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End-Use Applications of Sugarcane Trash: A Comprehensive Review

  • S.I. : Innovation for Sustainability of the Sugar Agro-Industry
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Abstract

Sugarcane is a worldwide grown crop producing a large amount of residues in the form of molasses, bagasse and trash. The molasses and bagasse utilization technologies are well established and commercialized. Sugarcane trash (ST) is also a potential energy resource of biomass containing one-third energy that of sugarcane. However, its domestic applications are restricted due to lack of utilization awareness, technological impedance, harvesting difficulties and inadequate extension activities. This paper summarizes the end-use applications of ST suggested by worldwide researchers. The potential ways for utilization of ST for energy application were investigated and discussed with its merits, demerits and challenges for acceptance. In the present context, farmers utilize ST for open burning in the field (for destroying weeds and pests breeding places), mulching, compost making, fodder for livestock, burying infield to improve the fertility of soil and stacking for future use. Sugarcane produces nearly 8–10 tonnes of trash per ha. The utilization of this large quantity of trash for beneficial use is not possible for the farmers. Therefore, farmers usually burn the trash to clean the field for next crop, leading to pollution and energy waste. From reviewed data, it was found that the best end-use application of sugarcane trash is for energy generation.

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Acknowledgements

The corresponding author acknowledges the Dr. D. Y. Patil College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Talsande, India, for encouraging and supporting for this study.

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  1. Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, D. Y. Patil College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Talsande, India

    R. V. Powar

  2. Department of Renewable Energy Sources, D. Y. Patil College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Talsande, India

    S. A. Mehetre

  3. Gurudatta Agro Tech Wathar, Vathar Tarf Vadgaon, India

    T. R. Powar

  4. D. Y. Patil College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Talsande, India

    S. B. Patil

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Powar, R.V., Mehetre, S.A., Powar, T.R. et al. End-Use Applications of Sugarcane Trash: A Comprehensive Review. Sugar Tech 24, 699–714 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-022-01107-5

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