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Sugarcane and Maize are foodstuffs for ethanol. US and Brazil are topmost producers of ethanol, and they are also world's largest producers of maize and sugarcane respectively. Brazil diverts 61% of its sugarcane crop into ethanol while US diverts 40% of maize crop for ethanol.
Sugarcane is more productive than maize at every latitude at which the former is grown (+/- 30° latitude from equator). It produces 3x more energy/ha on average than maize. Latitude does not make an impact on energy yields of sugarcane, but maize captures more energy if grown away from the equator. The highest impact for maize is seen +/- 35-50° latitude, eg. in US Midwest. "US maize's productivity is high enough that it approximately matches the energy yields of sugarcane," states the article.
1. 1st gen biofuels technology relies on the well-established conversion of starch-derived sugars in maize and sucrose in sugarcane into biofuels.
2. High productivity sugarcane production exists in belts located at 15°–30° latitude on either side of the equator.
3. Maize has its highest productivity in two belts at 35°–50° on either side of the equator.
4. Wide divergence of sugarcane productivity around 30° north is a reflection of very high yields achieved in the southern US, and low yields in locations such as northern India.
5. At the equator, the annual energy available for plant growth is highest, but the lack of a winter season means that fungal, bacterial and viral diseases and plant pests are not arrested by winter freezes.
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/7/4/0459063. Maize has its highest productivity in two belts at 35°–50° on either side of the equator.
4. Wide divergence of sugarcane productivity around 30° north is a reflection of very high yields achieved in the southern US, and low yields in locations such as northern India.
5. At the equator, the annual energy available for plant growth is highest, but the lack of a winter season means that fungal, bacterial and viral diseases and plant pests are not arrested by winter freezes.
Move on from Co 0238 to early-maturing sugarcane variety CoS 08272?
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The famed Co-0238 high-yielding sugarcane variety that has placed India on the verge of becoming the world's largest sugar producer has run into trouble due to a 'Red Rot' infestation, forcing a hunt for a new strain to check a possible slump in output. "Cane growers in Uttar Pradesh are slowly shifting to other varieties such as Co-0118 as the recovery rate of Co-0238 has gone down due to the infestation. We think this variety may be phased out in the next four-five years," said NFCSF Managing Director Prakash Naiknavare.Bakshi Ram said the fungus infestation occurred mainly in the water-logged areas in central Uttar Pradesh, where the Co-0238 variety was not recommended. The infestation occurred due to plantation of the Co-0238 variety with other susceptible cane varieties in the water-logged areas. Replantation of with new Co-0238 seeds can provide relief to farmers and this advisory has been sent to all sugar mills in the state", he added.
Fungus infestation of high-yielding sugarcane variety leads to hunt for new strain
In an International Sugar Expo, Dr. Ram Singh suggested that farmers should abandon Co-0238 and choose the CoS 08272 variety. “CoS 08272 is an early-maturing, high sugar, high plant-and-ratoon yielding wonder variety which also has moderate resistance against multiple diseases and pests. It is a farmer friendly and industry loving variety. Nowadays, Co-0238 is badly affected by multiple diseases such as red rot incidence and pests. So, we have to think about true replacement of Co-0238 which is CoS 08272".
"The reasons for the historically lower productivity in Uttar Pradesh were lack of proper varieties (high sugar and high yielding), un-balanced and delayed application of fertilizer, inadequate irrigation resources and uncared ratoon crop which has around 50% of the total cane area. Recovery can be improved further by maintaining first, second and third ratoon with CoS 08272 in about 50 per cent area with better crop husbandry, wider spacing, reducing cut to crush losses (ie mechanisation) and adopting maturity wise harvesting schedule.”
Elite sugarcane variety CoS 08272 as alternative to Co-0238?
"Sugarcane Co-11015 is potentially a blockbuster variety that can increase yields to 142 tonne/ha for Southern states, from about 100 tonne/ha via Co-86032. A large quantity of seeds will be released in January-February 2020. Co-11015 will also raise the recovery rate of sucrose by 3-4% to 13%, and potentially harvest in 12 months. About 18% of sugar is produced by 4 states, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Irrigation water use needs to be curbed as it is very high in South and Maha (x3 more) compared to UP & Bihar. This can help save water.”
Blockbuster sugarcane variety Co-110152 for South India
Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh is making new records in sugar recovery and has become famous by adopting technical farming. Technical farming can increase sugarcane production and incomes by upto 3 times in same field. The agricultural practices of technical farming were difficult to apply but the cane development department has provided proper knowledge about the whole process which made farmers to do it with ease. Worth reading about the changes.
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