Abstract This study aimed to identify the main points of control in the efficiency of the productive process in sugarcane mills. Thus, a two-stage DEA approach applied for a sample of 121 mills, distributed among the seasons of 2010/2011 until 2014/2015. The first stage separated the efficient mills in transforming the total recovered sugar (TRS) of the processed sugarcane into sugar and ethanol, and the second stage identified significant production process variables in the efficiency with truncated regression. Besides, with the help of industry experts and statistical analysis, established 13 variables, which could control and increase the efficiency of the sugar and ethanol production processes, contributing to the overall efficiency of sugar and ethanol units.

RESUMO Um preparo de solo que seja capaz de manter a produtividade dos canaviais, proporcionado a cultura área de desenvolvimento radicular e sem tráfego em cima da cana-de-açúcar, tem impulsionado novas tecnologias no meio rural. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o comportamento dos atributos físicos do solo em duas áreas de cultivo de cana-de-açúcar sendo uma delas manejada com equipamento de preparo profundo canteirizado e a outra, pelo método de preparo convencional. O experimento foi realizado em Lençóis Paulista, São Paulo. Os atributos analisados do solo foram a resistência à penetração e a densidade relativa. O Índice de Cone do Solo (ICS) apresentou valores menores no Preparo Profundo Canteirizado sem tráfego (PPC sem tráfego) para todas as camadas em comparação ao Preparo Profundo Canteirizado com tráfego (PPC com tráfego) e ao Preparo Convencional (PC). Para ambos os tratamentos, a Densidade Relativa do Solo (DRS) apresentou valores aceitáveis para a camada de 0,00-0,15 m; nas camadas de 0,15-0,30 e 0,30-0,45 m, foi considerada prejudicial ao desenvolvimento da cultura.

ABSTRACT Soil tillage that maintains the productivity of sugarcane plantations, providing an area for the root development and without traffic on crop rows, has given rise to new technologies in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the soil physical properties in two sugarcane plantations, one of which was prepared with deep tilling and the other with conventional tillage. The experiment was conducted in Lençóis Paulista, São Paulo State. Soil penetration resistance and relative density were analyzed. The cone index was lower in deep-tilled soil without traffic in all layers, than in deep-tilled soil with traffic and in conventional tillage. In both tillage treatments, the relative density values were acceptable in the 0.00-0.15 m soil layer, but considered detrimental for sugarcane development in the 0.15-0.30 and 0.30-0.45 m layers.