Aims: Two techniques of preparation of canes for milling i.e topped by sickle without the removal of any internodes and topped by sickle or hand with removal of 3-4 internodes were compared and their effect on post harvest deterioration was studied. The former practice is widely used in Punjab, a prominent cane growing state of North India. Methods and Results: Staling of harvested cane resulted in gradual decrease in weight, extraction %, Purity, Pol % cane with concomitant increase in the invert sugars and activities of enzyme invertases under two dates of harvesting i.e. February (peak season) and April (end of milling season). Irrespective of the treatments, losses were more in April than that in February. Quality parameters viz. Extraction %, Purity, Pol % cane were lower on day 0 and on 6th day of storage in present practice as compared to past practice indicating higher sugar recovery through past practice. Rate of % loss in cane weight, % loss in extraction, % loss in pol percent cane, % loss in purity and % increase in reducing sugars % brix and activities of both acid and neutral invertases were found to be more in present practice than past practice during 6 day storage time. Conclusion: Higher sugar recovery and lower post harvest deterioration were noticed in cane in which lower joints were removed. This practice has been discontinued. Significance of this study: The study revealed that top 3-4 internodes must be removed to achieve higher sugar recovery.
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