Map of the sugarcane burning during the 2021-2022 harvest in San Luis Potosí, México

Abstract

Some practices used in the agroecosystems of México have high impact on the environment and human health; one of these is the burning of sugarcane. Using the map created with the burnt severity index dNBR index, it was found that of the 103 thousand hectares of sugarcane harvested during the 2021-2022 harvest, 72.5% was burned with varying degrees of severity in the areas that supply the four mills of San Luis Potosí. The characteristics of the production system, such as harvested area, productivity, and harvesting method, determine the impact on ecosystem services such as air quality. According to these criteria, although the
San Miguel del Naranjo sugar mill supply surface is the largest sugarcane area in the state, it has the least impact. However, it is recommended that the results obtained be supported by field verification and/or the use of complementary techniques.