Sugar Tech最新文献

Fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has become a sporadic pest of sugarcane. Since, it is a relatively new pest of sugarcane with the first report of occurrence came in 2018, detailed reports on its biology, ecology and management are lacking in the public domain. The present study reports the biology, ecology and molecular taxonomy of FAW population occurring in sugarcane. FAW in sugarcane passed through six larval instars to attain its pupal stage. The head capsule widths of first through fifth instar larvae of FAW were in the range of 0.260–0.352, 0.400–0.590, 0.652–0.900, 1.010–1.410 and 1.700–2.162 mm with the mean values of 0.284, 0.470, 0.753, 1.154 and 1.908 mm, respectively. FAW could complete its life cycle in 25.5 (male)—27.2 (female) days in sugarcane (cv. Co 86,032) with mean fecundity of 528 eggs under laboratory condition (27 ± 2 °C). The artificial diet developed and used to rear the FAW in laboratory also supported its growth, development and reproduction. FAW could successfully complete its life cycle in 23.1–25.4 days with the mean fecundity of 347 eggs in the artificial diet. We have also constructed age-specific fecundity tables for both cane-reared and diet-reared populations of FAW. Though the generation time and doubling time were on par with each other, the net reproductive rate, which represents the number of female progenies produced per female per generation was 111.5 for cane-reared population as against 62.3 for diet-reared population indicating the supremacy of the natural host in promoting the reproductive traits of FAW. It was also confirmed through the development of mtCOI gene-based DNA barcodes that the FAW population on sugarcane was “R strain”.

One of the important unit operations in sugarcane cultivation is sett cutting. The number of setts of three buds for normal planting per ha is 37,000–40,000, but farmers use up to 75,000 with two buds at narrow row-row distance. The study conducted in the selected villages indicated in-situ sett cutting and hand operated knife (500 g) is being used for sett cutting. Ergonomically study predicted the use of heavy muscle power for hand operated knife (Kathhi) during continuous cutting through impact force. Minor injury was also reported during sett cutting with a hand cutter. The chemical composition of the traditional sett cutting tool (Kathhi) for carbon content was analysed and very low carbon steel (carbon content < 0.15%) was found. That showed the need to sharpen the blade frequently. Considering the ergonomics principle and mechanical aspects, a foot-operated sett cutter was designed and developed that can be used by male and female subjects. This foot-operated sett cutter consisted of a platform, cutter, and pedal assembly. The weight of the developed unit is 28 kg. The capacity of the cutter was 830 and 673 setts h⁻¹ in standing posture and 700 and 620 setts h⁻¹ in sitting postures with male and female workers, respectively. The number of setts cut per hour was 10.84% and 9.80% higher with developed sett cutters with male and female workers compared to the traditional sett cutting tool (Kathhi). The force required to be applied by the subject was only for less than one second in both postures, only after the foot pedal returned through the spring attached to its lever arm. The operating cost per 1000 setts was 8% less with the developed operated foot-operated sett-cutter as compared to Kathhi. The developed sett cutter has the potential for adoption by the marginal and small farmers of the country as well as developing countries.

In plants, leaves are the primary source of sunlight, and the production of photosynthetic materials. Estimating the rate of yield reduction due to leaf loss plays an important role in farm management. This research aimed to achieve the highest possible crop yield and quality while also utilizing pruned leaves for animal feed. To investigate the optimal timing for leaf pruning at different weeks of vegetative growth on the morphological, and physiological characteristics of sugar beet over the years 2022, and 2023 growing seasons in Eskişehir, Türkiye. This study included treatment of ten pruning times (PT): July 20, and 27; August 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31; September 7, and 14; and October 25 (control treatment and no pruning). The results showed the pruning treatments had a significant effect on morphological, and physiological characteristics in both years. The highest root yields were observed at the later pruning times, particularly at PT10 in both the years, with yields of 104.31 tons ha⁻¹ in 2022 and 136.74 tons ha⁻¹ in 2023. Other notable pruning times included PT6 and PT5, which also showed substantial root yields. Sugar content was higher during the earlier pruning times. The peak sugar contents were found at PT1 in both years, with 17.17% in 2022 and 13.79% in 2023. For leaves, the dry matter content was highest at late pruning times (PT8–PT10). PT10 showed the highest dry matter contents. Crude protein and crude ash contents remained relatively constant at different pruning times, but considerable values were observed from PT1 to PT8, contributing to the overall nutritional value of the leaves. The highest NDF and DMD contents were noted at late pruning times (PT7–PT10) in both years. Combining these findings, it was concluded that PT6 to PT8 were the most favorable pruning times, balancing high root yield, medium to high sugar content, and high nutritional values of leaves.

Sugarcane yield prediction is an important tool to support the sugar-energy sector. This study aimed to create a regional empirical model, using the random forest algorithm, to predict sugarcane yield in the state of Sao Paulo. For this, we used Sentinel-2 imagery (vegetation indices NDVIRE and CIRE, spectral bands Red-edge and near-infrared arrow), agronomic data (variety and ratoon stage and plant cane), climatic data (temperature, precipitation) and crop water deficit data from three mills. We created two predictive yield model based on three scenarios with different training and testing data: (SI) Scenario I is the regional model considered all data from the three mills, (SII) Scenario II was training similar SI and testing individuals for each mill, (SIII) Scenario III includes regional individual’s models for sugarcane ratoon stage and plant cane. In each case, 70% of the dataset was used for training and 30% for testing. SI gave R² equal to 0.72, while SII R² was between 0.60 and 0.78; the RMSE for SI was 11.7 ({text{tonha}}^{{ - 1}}), while for SII from 8.62 to 15.56 ({text{tonha}}^{{ - 1}}). The rRMSE was 16.5% for SI and from 12.4 to 21.6%, for SII. SIII showed R² greater than 0.61, and RMSE between 9.6 and 13.5 (ton {ha}^{-1}). The CIRE and NDVIRE vegetation indices, crop water deficit and precipitation were the most important variables to estimate sugarcane yield. The model created considering SI and SII showed potential to be applied to different locals using data from three mills.

Sclerotium root rot, caused by the fungus Sclerotium rolfsii, presents a significant challenge to sugar beet cultivation, particularly in tropical and warmer climates where high temperatures favor pathogen proliferation. This disease is prevalent in southern regions globally, where optimal conditions enable the fungus to produce white cottony mycelium and sclerotia rapidly. These sclerotia can be dispersed by wind or during agricultural activities, integrating into the soil profile and complicating disease management. The pathogen’s complex life cycle and broad host range exacerbate management difficulties. Early identification of symptoms is crucial for effective management, emphasizing the need for advanced diagnostic techniques. This study highlights recent advancements in managing Sclerotium root rot, focusing on biotechnological innovations and precision agriculture methods. Techniques such as CRISPR/Cas gene editing, artificial intelligence, satellite farming, and augmented reality offer promising solutions for disease control. CRISPR/Cas technology provides precise genetic modifications to enhance disease resistance in sugar beets. Artificial intelligence and satellite farming enable real-time monitoring and predictive analytics for early detection and management of the disease. Augmented reality tools facilitate farmer education and decision-making through immersive and interactive platforms. The integration of these advanced technologies presents a comprehensive approach to combating Sclerotium root rot, ensuring sustainable sugar beet production in affected regions. This study underscores the importance of leveraging cutting-edge innovations to address the complexities of pathogen management in agriculture.

Leaching is an important loss pathway that limits N-fertilizer recovery by sugarcane. Our study evaluated the potential for leaching and recovery of ¹⁵N-fertilizer by sugarcane cultivated in sandy soil. Three nitrogen fertilization management strategies were tested: single dose (80 kg ha⁻¹), split (40 kg ha⁻¹ + 40 kg ha⁻¹) and supplementation (80 kg ha⁻¹ + 40 kg ha⁻¹), one more control; without nitrogen (N). Ammonium nitrate (AN) and ammonium sulphate (AS) were the sources N used. Leaching was determined by the N-mineral concentration (NH₄⁺, NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻) and ¹⁵N-fertilizer in the soil solution at a depth of 0.7 m. Nitrogen recovery was quantified using ¹⁵N-fertilizer in the sugarcane shoots. Significant leaching occurred in the first 60 days after fertilization (DAF), but splitting the fertilization reduced N-mineral leaching by 50%. During this period, 78% of the nitrogen in the leachate originated from the fertilizer (NDFF_(L)). The contribution of nitrogen fertilization was highest in the first 30 DAF, where the fertilizer accounted for 39% of the nitrogen absorbed by sugarcane. But the plant’s nitrogen recovery (R) was limited to only 4% of the applied nitrogen. At harvest, the R of ¹⁵N-fertilizer by sugarcane was less than 20%. Splitting or applying a single dose of fertilizer did not improve nitrogen recovery at the end of the cycle. Our study showed that the leaching and recovery of ¹⁵N-fertilizer were found to be proportional to the applied doses according to the management strategies and nitrogen sources compensated for nitrogen leaching throughout the cycle.

Sugarcane is a raw material used to produce sugar and ethanol. Its growth is influenced by meteorological factors. This study aimed at providing a modeling framework to simulate sugarcane stalk elongation by considering the planting stage and meteorological factors. Using plant height data and meteorological data collected in Guangxi (China) during 2018–2022, combined with the cumulative temperature function, a multi-parameter generalized logistic model was constructed to simulate changes in plant height for spring planting and ratoon sugarcane. The meteorological effects on sugarcane growth were further quantified. Expressions of six models simulating sugarcane growth were given by fitting the data. The results showed that the selected model could simulate the elongation period of sugarcane well, and it simulated Guitang No. 42 sugarcane most effectively. Sensitivity analysis showed that effective cumulative temperature and cumulative precipitation had the greatest influence on sugarcane growth and growing duration. It was also found that increasing rainfall to the optimum level in August was the most favorable for sugarcane growth.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) management is crucial for promoting crop growth and maintaining sustainability. In calcareous soils, there is a consistent decline in SOC in agricultural soils, with many soils exhibiting notably low SOC content. In this context, evaluating the potential of sugarcane–ratoon systems should be a priority, as these trashes play a vital role in sustaining SOC levels, enhancing soil health, and ultimately influencing cane yield positively. We investigated the effects of trash management and the application of Trichoderma on the growth, yield, SOC, and its fractions in a sugarcane plant–ratoon system. Thus, a field experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with five replications with four treatments, which consisted trash mulching (RM) or incorporation (RI), or removal (RR) with or without Trichoderma (T). RI + T influenced the growth and yield attributes viz. plant height, tillers, cane diameter, and millable canes positively. An improvement of 12.0 and 21.3% in cane yield was recorded after the harvest of the third ratoon crop as compared to RM and RR, respectively. The highest SOC stock (28.84 Mg ha⁻¹) was recorded with RI + T treatment. Furthermore, RI + T plots had 35.9% higher total organic carbon (TOC) with 31.9, 31.8, 32.0, and 32.1% higher very labile, labile, less labile, and non-labile C fractions, respectively, than RR plots. Moreover, trash incorporation with Trichoderma inoculation treatment improved soil respiration, soil microbial biomass carbon, soil microbial biomass N, and soil protein by 38.4, 20.1, 45.2, and 31.1%, respectively, as compared to trash mulching without Trichoderma. Similarly, RI + T treatment recorded higher C sequestration rate (0.89 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and C sequestered (3.56 Mg ha⁻¹). Significantly higher dehydrogenase activity (19.8%) and alkaline phosphatase activity (28.0%) were observed in RI + T treatment as compared to RM treatment. Thus, trash incorporation with Trichoderma is recommended for higher soil C sequestration and soil health for sustained sugarcane–ratoon productivity.

Sugarcane juice (SJ), known for its rich nutrients, faces challenges in processing and marketing due to rapid spoilage by microbes and enzymes. This study aimed to develop techniques to extend the shelf life of SJ. We investigated optimizing SJ’s pH to 4.00 using different acids. Based on sensory tests, orthophosphoric acid (OPA) was chosen as the most acceptable acidulant. The pH-adjusted juice was then heated at various temperatures (50–90 °C). Heating at 90 °C significantly reduced a spoilage enzyme (PPO activity) compared to untreated juice. Pasteurization time at 90 °C was further optimized to 15 min based on PPO activity and microbial control. The final preservation method involved preheating pH-adjusted juice (with OPA) to 60 °C, followed by hot filling into pre-sterilized bottles and pasteurization at 90 °C for 15 min. This method ensured juice quality and storage stability. Storage studies showed that the pH-adjusted and pasteurized SJ maintained good quality for three months under various storage conditions. This study demonstrates the potential of this technology for efficient SJ storage and utilization, opening doors for commercial applications.

Leaf scald is one of the major bacterial diseases causing severe losses to the sugarcane industry. Utilizing disease-resistant genotypes has proved to be the safest, most economical, and effective method to control it. Therefore, we evaluated leaf scald disease (LSD) on 166 sugarcane genotypes in a field trial over three years (2019–2021). We found that the disease incidence and severity varied among genotypes, and the percentage of diseased genotypes differed significantly across crop seasons. ANOVA analysis revealed that Genotype, Year, and Genotype-by-Year interaction significantly affected LSD occurrence. However, the broad-sense heritability (H_B²) for disease incidence (IC) and severity (DI) over three years was 0.72 and 0.68, respectively, suggesting that genetic factors play an essential role. To better classify the level of disease resistance, we performed cluster analysis using three years of disease incidence and severity; the accuracy of the cluster analysis was verified by discriminant analysis. Of the 166 sugarcane genotypes, 35 (21.08%) were highly resistant, 67 (40.36%) resistant, 24 (14.46%) moderately susceptible, 24 (14.46%) susceptible, and 16 (9.64%) highly susceptible. The total probability of discriminant analysis was 90.36%, indicating that the classification results were relatively accurate. The outcomes of this study provide a scientific basis for breeding and selecting resistant genotypes for commercial cultivation.