Sugarcane

• Sugarcane is essentially a tropical plant. Sugarcane thrives best in tropical hot sunny areas.
• A long summer growing season with an adequate rainfall, fairly dry, sunny and cooled but frost-free ripening period and free from cyclones are characteristic ideal climate conditions for the production of sugar from canes. It takes generally 12 to 24 months for maturity.
• As a tropical plant, sugarcane loves warmth and sunshine. It can be grow up to 1500 meter above the sea level.
• For the best crop, the monthly temperature should remain about 22oC. Optimum temperature for bud sprouting is 28-300C. When temperature goes below 7oC, cane buds don not germinate.
• The optimum temperature for best growth is known to be around 30oC. At temperatures below 21oC, root growth and tillering is affected. Moderate heat (21 to 26oC), light and humidity are required for early vigorous and fairly uniform tillering.
• Temperatures below 20oC and above 38oC are not conductive for good growth. Its cultivation is not possible in areas where the temperature is below 50C and above 500C.
• At high temperature (>380C), reversion of sucrose into fructose and glucose may occur and leading to less accumulation of sugar. Severe cold weather inhibits bud sprouting and arrest cane growth. At temperature -1 to -20C, cane leaves and meristem tissues are killed.
• Sugarcane is a short day and sun loving plant.
• Heavy rainfall causes lodging and reduces the quality of cane juice.
• High humidity with high temperature accelerates the deterioration of harvested cane.
• Sugarcane requires high temperature and high humidity during formative and grand growth phase but requires distinctly cool temperature and low humidity during ripening and maturity.