Planting techniques of Sugarcane

The nutritional value of sugarcane is very high, it contains more water, water accounts for 84% of sugarcane. Sugar cane is the most abundant, including sucrose, glucose and fructose, the content of 12%. In addition, after scientific analysis, sugar cane also contains other substances required by the human body, such as protein 0.2 grams, fat 0.5 grams, calcium 8 mg, phosphorus 4 mg, iron 1.3 mg. In addition, sugar cane also contains aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, alanine and other 16 kinds of amino acids beneficial to the human body, as well as vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 and vitamin C.

Biological characteristics of sugarcane

Sugarcane is an annual or perennial tropical and subtropical herb, belonging to C4 crops. Sugarcane is a plant with high photosynthetic efficiency, high light saturation point, low carbon dioxide compensation point, low photorespiration rate and high photosynthetic intensity, so sugarcane has high biological yield and large income. Sugarcane stalks erect, stout and juicy, often covered with powdery white. Leaves alternate, margin acute, spikes compound racemes. Sugarcane is a thermophilic and light-loving crop, with an annual accumulated temperature of 5500℃-8500℃, a frost-free period of more than 330 days, an annual average air humidity of 60%, an annual precipitation of 800-1200mm, and sunshine hours of more than 1195 hours. Sugarcane has wide adaptability to soil, clay loam, loam and sandy loam are better. Sugarcane can grow when the soil pH is 4.5~8.0, but the soil pH is 6.5-7.5.

Climatic conditions for sugarcane cultivation

The life cycle of sugarcane can be divided into five stages: germination, seedling formation, tillering, stem elongation and technological maturity. The speed of sugarcane growth, yield and sugar content are closely related to climatic conditions, especially temperature and moisture conditions.

1. Germination

The lowest temperature for germination of sugarcane buds required daily average temperature above 13℃, germination accelerated above 20 ℃, and germination was most suitable at 30-32℃. Sugarcane germination requires soil temperature (0-10 cm) above 18℃, below this temperature germination slow, germination rate is low, easy to lack seedlings. In order to accelerate germination, seed soaking, seedling transplanting and mulching are usually adopted in production. the rooting temperature of sugarcane is lower than that of germination.Generally, germination begins at 10 ℃, and the optimum temperature is 20 -27℃. during the germination of sugarcane seeds, The need for vigorous respiration to generate energy supply germination needs, if the soil moisture is too high, too much water, too deep planting, too thick soil cover will affect the growth of seedlings roots and buds.

2, seedling stage

The average daily temperature should be above 15℃ and 75% of the maximum water holding capacity in the field, which mainly meets the ecological water demand. Too much or too little soil moisture will hinder the root growth and development of seedlings.

3. Tillering stage

Both temperature and soil temperature have obvious influence on tillering. Usually tillering stage requires daily average temperature above 20℃, 25-30℃ is the most suitable, the higher the temperature in this range, the more tillering. Proper water tillers, tillers fast, but too much water, resulting in poor soil ventilation, will also affect tillers. Light intensity was the main factor affecting tillering. Under low light, auxin was less damaged by photooxidation and could promote main stem elongation. Sunny tiller more and strong, otherwise tiller less, tiller late, weak growth, daily light time in 5 hours below, general sugarcane plant does not tiller. Nutrients were sufficient and tillers were abundant, especially nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer had the greatest effect on tillers. In addition, shallow cultivation, frequent cultivation and sufficient soil oxygen can promote tillering.

4. Stem elongation

This period is the fastest growing period in sugarcane life, and it is also the key period to determine cane yield. Cane elongation requires high temperature, sufficient sunlight, moisture and nutrients, and no tropical cyclone environmental conditions. The daily average temperature is about 30℃, which is the most suitable. When it is up to 40℃, it still elongates slightly. When it is lower than 20℃, it elongates slowly with the temperature drop. When it is below 15 ℃, it stops elongating. In general, the average temperature is above 20℃, and the sugarcane can enter the elongation period. The average temperature of ten days is 27℃, and the sugarcane can enter the elongation period. Therefore, in the area with high temperature and long warm period, the sugarcane grows fast, and the yield and sugar content are high.

Sugarcane stalk elongation period is the most water requirement period in sugarcane life, accounting for about 50- 60% of the total water requirement of sugarcane life, with an average daily water consumption of 3-4 cm. During this period, the soil must maintain 80-90% of the maximum field water capacity. Insufficient rain must be irrigated in time, otherwise, if there is water shortage at this time, growth will stagnate, internodes will be short, sugar will be reduced, so that cane yield and sugar yield will be affected. Breezes make the fields well ventilated, which is beneficial to sugarcane growth. However, strong wind and typhoon do great harm to the elongation after the peak period, often tearing and breaking sugarcane leaves, breaking and lodging sugarcane stems, so the yield of windward side is often lower than that of leeward side. During elongation stage, nitrogen uptake accounted for 50% of the whole growth stage, phosphorus and potassium accounted for more than 70%, so heavy fertilization should be applied at the initial stage of elongation.

5. Process maturity period

It was the period when sucrose accumulation reached its peak and juice quality reached its optimum. Cold, dry and clear weather without frost is required in the mature stage of technology, which is beneficial to sugar accumulation of sugarcane. High temperature and humidity are beneficial to sugarcane growth, but unfavorable to sugar accumulation. According to the research: strong sunlight, high humidity during the day, low temperature and cool night (average night temperature of 12-14℃), low relative humidity, cold day difference of about 10℃, dry climate, the most favorable sucrose accumulation, sugarcane juice quality is also the best. Therefore, high temperature, high humidity, small temperature difference and insufficient light during sugarcane maturity were not conducive to sucrose accumulation. Maturity is related to variety,Sugar accumulation of early maturing seeds was faster than that of late maturing seeds.