cane quality management (2007 – 2024).

  • Research management experience as programme manager of the Crop Performance and Management Programme at SASRI (2009 – 2024).

Key Outcomes
  • Contribute to the establishment of strategic research, technology development and knowledge exchange objectives in response to sugar industry needs and international trends.
  • Promote collaboration amongst SASRI researchers, agricultural extension specialists, biosecurity specialists and knowledge management practitioners to ensure effective knowledge and technology exchange within the SA sugarcane grower and miller community.
  • Provide leadership through coordination and deployment of scientific skills and capacity building through mentorship and supervision for successful delivery on SASRI strategic objectives.
  • Ensure that the annual portfolio of projects responds to, and aligns with, the SASRI strategic plan.
  • Coordinate the compilation of accurate representation of research, technology development and knowledge exchange projects into a comprehensive annual Programme of Work.
  • Identify, develop and maintain strong relationships with third parties (local and international) that enhance expert delivery on industry needs to contribute towards becoming the recognised global leaders in sugarcane research.
Key Publications

Van Antwerpen R, Watt DA, Gillespie W, van Heerden PDR (2024). Promoting adoption of soil health related regenerative agriculture practices amongst small‑scale sugarcane grower communities in South Africa. Sugar Tech 26: 635 – 638.

van Heerden PDR, Ramusandiwa TD, Chonco B, Shelembe WL et al. (2023). Advancing cane quality management in the South African smallholder farmer sector through participatory on-farm demonstration and knowledge exchange. Sugar Industry 148: 565-570.

van Antwerpen R, van Heerden PDR, Keeping MG, Titshall LW, Jumman A, Tweddle PB, van Antwerpen T, Ramouthar P, Campbell PL (2022). A review of field management practices impacting root health in sugarcane. Advances in Agronomy 173: 79-162.

van Heerden PDR (2019). Response of selected South African coastal sugarcane varieties to chemical ripeners: Active ingredient effectiveness and associated impacts on grower and miller sustainability. International Sugar Journal 121: 902-904.

Adendorff MW, van Heerden PDR, Jumman A (2018). Establishing extension services through a research, technology development, extension and grower continuum-a case study. International Sugar Journal 120: 946-951.

van Heerden PDR, Adendorff MW, Lagerwall G, Botha P et al. (2015). Grower - Extensionist - Researcher partnerships: On-farm demonstration trials to facilitate adoption of chemical ripening. International Sugar Journal 117: 500-506.

van Heerden PDR, Mbatha TP, Ngxaliwe S (2015). Chemical ripening of sugarcane with trinexapac-ethyl (Moddus®) – Mode of action and comparative efficacy. Field Crops Research 181: 69-75.

van Heerden PDR, Singels A, Paraskevopoulos A, Rossler R (2015). Negative effects of lodging on irrigated sugarcane productivity – an experimental and crop modelling assessment. Field Crops Research 180: 135-142.

van Heerden PDR (2014). Differential acclimation capacity to frost in sugarcane varieties grown under field conditions. Plant Growth Regulation 72: 181-187.

van Heerden PDR (2014). Evaluation of Trinexapac-ethyl (Moddus®) as a new chemical ripener for the South African sugarcane industry. Sugar Tech 16(3): 295-299.

Lopes MS, Araus JL, van Heerden PDR, Foyer CH (2011). Enhancing drought tolerance in C4 crops. Journal of Experimental Botany 62: 3135-3153.

van Heerden PDR, Donaldson RA, Watt DA, Singels A (2010). Biomass accumulation in sugarcane - unravelling the factors underpinning reduced growth phenomena. Journal of Experimental Botany 61, 2877-2887.

Last updated: 13/01/2025