Optimization of sugarcane farming as a multipurpose crop for energy and food production

Abstract

Sugarcane is a multipurpose crop whose components may be used, in addition to sugar production, for various energy carriers or end-products (electricity, liquid biofuels and heat) which enhance its economic potential. For many years, plant breeders and agronomists have focused on increasing sucrose yields per hectare and millers on increasing recoverable sucrose per ton of sugarcane in sugar mills. Attempting to exploit the energy potential of sugarcane more fully, calls for a more holistic approach focusing on both sucrose and lignocellulosic components of sugarcane biomass, and gaining some insight into the management practices required to optimize sugarcane cropping systems in these respects. Such options include genotype selection, harvest date with respect to the crop's growing cycle, crop type (plant crop vs. ratoon crops) and harvesting systems (mechanical vs. manual). The effects of these factors are strongly modulated by climate and soil properties, and these interactions are overall poorly known. Here, we set out to examine sugarcane infield management 9 environmental interactions with respect to (i) sugarcane yield and partitioning of the aboveground biomass; and (ii) sugarcane milling products (recoverable sucrose yield and amounts of coproducts) and their derived energy carriers. Three Saccharum cv. cultivars (R570, R579 and R585) were planted in three locations on La Reunion Island with contrasting management practices and climatological conditions. Quality characteristics of the samples were assessed by conventional and near infrared spectroscopy methods. Product, coproducts and potential energy production were measured and computed using transfer equations and a mill-operating model. Yields and quality characteristics from cultivars and harvesting systems were affected differently by environmental factors -low temperature and radiation, and water stress. The current study also provides valuable information on how combinations between environments, genotypes and practices affect yield and partitioning of the aboveground biomass, and food and energy production.

Translating EU renewable energy policy for insular energy systems: Reunion Island's quest for energy autonomy

“…Despite this, the SRCAE (2013, 61-63) sites three possibilities for increasing biomass energy production: the development of more fibrous sugar cane (see also Sabatier et al 2015), increasing the amount of hectares cultivated and locating other fibre sources. Two potential biomass sources were identified in interviews: invasive tree and vegetation species within the national park and biomass from other countries.…”

Selective Interaction of Sugarcane eIF4E with VPgs from Sugarcane Mosaic Pathogens

“…Sugarcane ( Saccharum sp.) is the most important sugar and energy crop worldwide [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Sugarcane mosaic disease is widespread in sugarcane-growing countries [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ] and causes heavy yield losses [ 16 , 17 ].…”

Exploration of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi from Sugarcane Rhizosphere in Marginal Land

“…Sugarcane production is largely determined by the optimization of the production factors, particularly land quality and climates (Sabatier et al, 2015;Sulaiman et al, 2019). The climatic factors such as long dry season can cause widespread drought in the sugarcane land (Fahad et al, 2017).…”