<div style="text-align: justify;">Background: Sugarcane is one of the important commercial crops in India. Sugarcane trashes are considered as a problem to the farmers,&nbsp;because of the cost of labour for its disposal. Farmers wishes to compost in the field itself to reduce the cost. A field experiment was conducted for the in-situ composting of sugarcane trashes at the Sugarcane Research Station, Cuddalore. Methods: The sugarcane trashes have wide C:N ratio, which is not suitable for the microbial degradation. Hence, for the in-situ composting of sugarcane trashes, a combination of Rock phosphate: gypsum: urea in the ratio of 5:4:1 (named as SRS mixture) was added to narrow the C:N &nbsp;ratio. For the quick degradation, the microbial consortia namely Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Bio mineralizer, (TNAU Bio mineralizer) commercially available Effective Microbes (EM) solution and the cow dung slurry were compared. &nbsp; Result: During the degradation period, the pH was slightly reduced and subsequently increased to neutral; reduction in EC, organic carbon, Carbon: Nitrogen ratio and increase &nbsp;in the nitrogen content was also noted. Field soil analysis indicated increase in the primary nutrient content especially in the treatments with TNAU Bio mineralizer and commercial EM solution. For the in-situ composting of sugarcane trashes, SRS mixture 100 kg t-1 followed by TNAU bio mineralizer 2 kg t-1 may be applied immediately after the harvest of the canes.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Impact of In-situ Composting of Sugarcane Trashes on Soil Nutrients and Fertility</div>

<div>Background: Organic farming proves many advantages for recycling regenerates the waste matter into wealth and can wipe out the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Sustainable agriculture can be ensured in future with the help of organic farming which includes various processes of biological origin such as compost and vermicompost. 
 
Methods: The study was conducted at Alanthurai, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Agro-industrial waste of sugarcane trash and bagasse were collected and were used for biocomposting process using Pleurotus florida, Trichoderma asperelloides, microbial consortium and Eudrillus eugeniae. Six different treatments were incorporated in the present study. Vegetative parameters such as shoot length, root length, number of leaves, fresh weight and dry weight at different stages (30, 60 and 90 DAS), number of flowers and number of branches on 60 and 90 DAS. On 90th day yield characters like number of fruits, diameter of fruits, single fruit weight, fruit yield per plant and fruit yield per plot were analyzed. 
 
Result: A significant increase in shoot length, root length, number of leaves, fresh weight and dry weight was observed in T3 - C3 (Predecomposted sugarcane trash + Trichoderma asperelloids and Microbial consortium 5 t/h) treatment, followed by T1 - C1 (Predecomposted sugarcane trash Pleurotus florida and earthworm (Eudrilus eugeniae) 5 t/h) treatment on 30, 60 and 90 DAS. A significant increase in number of flowers and number of branches was observed in T3 treatment followed by other treatment on 60 and 90 DAS. The maximum amount in number of fruits, diameter of fruit, single fruit weight, fruit yield per plant and fruit yield per plot were noted in T3 treatment, followed by T1 treatment on 90 DAS and minimum amount were reported in control (soil). The results of the study clearly indicated that treatment T3 significantly increased the vegetative parameters and yield characters in tomato.</div>

Effect of Composted Sugarcane Trash and Bagasse on the Growth and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Among the diseases of sugarcane, Sugarcane yellow leaf disease (YLD) is one of the most prevalent diseases of sugarcane posing serious threat to the sugarcane cultivation worldwide. The current study aims at studying the distribution of SCYLV in the major sugarcane-growing of Andhra Pradesh and determining sequence identities, sequence variations and phylogenetic relationships between the SCYLV isolates reported earlier from India and&nbsp; worldwide. 
 
Methods: ORF1 and ORF2 regions of the viral genome coding for RNA dependent RNA Polymerase (RdRP) was amplified from twelve of the samples using the gene specific primers viz.,&nbsp; SCYLV-F3 and SCYLV-R3. The ORF1 and ORF2 regions were studied for sequence similarity at nucleotide and aminoacid level and phylogentic relationships were established with the other SCYLV isolates.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Result: The multiple sequence analysis of the isolates under the study with 22 similar sequences of SYLCV isolates reported from India and worldwide revealed 90.6-100% identities with IND, REU, BRA, CHN, HAW, CUB, COL and PER genotypes reported worldwide.&nbsp; The Indian isolates showed close phylogenetic relationship with the CUB and COL isolates. Hence it was confirmed from the study that SCYLV isolates collected from major sugarcane growing regions of Andhra Pradesh closely related to SCYLV-CUB and SCYLV-COL genotypes.</div>

Studies on Distribution of Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus in Commercially Grown Sugarcane Varieties in Andhra Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted during the three consecutive seasons from 2006-08 on clay loam soil of Sugarcane Research Station, Buralikson, Assam to study the effect of different herbicides along with other cultural practices of weed management of sugarcane. The experimental field &nbsp;was laid out in randomized block design with three replication with the following &nbsp;ten treatments viz. T1: control, T2: 3 hoeings (1st , 4th and 7th week), T3: Atrazine@ 2kg a.i/ha + 2,4-D @ 1kg a.i/ha at 45 days after ratoon initiation, T4: atrazine @ 2 kg a.i/ha + &nbsp;1 hoeing at 45 days after ratoon initiation, &nbsp;T5: metribuzine @1 kg a.i/ha + 2,4-D @1 kg a.i/ha at 45 days after ratoon initiation, T6: metribuzine @1 kg a.i/ha + 1 hoeing at 45 days after ratoon initiation , &nbsp;T7: glycel-41@ 0.4 kg a.i/ha at 3rd week stage, T8: glycel-41@ 0.4 kg a.i/ha at 3rd week + 1 hoeing at 60 days after ratoon initiation, T9: trash mulching in alternate rows + hoeing during 1st and 6th week, T10: trash mulching in all rows. Result revealed that all the weed management practices had a significant effect on growth and yield of sugarcane over control. Out of all treatments, pre-emergence spraying of metribuzine @1 kg a.i/ha followed by spraying of 2, 4-D @1 kg a.i/ha at 45 days after ratoon initiation recorded lesser number of weeds and weed dry weight with higher weed control efficiency (80.38%). The same treatment also recorded the higher cane yield (79.6 t/ha) which is followed by pre-emergence spraying of metribuzine @ 1 kg a.i/ha with 1 hoeing at 45 days after ratoon initiation.

Effect of weed management practices on Sugarcane ratoon

<div>Sugarcane is one of the major cash crops, used for the production of sugar and ethanol. Sugarcane processing, results in many by by-products like bagasse, molasses and press mud which have economic value. Also, the by-products serve to generate many value added products. Sugarcane wax is a value added product obtained by the processing of press mud. It has pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial applications. n-Triacontanol, Policosanol, D-003 acids and waxes are some of the products derived from the sugarcane wax. This article attempt discusses the various methods of extraction of sugarcane wax, its constituents and its characteristics and applications of the products derived from the sugarcane wax.</div>

<div>Sugarcane Wax - A Par Excellent by-Product of Sugar Industry - A Review</div>

Background: Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a giant grass, belonging to the Poaceae family, and is considered as a crop of economic importance. It is the second largest agro based industry involving nearly 50.00 million farmers, their dependent and a large mass of agriculture labours. It is also known as noble cane, due to its high sucrose content and is mostly used for manufacturing of jaggery and crystalized sugars. Its consumption is very popular worldwide but there are few studies that focus on post-harvest storage of sugarcane stalks. The objectives of this study was to evaluate the quality of stored sugarcane stalks as well as fresh juice extracted from stored canes. 
 
Methods: During the investigation sugarcane variety Co238 were cleaned and grouped into bundles containing 5 stalks for each replicate (3) and then stored under both ambient (17-22&deg;C temperature and 45-52% RH) and refrigerated temperature (4&plusmn;1&deg;C temperature and 60-65% RH). The parameter studied were weight loss, juice yield, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and pH at every 15 days interval for 120 days.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Study showed that among both the storage, refrigerated condition for storage of sugarcane stalks was found better to retain the maximum juice yield (40.09%) with minimum weight loss (5.15%) and maintain the quality for longer period as compared to ambient storage condition.

Storage Stability of Sugarcane Stalks

To increase the area, production and productivity of sugarcane and legumes/oilseeds for increasing the profit of the farmers&rsquo;, field experiments were conducted at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Karnal during 2005-06 and 2006-07 followed by demonstrations on intercropping of legumes/oilseed with sugarcane at farmers&rsquo; field in Kaithal district during 2009-10 and 2010-11. Cane yield did not reduce significantly due to intercropping except raya during 2005 -06. The percent incidence of pink borer, shoot borer, top borer and root borer remained below economical threshold level (ETL). In all intercropping systems, total land equivalent ratio (LERt) was greater than unity, indicated yield advantage for the intercropped plots. Land equivalent coefficient (LEC) followed the same pattern as LERt. Total area time equivalent ratio (ATERt) values showed an advantage (22-28 %) with all intercropping systems than sole cropping with maximum advantage from sugarcane + chickpea. Sugarcane was more competitive than pea and lentil intercrops, whereas, raya and chickpea were more competitive than sugarcane. Higher competitive ratio values for the intercrops (CRi) indicated that all the intercrops were more competitive than sugarcane. Total values of actual yield loss (AYL) showed an advantage of 22-38% from intercropping compared to sole cropping. Highest monetary advantage index (MAI) value was obtained from sugarcane + pea intercropping system (75779). However, the minimum MAI was obtained from sugarcane + lentil intercropping system (62382). &nbsp;Demonstrations on intercropping at farmers&rsquo; field also resulted in higher gross returns, returns over variable cost and benefit: cost ratio.&nbsp;

Mechanized and profitable intercropping of legumes&nbsp;in autumn planted sugarcane

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: India is the second largest producer of sugarcane in the world. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Bihar are Indian states have maximum production of sugarcane. During 2019, approximately 307 lakh tonnes of sugarcane was produced in India, which is nearly 11.8 per cent of the global sugarcane production. Sugarcane crop has very long leaves. Stripping of sugarcane leaves is a major problem, which requires labor-intensive effort. Therefore, to resolve this problem, a tractor operated sugarcane stripper machine was designed using the computer aided design (CAD) software.&nbsp; 
Methods: In main frame of CAD design, a power transmission system, transportation system, feed hopper conveyer, sugarcane de-topper and a stripper system were designed. This machine will reduce human drudgery. Currently, this sugarcane stripper machine is getting very good acceptance nationwide. Further research has been undertaken at Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. This machine was designed. 
Result: Use of this machine will also help in reducing the cost and time of operation. In future, this machine will help in improving quality of stripping as well as ensuring effective utilization of the resources. The Design and development of sugarcane leaf stripper machine will play a significant role.</div>

Design and Development of Sugarcane Leaf Stripper

<div>Sugar industry is important to Fiji&rsquo;s economy as it contributes 1.1% of GDP. Sugarcane is cultivated as an intensive mono-cropping in Fiji, inorganic fertilizer and herbicides were commonly used. This survey was conducted to evaluate the present status of herbicide and inorganic fertilizer application to sugarcane and assessed the farmer&rsquo;s knowledge and perceptions. As well, this survey evaluated present socioeconomic status of sugarcane farmers. Results revealed that average Fiji sugarcane farm land size was 11.5 acers (4.6 hectares). Diuron (800-900g/kg Diuron), Amine (720g/L 2,4-D Dimethyl Amine Salt) and Glyphosate (Glyphosate isopropyl amine salts) were the most popular herbicide. The 30% of farmers used Glyphosate together with Amine and Diuron. Most farmer (&gt;80%) were aware about correct application dosage and 81% of farmers use protective equipment during application. Labasa sugarcane farmers used more herbicide and chemical fertilizer than other areas. Most sugarcane farmlands become infertile due long-term use for intensive mono-cropping. At present most farmers heavily depend on inorganic fertilizer. Almost all farmers who participated to this survey aware of environment and health effect of herbicide and chemical fertilizer. The 78% farmers pass 40 years&rsquo; age and most of them were not happy about sugarcane farming due its less profit in comparison to past. Therefore, currently, very few selected farmers are farming sugarcane as their livelihood profession.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Present Status of Herbicide and Inorganic Fertilizer use for Sugarcane Farming in Fiji Islands</div>

<div>Silicon (Si), the second most abundant element in earth crust (28.8%) after the oxygen (47%), is usually found as silicates or metasilicates. Most soils contain Si content in the range of 14 to 20 mg Si/l. In spite of its abundance in the biosphere, it is usually sparingly soluble and limited in availability; essentiality of Si as an essential nutrient for higher plants is difficult to prove. Sugarcane, a typical Si accumulating plant is known to absorb a large amount of silica from the soil. The benefits of Si for sugarcane were realized for the first time at Hawaii, where field amended with Si-rich compounds had significantly higher cane yield as compared to untreated control. This review is an attempt to discuss the role of silicon on nutrient uptake, alleviating biotic and abiotic stresses along with reported physio-biochemical attributes in sugarcane.</div>

Impact of In-situ Composting of Sugarcane Trashes on Soil Nutrients and Fertility

Effect of Composted Sugarcane Trash and Bagasse on the Growth and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Studies on Distribution of Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus in Commercially Grown Sugarcane Varieties in Andhra Pradesh

Effect of weed management practices on Sugarcane ratoon

Sugarcane Wax - A Par Excellent by-Product of Sugar Industry - A Review

Storage Stability of Sugarcane Stalks

Mechanized and profitable intercropping of legumes in autumn planted sugarcane

Design and Development of Sugarcane Leaf Stripper

Present Status of Herbicide and Inorganic Fertilizer use for Sugarcane Farming in Fiji Islands

Role of Silicon in Sugarcane: A Review