Post Harvest Deterioration of Sugarcane on Change in Physico-Chemical Properties of Cane Juice

摘要

Harvested sugarcane was treated with 2 per cent urea spraying, water spraying and covered with sugarcane trash for period of five days to study the treatment effects on loss in cane weight and quality of juice extracted in response to time lag betweenharvesting and crushing under agro-climatic conditions of Cauvery Command Area in Karnataka. It was observed that the cane covered with sugarcane trash or water spray found relatively more effective in maintaining freshness of the harvested sugarcane and to ensure higher sugar recovery besides obviating cane weight loss and minimizing effect of other physico-chemical prosperities. A gradual decrease in sucrose percent, purity percent and concomitant increase in reducing sugar was found in the juice extracted from cane stored ( 0-120 h).