Among the crops produced in Brazil the sugarcane (Saccharum spp) assumes a position of economic and social prominence. Practically all the sugarcane produced in the São Paulo State is cultivated under rainfed conditions and the use of new areas for its production becomes important but these areas require drainage. The objective of this work was to evaluate by using a yield simulation model different open drain spacings, varying from 10 to 100 m with intervals of 10 m, implanted in three soil types with different saturated hydraulic conductivity (1,0, 0,5 and 0,1 m d-1). The spacings, which proportionated higher economic benefits were 50, 40 and 20 m, respectively for soils of clay loam, clay and silty clay loam textures.
drainage; economic design; simulation model
