What are the latest causes of sugarcane cracking?
Sugarcane is one of our favorite fruits. When buying it, we often end up with cracked sugarcane, which loses water rather seriously and does not taste good. This phenomenon is also quite a headache for growers, so what causes sugarcane to crack? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction below.
1. Insufficient water
From the germination stage to the harvest stage, sugarcane has a very high demand for water and is also quite sensitive to it. According to research by relevant departments, for every 1 ton of sugarcane produced, about 130 tons of water are consumed. Its water requirement pattern is low at both ends and high in the middle, meaning that water demand is lower during the seedling stage and maturity stage, while the elongation stage has the highest water demand. Generally, the water requirement during the seedling stage and maturity stage is about 40%, while during the elongation stage it is about 60%. Once there is a water shortage during the elongation stage, it will cause sugarcane to crack.
2. Variety reasons
Sugarcane varieties differ, and different varieties differ in how easily they crack. Generally speaking, varieties with harder rind and stronger cork layer tissue are less prone to cracking; on the contrary, varieties with thinner rind and weaker cork layer tissue are extremely prone to cracking. Therefore, when planting, choose varieties with thick, hard rind that are not prone to cracking.
3. Calcium deficiency
During the dry growth process, sugarcane needs a variety of elements. In addition to the conventional nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, there are also many trace elements, and among them calcium is related to the tissue structure of the rind. When sugarcane is deficient in calcium, the cells of its rind tissue grow more slowly and cannot keep up with the expanding internal tissue, so cracking occurs. Therefore, when fertilizing, increase the application of organic fertilizer to provide the plant with multiple elements. In the middle and late growth stages, calcium can be maintained through foliar spraying so that it grows normally.
4. Low temperature and frost
The maturity stage of sugarcane coincides with the low-temperature season. If there is frosty weather, the water in the sugarcane will freeze and directly split the rind open, causing cracking. This is also the main cause of cracking in normal sugarcane. For this situation, do a good job of cold protection and frost resistance during maturity. Measures such as binding, smoking and watering can be used to improve the cold and frost resistance of sugarcane and reduce cracking.
The above is an introduction to the causes of sugarcane cracking. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.