Evaluating relative contribution of extraneous matter along with quantitative and qualitative loss in cane harvested by mechanical harvester compared to manual harvesting

Abstract

The cultivation of sugarcane is very labour intensive especially during planting and at harvesting time. Timely supply of harvested cane to the sugar mills significantly affects the sugar recovery of mills. Delayed harvests cause greater yield loss and quality as well. Now mechanical harvesters are introduced as promising machinery for the timely and efficient management of harvesting process. So, a study was conducted to quantify top cane, trash and contribution of extraneous matter in mechanical and manual harvested cane at different sugar mills viz., Saraswati Sugar Mills (Yamuna Nagar), Piccadily Agro Industries Ltd. Bhadson (Karnal) and Karnal Coop. Sugar Mills (Karnal) with total six locations during April, 2019. The results have shown that the extraneous matters (on mean basis) was found higher in mechanical harvested cane for trash (1.7%), green top (5.7%) along with cut portion (8.1%). In case of manual harvested, trash and green top was 1.0 and 2.9%, respectively without any cut portion (setts). The presence of higher extraneous matter consequently reduced juice quality in mechanical harvested as compared to manual harvest cane and mechanical harvested (cane portion). There was 0.33 unit decrease in the sugar recovery (5%) in mechanical harvested mixed cane produce including cane portion, green top and trash as compared to mechanical harvested cane portion only. Similarly, there was 0.71 unit decrease in the sugar recovery in the mechanical harvested mix produce as compared to manual harvested cane.