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Chemical ripening of sugarcane: global progress and recent developments in China

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Abstract

Chemical ripening of sugarcane is a well established practice to enhance sucrose content in many sugarcane growing countries. Chemical ripeners such as Ethephon, Glyphosate analogues, Fusilade Super, Gallant Super are being used in large scale sugarcane plantations. The gains in sucrose content in sugarcane have been reported from 0.5-2.0 units, depending upon variety-weather-ripener interaction. In mainland China, many chemicals with ripeners like properties such as Lanthanium rich rare earth mixture, lime water, potassium di hydrogen phosphate etc. have been tried. Duoxiaohao- a product consisted of multiple nutrient elements also showed good results in improving plant growth and sugar accumulation in sugarcane. However, the best results have been obtained with glyphosate-borate complex which was effective even under water deficit stress and did not affect sprouting of subsequent ratoon crop. The average improvement in pol% cane was over 1.0 unit. Due to its commercial benefits, it has been popularized in large scale of sugarcane plantations in Guangxi Province and at present about 20,000 hectares have been brought under chemical ripening using glyphosate-borate aerial spray.

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  1. Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, India

    S. Solomon

  2. Guangxi Academy of agricultural Sciences, Nanning, P.R. China

    Yang-rui Li

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Solomon, S., Li, Yr. Chemical ripening of sugarcane: global progress and recent developments in China. Sugar Tech 6, 241–249 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02942504

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