Sugar Cane

About this book

This volume aims to provide information on sugar cane and its cultivation. Details about this important crop, its life cycle, physiology, cropping cycle, optimum soil and climate conditions are given. The text also covers practical growing techniques, including soil preparation, planting, fertilization, irrigation and crop maintenance. In the final sections, harvesting of sugar cane is looked at as well as a comparison of different methods of cultivation - from small plantations to industrial estates. Detailed tables will also provide the reader with information on the growing, assessment and harvesting of this crop.

Contents

Part 1 Introduction: background and geographical distribution; the sugar cane plant; the main characteristics of sugar cane. Part 2 Sugar cane - the plant and its environment: growth cycle of the plant; the main parts of the plant; plant physiology; the effects of climate on the growth of sugar cane; soil types and sugar cane; water and fertilizer requirements and assessment methods; sugar cane cultivars; disease and pest control; the choice of a cropping cycle. Part 3 Cultural practices: land preparation and soil cultivation; crop ripening and harvest preparations; harvesting operations and assessment of crop value; standard work rates and production ratios; the technical department of a sugar factory. Part 4 Farming systems: the change from hand labour to mechanical cultivation; from small planters to industrial estates; some basic, comparative, agricultural data on sugar cane.

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