- Introduction
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is the most important sugar crop in the tropics and subtropics. It belongs to the Poaceae family and is a long-duration, perennial crop, though generally cultivated as an annual. It is mainly grown for its juicy stem, which contains 10–20% sucrose that is extracted for sugar, jaggery, ethanol, and molasses. Besides being a cash crop, it is a major source of employment, industrial raw material, and bioenergy.
- Botanical Information
- Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)
- Botanical name: Saccharum officinarum
- Origin: New Guinea (tropical cane origin)
- Inflorescence: Open panicle called an “arrow”
- Root types:
- Sett roots – temporary, arise from the buds of planted setts, support initial growth.
- Shoot roots – permanent, provide anchorage and uptake of water/nutrients.
- Major Producing Countries
- Brazil – World’s largest producer (since 1979).
- India – Second largest producer, but leading consumer of sugar.
- Cuba – Historically important producer.
- China – Major producer in Asia.
- Climatic and Soil Requirements
- Temperature:
- Germination: 32–38 °C
- Tillering: 25–30 °C
- Maturity: 15–20 °C
- Rainfall: 1000–1500 mm annually, well-distributed.
- Sunlight: Bright sunshine is essential for sucrose accumulation.
- Soil:
- Deep, fertile, well-drained loamy soil.
- Rich in organic matter.
- Optimum pH: 6.5–7.5.
- Varieties of Sugarcane
- Tropical canes (S. officinarum): Thick, juicy, high sugar content, grown mainly in tropical regions.
- Indian canes (S. barberi, S. sinense): Short, thin stalks, early maturing, grown in subtropical regions like North India.
- Land Preparation
- 2–3 deep ploughings followed by harrowing.
- Field should be well-leveled and weed-free.
- 10–15 tonnes/ha of FYM or compost is applied before the last ploughing.
- Planting
Time of Planting
- Tropical India: Autumn: October–November. Spring: January–February
- Subtropical India: Spring: February–March
Methods of Planting
- Conventional methods: Flat bed planting (North India). Furrow method (Eastern UP, Peninsular India). Trench/Java method (coastal windy areas).
- Improved techniques:
- Partha method (Tamil Nadu, waterlogged conditions).
- Spaced transplanting technique (IISR).
- Winter nursery system (IISR).
- Rayungan, Sablang, Tjeblock, Algin methods (regional practices).
- Sett placement techniques:
- End-to-end method (low sett rate).
- Eye-to-eye method.
- Double row system (thick planting).
- Single-bud planting (nursery).
Seed Rate
- 50–70 q/ha (3-budded setts).
- Single bud nursery: 18,000 setts/ha.
- Nutrient Management
- Nitrogen (N): 150–200 kg/ha (in split doses).
- Phosphorus (P₂O₅): 60–80 kg/ha.
- Potassium (K₂O): 60–120 kg/ha.
- Micronutrients: Zn, Fe as per soil test.
- Water Management
- Total water requirement: 1500–2500 mm.
- Critical stages: Germination, tillering, grand growth, maturity.
- Irrigation interval:
- Summer: every 7–10 days.
- Winter: every 15–20 days.
- Intercultural Operations
- Weeding: First 30–60 days.
- Earthing up: At 60–90 days after planting.
- Trash mulching: Helps conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
- Growth Phases
- Germination phase: 0–60 DAP (days after planting).
- Tillering (formative) phase: 60–130 DAP.
- Grand growth phase: 130–250 DAP.
- Maturity phase: 250–365 DAP.
- Harvesting and Ripening
Indicators of Maturity
- Yellowing of leaves.
- Stalks become brittle, produce metallic sound.
- Arrowing and cessation of growth.
- Brix % in stalk middle: 16–18%.
- Glucose content <0.5%.
Chemical Ripeners
- Balsario: 4.5 kg/ha in 1000 L water.
- Polaris, Sodium Metasilicate (sprayed 6 weeks before harvest).
- Yield and Recovery
- Average cane yield: 60–100 t/ha.
- Sugar recovery: 10–12%.
- Jaggery recovery: 9–10%.
- By-products: Molasses, bagasse, press mud.
- Importance
- Provides raw material for sugar, jaggery, ethanol, biofuel, paper, and electricity generation.
- Bagasse used in paper and board industries.
- Molasses used in alcohol, vinegar, citric acid production.
- Press mud used as organic manure.
- Generates employment and contributes to rural economy.
- Sugar Extraction and By-Products
Process | Output |
Ordinary crusher | 50–65% juice |
Power crusher | 60–70% juice |
Vacuum crusher | 70–75% juice |
Gur recovery | 9–10% (max 15–18%) |
Crystallized sugar | 62.5% from gur |
Sucrose in cane | 13–24% |
Molasses yield | 3.5% |
Rab yield | 18–20% of juice |
By-products utilization:
- 50% → White sugar
- 30% → Gur/jaggery
- 20% → Alcohol (ethanol fuel, gasohol = 80% petrol + 20% ethanol).
- Sugarcane vs. Sugarbeet
Aspect | Sugarcane | Sugarbeet |
Extraction | Crushing | Diffusion |
Sugar % | 6–10% | Higher |
World share | 60% | 40% |
Grown in | Tropics | Temperate zones |
- Important Research Institutes
- Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI), Coimbatore – breeding of high-yielding varieties.
- Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR), Lucknow – agronomic research.
- Indian Sugar Institute (ISI), Kanpur – sugar technology and training.
Major Diseases
- Red Rot (Colletotrichum falcatum) – Most destructive disease, causes reddening of stalk tissues.
- Smut (Sporisorium scitamineum) – Black whip-like growth emerges from the stalk tip.
- Wilt (Fusarium moniliforme) – Yellowing, drying, and wilting of plants.
- Grassy Shoot Disease (Mycoplasma-like organism) – Excessive tillering, grass-like shoots.
- Ratoon Stunting Disease (RSD) – Caused by bacteria, stunted growth in ratoon crops.
Management: Resistant varieties, seed treatment (hot water), crop rotation.
Important Facts on Sugarcane
- Botanical name – Saccharum officinarum
- Family – Poaceae (Gramineae)
- Origin – New Guinea
- Inflorescence – Open panicle (called arrow)
- Type of crop – Long-duration, perennial (cultivated as annual)
- World’s largest producer – Brazil
- India’s top producing states – Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar, Tamil Nadu
- Optimum pH of soil – 6.5–7.5
- Water requirement – 1500–2500 mm annually
- Critical stages for irrigation – Germination, Tillering, Grand growth, Maturity
- Growth phases – Germination → Tillering → Grand growth → Maturity
- Seed rate – 50–70 q/ha (3-budded setts)
- Average yield – 60–100 t/ha
- Sugar recovery – 10–12% (best variety Co 0238 gives higher recovery)
- By-products – Bagasse, Molasses, Press mud (all have industrial uses)
- Disease known as “cancer of sugarcane” – Red rot
- Important high-yielding varieties – Co 86032, Co 0238, CoJ 64
- Institutions –
- SBI (Coimbatore) – breeding research
- IISR (Lucknow) – agronomy research
- ISI (Kanpur) – sugar technology
- Ethanol blending – Sugarcane molasses is key for India’s 20% ethanol blending target (by 2025).
- Nickname – Sugarcane is called a “cash-cum-industrial crop” because of its multiple uses.
