Harvesting process

Time of Harvesting:

Harvesting of sugarcane at a proper time i.e. peak maturity, by adopting right technique is necessary to realize maximum weight of the millable canes (thus sugar) produced with least possible field losses under the given growing environment. Harvesting either under-aged or over-aged cane with improper method of harvesting leads to loss in cane yield, sugar recovery, poor juice quality and problems in milling due to extraneous matter.

Therefore, proper harvesting should ensure:

• To harvest the cane at peak maturity (i.e., avoiding cutting of either over-matured or under-matured cane)
• Cutting cane to ground level so that the bottom sugar rich internodes are harvested which add to yield and sugar
• De-topping at appropriate height so that the top immature internodes are eliminated
• Proper cleaning of the cane i.e., removing the extraneous matter such as leaves, trash, roots etc.
• Quick disposal of the harvested cane to factory

Harvesting

Sugarcane matures in 10-12 month in North India and 18-20 month in South India. Brix value is 16-18 in Dec and Jan at or below 20⁰ C. Different Indicators of harvesting are leaves become yellow, plants stops growing and arrows come out, cane produces metallic sounds, buds swell out and eyes start sprouting.

Harvesting Schedule

In India harvesting of sugarcane is carried out at 10 to 18 months stage, depending upon the planting time and crop maturity. In sub-tropics, autumn crop is harvested at 15 month stage, whereas spring and summer (late-planted) crops at 10-12 months. Early varieties are harvested at 10 months stage, mid-late 10-12 months and late after 12 month stage. In tropical zone adsali crop is harvested after 16-18 months stage.

Manual Harvesting

Hand knives, cutting blade or hand axes are used for manual harvesting. It requires skilled labourers as improper harvest of cane leads to loss of cane and sugar yield, poor juice quality and problems in milling due to extraneous matter.    

                                                                     

  

                        

                   Manual harvesting