2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Sugar cane / Saccharum / is a genus of perennial herbaceous and multi-stemmed plants of the Cereal family, whose most prominent representatives are wheat, corn and rice. The main product of sugar cane is sucrose, which accumulates in the internodes.
Sugar cane is the largest harvest in the world. It is estimated that in 2010 23 million hectares of sugar cane were cultivated in more than 90 countries with a yield of 1.6 billion tons.
Brazil is the largest producer of sugar cane, followed by India, China, Thailand, Pakistan and Mexico.
Stems sugar cane with a height of 30-50 cm are planted in furrows. After about four months, they take root and form several stems. From one stalk can grow from 5 to 20 stems, reaching a height of 5 meters and a thickness of up to 6 cm.
Like any tropical plant, sugar cane requires a temperature of no more than 18 degrees and more frequent rains. Once the plant matures, the lower leaves dry out and fall off.
The lower part of the stem, which is covered with a thin layer of wax, becomes smooth and bare. This perennial gives an excellent harvest in the first five to eight years, but then the sugar content in it decreases and it must be replanted.
The vegetative cycle of sugar cane is one year. Only nine months after the plant is sown, the stem is already very well ripened and the sugar content is maximum. In the Caribbean, the harvest takes place between January and July. Once cut, sugar cane should not be stored for more than one day, because the tropical heat and the presence of microorganisms significantly reduce the sugar content.
History of sugar cane
Sugar cane is one of the oldest cultivated plants. Her home is considered New Guinea. From here it is transported to the Philippines, India, China and Persia. There is evidence that in 600 BC. in these places a method was found to purify its raw, concentrated juice from unwanted impurities. Even then, sugar began to be refined and pressed into conical forms. With the advent of Islam in the 7th century, sugar cane began to spread to the Middle East, Spain and North Africa.
In the 12th century, the Crusaders spread it throughout Northern and Central Europe. In 1493, Christopher Columbus transferred the plant to the Antilles. At that time, sugar was already one of the most sought after goods. Only a few years later, the first slaves were sold for the needs of the fast-growing plantations in the Caribbean. Very soon sugar changes the value of gold itself.
Sugar cane propagated by cutting the stems. Over the years, this led to a gradual weakening of the genotype, although new plantations appeared around the globe in the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, new varieties began to be cultivated, which are already in line with the natural conditions in the plantation areas. Nowadays, clones are being developed that are tailored to the specific conditions of each island. The new hybrids have much better yields, are richer in sucrose and more resistant to disease.
Composition of sugar cane
Sugar cane is extremely rich in sugars, rose and essential oil. Leafless leaves are used as a raw material for sugar production, in which the sucrose content varies in a very wide range - from 6 to 22%.
Application of sugar cane
In the past, sugar cane was mainly grown as a raw material for sugar production, but now it is no longer the main product for sugar production. Rum is one of the most famous products of sugar cane. The tender parts of the plant's stems are cut and ground to molasses, which is boiled and then left to ferment. After fermentation, the mixture is distilled. The resulting rum can be white, dark or gold.
Dark molasses, which is obtained from the processing of sugar cane is one of the most complete sweeteners. It can completely replace sugar. Molasses diluted with water is a nutritious and useful drink for digestion.
Sugar cane is a product from which biofuel is produced. The largest supplier of sugar cane biofuels is Brazil. In the country, every seventh car drives with ethanol.
Another interesting application of sugar cane is for paper production. It is probably the second most common source of non-traditional fibers.
Sugar cane is used to make furniture that is extremely light. This furniture is preferred by many people because it has a distinctive texture and color that are reminiscent of eternal spring in any garden or home.
Sugar cane It is used as animal feed, used in cosmetics, perfumery, aromatherapy and is part of homeopathic products.
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