SugarcaneSugarcaneFAP 2433FAP 2433DS 102 DS 102

Section ASection A

Introduction

Sugarcane is the common name for a number of species belonging to the taxonomic genus Saccharum

They are tall tropical southeast Asian grasses

Have thick, solid, tough stems that are the chief commercial source of sugar

Sugarcane is one of the most wide-spread plants in the world

Found especially in warm temperate areas

Most important and famous export products

Taxonomy Sugarcane is a giant grass (Poaceae) Tribe: Adropogoneae Genus, species: Saccharum officinarum L. Saccharum officinarum L. is the so called

‘noble cane’ with long, thick, heavy, juicy, and sweet stalks

Other species include: 1. S. barberi, 2. S. robustum3. S. sinese4. spontaneum Commercial clones are typically 3-part

hybrids

Morphology Sugarcane

Stalks A leaf scar can be found at the node

when the leaf drops off the plant.

The buds, located in the root band of the node. The outer small leaves are in the form of scales. The outermost bud scale has the form of a hood.

Normally, one bud is present on each node, and they alternate between one side of the stalk to the other.

The root band also contains loosely defined rows of root primordia.

When seed-cane is planted, each bud may form a primary shoot.

From this shoot, secondary shoots called “tillers” may form from the underground buds on the primary shoot.

Leaf

The leaf of the sugarcane plant is divided into two parts: sheath and blade, separated by a blade joint.

The leaves are usually attached alternately to the nodes, thus forming two ranks on opposite sides.

The mature sugarcane plant has an average total upper leaf surface of about 0.5 square meter and the number of green leaves per stalk is around ten

Root Two kinds of roots will develop from a

planted seed piece.

The set roots, which arise from the root band, are thin and highly branched

The shoot roots, originating from the lower root bands of the shoots, are thick, fleshy and less branched.

Each new tiller (shoot) will develop its own roots that eventually take over the function of the original shoot roots.

This rejuvenation, governed by the periodicity of tillering, is important because it allows the plant to adjust to changing environmental conditions.

Nursery Generally sugarcane is grown by planting the seeds setts

directly into the field.

But some times, when the water is in short supply or the field is occupied with some other crop, buds or seed setts can be planted in polybags to raise nursery.

Polybags of 10x15cm filled with soil and compost mixture (in 1:1 ratio) are arranged closely in an open space, close to water source.

Scooped buds are at 1-2 cm depth.

Cut sugarcane pieces with one bud can also be used for raising the nursery.

Insert these cut pieces into the soil, filled bags up to the node level, keeping buds just touching the soil.

Irrigate these bags twice a week. Saplings will be ready for planting in 60 days.

Propagation

Stem Cutting

Stem Cutting (Commercial) Commercial sugarcane is propagated

by cuttings of the stalk containing usually two or more nodes with buds.

The bud, a miniature stalk with its growing point and root and leaf primordia, forms the new shoot.

Seed piece contains root primordia within its root band, which develop into set roots which function until the young shoot develops its own roots.

Soil Preparation

Ploughing and cultivation is essential so that a good seed bed is prepared.

A higher amount of organic manures is advantageous for nursery crops for obtaining a vigorous crop.

Apply 25 to 30 tonnes of FYM or cured press mud may be applied about 15 days before planting.

Sett Treatmenta. Preparation of setts for planting:Take seed material from short crop (6 to 7 months age) free from pests and diseases incidence.Harvest the seed crop one day before planting to obtain higher percentage and uniform germination.Detrash the cane with hand before setts preparation.Avoid damage to buds while cutting setts.Planting material or seed cane should be free from aerial roots and splits.Change the seed material after every two to three seasons. In case if it is inevitable to use mature cane as seed, the top one-third portion can be used satisfactorily.

b. Sett treatment with fungicide: The setts should be soaked in Carbendazim (1 gram in 1litre of water)

d. Aerated steam treatment: Treat setts with Aerated steam at 50 o C for one hour to control primary infection of grassy shoot disease.

Detrashing

Detrashing refers to removal of unwanted bottom dry and green leaves at regular intervals

Detrashing should be taken up after the cane formation around 150 days after planting.

Maintaining clean field

Enhances air movement and enriches Co² with in the crop canopy providing an ideal micro-climate for unrestricted growth of cane

More food material is made available for stalk growth

Reduces the problem of infestation of several insect-pests like scales, mealy bug, white flies

Propping

The operation of tying the leaves together using the bottom dry and green leaves is known as propping.

It is done to check lodging of cane.

Usually the trash without removing from the cane is twisted to form a sort of rope and cane stalks are tied together.

This is known as trash-twist propping. Propping can be either done for each row or two rows can be brought together and tied

Fertilization Sugar cane is a heavy consumer of nutrients. Its

root system is shallow and fibrous, therefore, fertigation is recommended for higher nutrient availability and use efficiency.

Growth periodNitrogen (kg/ha)

N

Phosphorus (kg/ha)

P2O5

Potassium (kg/ha)K20

Emergence and establishment

30 25

TilleringFormative phase IFormative phase II

40100

3525

5010

Grand growth I 80 15 20

Grand growth II 40

Grand growth III 50

Total 250 100 170

Pest

Stalk borer

Termite

Mealybugs

Sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis

Larvae bore into the sugarcane stalks.

Attack the stalk and tunneling by borers makes the seed piece susceptible to fungal infection.

Cause a loss of stalk weight also bored internodes produce 45% less sugar

Control management :

1. Trichogrammatoidea sp (biological)

2. Detrash the crop on the 150th and 210th day after planting (cultural)

Sugarcane borer

Termites

Microtermes sp

Can be in light soil and some in heavy soil

Termite infestation caused 30-60% destruction of buds

Feeding on the internal tissue until the setts or stalks are hollowed out

Control management :

1. Use chlorpyriphos (chemical)

Termites

Mealybugs Saccharicoccus sacchari

Nymphs and adults suck sap

Reduce the vitality of the crop by excrete honey dew on which sooty mould grow, due to which internodes appear black, and cane growth is retarded.

Control management :

1. Detrashing (cultural)

2. Methyl parathion 50 EC or Malathion (chemical)

Mealybugs

Disease

Red rot disease

Sugarcane smut disease

Red rot disease Colletotrichum falcatum (fungi)

Yellowing, drying leaves

Elongated red lesions on leaf midribs which may develop a straw yellow center

Splitting open the stalk lengthwise reveals reddish patches of tissue interrupted by white areas

Vascular tissue may be red

Control Management

1. Resistant varieties (biological)

2. remove crop debris (cultural)

*Fungicide uneffective

Red rot disease

Sugarcane smut disease Sporisorium scitamineum (fungi)

Stunted growth of sugarcane stools

Profuse production of tillers

Shortened internodes

Stems thin with narrow, erect leaves

Black whip-like structure emerging from terminal bud

Control management

1. Resistant varieties

2. Infected plants should be removed

3. Seed treatment

Smut

Harvesting

Sugarcane matures in 10-12 month

Different Indicators of harvesting are leaves become yellow, plants stops growing and arrows come out, cane produces metallic sounds, buds swell out and eyes start sprouting

Types of harvesting

1. Manual harvesting

2. Mechanical harvesting

Manual harvesting Hand knives, cutting blade or hand

axes are used for manual harvesting

Requires skilled labourers as improper harvest of cane leads to loss of cane and sugar yield

Sometimes  area is fired before harvesting to remove the dead leaf material and some of the waxy coating. The fire burns at quite high temperatures but is over very quickly so that the cane and its sugar content are not harmed

Mechanical harvesting

Sugarcane is harvested by mechanical harvester which move along the rows of cane removing the leafy tops of the cane and cutting the stalk into short pieces

The field capacity of mechanical cane harvesters varies with the size (2.5 to 4 ha per day of 8 hours)

By-products

Raw sugar Sugarcane Juices

Syrup Molasses

Gula Padang Terap

Gula Padang Terap Sdn Bhd (GPT), a key player in Malaysia's growing sugar industry, is committed to bringing our customers only the highest-grade sucrose-based products derived from natural, wholesome sweetness.

Established in 1973, GPT over the decades has not only met domestic and overseas demands for the best grade sugars, but has also dedicated itself to elevating and advancing the socio-economic status of the district of Padang Terap in Kedah Darul Aman.

Products

Malayan Sugar Manufacturing MSM Malaysia Holdings Berhad (MSM), incorporated

on 10 March 2011, is Malaysia’s leading sugar producer. It was listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad on 28 June 2011. 

The company offers a variety of products ranging from white refined sugar of various grain sizes to soft brown sugar. These are marketed and sold in a variety of packaging options under two brands – “Gula Prai” and “Gula Perlis”. The Company also sells molasses, a by-product of the refining process, to distilleries and producers of ethanol, animal feed and yeast, among other products. 

Products

Central Sugar Refinery

Central Sugars Refinery (CSR) commenced business in 1965 under the name of "United Malay State Sugar Industries" with an initial raw melting capacity of 150 metric tonnes a day. Today, after decades of expansion and modernisation, the refinery achieves a melting capacity of 1,500 metric tonnes a day - a singular feat that can be solely attributed to the dedication and commitment of our employees.

Situated at Batu Tiga, Shah Alam in Selangor with a land area of about 66,320 sq metres (16.4 acres), CSR was initially led by a group of Taiwanese investors when it was established. The major controlling stakeholders, however, were Malaysians, who comprised more than 55% of the shareholding.

PRODUCTS

Yeo Hiap Seng (Malaysia) Bhd. From its humble origins in 1900, Yeo Hiap Seng

(Yeo’s) has now become synonymous with the food & beverage industry both locally and internationally.

Taking root from a small little shop making soya sauce to the leading home-grown food & beverage company

Having already made a name for itself in Malaysia and Singapore, Yeo’s took the bold step to establish joint ventures with several foreign companies as well as establish direct overseas operations in countries such as Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, Canada, the US and other parts of the globe.

PRODUCTS