The experiment conducted in the southeastern part of Brazil revealed that macro­fauna of soil is affected by litter layer maintenance in management of unburned sugarcane in both quality and diversity. A comparison was carried out of macro­fauna between adjacent areas with a history of long-term preharvest burning; but harvested without burning for a time span of 4 years and a native forest; sugarcane cropped area for 50 years with burning preharvesting. This comparison showed that a significant reduction was observed in the number of individuals per hectare along with diversification by sugarcane burned for 50 years. Approximately 75 % of indi­viduals comprised sugarcane parasites such as Coleoptera larvae in the system of burned sugarcane (Leal et al. 2013). A significant rise, as compared to the native forest, in the levels of numbers of individuals was observed after 4 years of harvest­ing without burning. Ants and earthworms are the most benefited individuals from the change due to burning. It maintains a litter layer in the soil. After conducting a long-term straw maintenance, an increase of up to 3-4 times in the population of earthworm was observed, compared to the burned sites, in the Australian field experiments (Wood 1991). Commination and incorporation of litter are the few ser­vices that were provided by invertebrates of soil. Along with this, some other ser­vices include structural porosity building and maintenance, soil aggregation through burrowing, activities involving casting and nesting, and microbial activities and communities (Leal et al. 2013).

It has been studied that significant straw amount on the ground can help in the creation of ideal microclimate, in the system of unburned cane harvest, mainly involving humidity and temperature, for weed and pest development and also infes­tation by diseases. An increased importance is given to pests, weeds, and other diseases in the fields of sugarcane. This is due to damage caused by tillers, leaves, stalks, stalk base, and root systems. In addition, several other larger infestations also occur in older sugarcane generally (Hassuani et al. 2005).

A large number of insect species are involved in the sugarcane pest infestations. This infestation is dependent on time of the year as well as the region which can lead to serious economic damage. Sugarcane also provides sheltering for a large number of insect species such as arthropods and other microorganisms that are important in biological control of pests or involved in assistance of soil decomposi­tion of organic substances (Hassuani et al. 2005). An increase in the insect species of froghopper, Mahanarva fimbriolata and Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is associated with the harvesting of unburned cane. This gives rise to a technical challenge that needs to be solved in areas of sugarcane without burning. The sugarcane borer, D. saccharalis, infestation shows variable results independent of harvesting method. A serious problem is indicated by froghopper, M. fimbriolata, in harvesting of unburned cane demanding control method adoption. The entomo — pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae indicated a high control in the efficiency at a reduced cost with no harmful effect on the environment. As far as weed infesta­tion is concerned, chemical as well as biological changes may be caused by mulch in the soil. This may lead to weed suppression of Brachiaria plantaginea, Digitaria horizontalis, Panicum maximum. and Brachiaria decumbens. There are several species that are not affected by straw presence. Allelopathic compounds are released and this release is attributed by effect of mulch on the control of weed. Other effects attributed by mulch include physical effects including filtering and light wave­length and maintenance of temperature with minor fluctuations (Leal et al. 2013). Some of the weed infestation may be controlled by mulch straw left on the ground, whereas it is not enough for controlling others.