Effect of Leaving Burnt Cane in the Field on Yield and Quality of Sugarcane

Abstract

Three varieties of sugarcane: U-thong 1, U-thong 2 and F140 were used to determine the yield and quality of sugarcane using different treatment before harvesting. In the first group, the canes were burnt and the whole-stick were cut and left to stand in the field for several days. The second group was green harvest the cane over a range of different times. It was found that burnt cane whole–stick cut and left in the field lost more weight than the green cane. During the hotter harvest months of November and March, burnt canes lost more weight than those of January harvest.            U-thong 2 and F140, the high sugar content varieties lost more weight and CCS than U-thong 1. The March harvest lost more cane weight than the November and January harvest. Green harvest whole-stick cut cane could be left for more than 14 days with only a slight decline in CCS, as compared to the burnt canes. However, both green and burnt cane should be transported immediately to the mill after harvesting. The average purity of the green harvest whole-stick cut cane was significantly higher than those of the burnt cane when left in the field for more than 5 days