Sugarcane cultivation: climate, propagation and processing

sugarcane

1. INTRO

   • main industry
   • family : Poaceae
   • Saccharum officinarum
   • varieties : juice cane & commercial

2. CLIMATE & SOIL

   • 25-30ºC
   • low rainfall (100mm/year)
   • 2 month dry weather before harvest
   • loamy soil
   • pH 4.0-8.5

3. PROPAGATION

   • stem cutting
   • 30cm length, 3-5 nodes
   • 6-8 months old plants

4. FIELD PLANTING

   • distance
     • 1m x 2m
     • 5000 plants/ha
   • hole
     • 45cm x 45cm x 30cm
   • technique
     • planted horizontally

5. PEST & DISEASES

   • pests
     • stalk borer
     • termites
     • mealybugs
   • diseases
     • red rot
     • smut
     • Fiji disease

6. HARVESTING

   • juice cane : 8-10 months
   • commercial cane : 12 months

7. PROCESSING

   • juice cane
     • crushing by machine
   • crystal sugar
     • cane preparation
     • milling
     • clarification
     • lime defecation
     • filtration
     • evaporation
     • drying & storage