Sugarcane

Sugarcane is a species of tall and perennial grass rich in sucrose which gets accumulated in the stalk of the plant. It is generally grown in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane in the world. Sugarcane manufactures 79% of the sugar worldwide, hence such high demand. It generally falls under the category of a cash crop though sometimes it can also be used as livestock fodder. To improve the quality of sugarcane, and increase its production, extensive crossbreeding and polyploidization are being carried out.

Sugarcane Growing Belts around the World:

 Generally, sugarcane is the largest crop based on production value. The tropical and subtropical belts of the world are generally suited for its cultivation. The top five sugar-producing countries of this crop are:

• Brazil
• India
• The European Union
• China
• Thailand

In India, sugarcane is mainly grown in Uttar Pradesh, with almost 50% of the produce here. It is also grown in the tropical regions of the south and the western Indian states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Pondicherry, and Madhya Pradesh.

Sugarcane Production:

Sugarcane is a C4 plant. It is generally grown on various types of soils, ranging from highly fertile, mollisols, vertisols, andisols, et cetera.

 In India, sugarcane is grown as a Kharif crop. It requires a temperature range of 21-27 degrees celsius with an annual rainfall of 75-150 cm. Ideally, sugarcane can grow in rich loamy soil or any soil which can retain moisture. The five different varieties of sugarcane found in India are:

• Saccharum officinarum
• Saccharum barberi
• Saccharum sinense
• Saccharum spontaneum
• Saccharum robustum

Since sugarcane is a water-intensive crop, it becomes a stiff challenge to manage the proper utilization of water, especially in dry areas. Sugarcane is generally grown by the stem cutting method. This method is dependent on the fact that stems contain various buds from which the entire plant can grow. Thus, while planting the stems, care is taken, so that at least one bud is planted per stem. Once planted, sugarcane can bear fruit for 2-10 cycles. Subsequent use of the same cane can lead to a decrease in production. Hence it is advised to replace and replant the field after some time, periodically.

Sugarcane Processing: Time is of the essence in manufacturing sugar from sugarcane. Once harvested, the canes are quickly moved to the mills to produce sugar. Sugar quality can deteriorate if not processed quickly. These canes are then crushed and boiled with lime to crystallize the sugar. One important thing to note about sugarcane is that every bit of the plant is used and reused. Even the byproducts find their significance in different areas.

USES OF SUGARCANE –

The use of sugarcane is vast. Some of them are:

Sugarcane juice is used to produce sugar.

Sugarcane juice can be consumed directly and processed to form a syrup, jaggery, and molasses.

Molasses is again used to drive a wide range of products, such as rum, ethyl alcohol, acetic acid, butanol-acetone, citric acid, yeast, monosodium glutamate, et cetera.

After extracting the cane juice, bagasse is the leftover fibrous part of the plant. Even that finds its applications in sectors such as:

Production of electricity using bagasse, especially in those countries lacking fossil fuels.

Another vital application of bagasse is the production of biogas. Further research is going on to produce enzymes that can improve this process.

Production of good quality paper and magazine papers from bagasse is a benefit. There are better uses of bagasse which are more efficient and income-generating.

Further, the use of leftover parts of the sugarcane as animal feed, is another vital aspect. The leaves of the plant are pretty nutritious for the livestock.

Conclusion:

Sugarcane is an important crop that has been grown since ancient times in China. The term “sugarcane” was first used by Spanish travelers in the West Indies in the early 16th century. Here we learned about the ideal conditions required for the cultivation of sugarcane, and subsequently understood the different sugarcane growing belts of the world and in India. We understood why there is a need for quick transport and processing in the sugar-producing industry. Further, the utility of sugarcane is well known across the globe. We witnessed the various industries which are fed directly or indirectly by this crop. Still, farmers face a lot of challenges, especially the strict climate conditions necessary for growth and intensive water requirements that make it infeasible for growth in certain regions of the world.