Abstract:
Sugarcane chemical ripening is aimed at accelerating the sucrose accumulation in the stalks of
sugarcane for harvesting when climatic conditions of crop year are hardly optimal for natural
ripening at Omo Kuraz sugar project. Ripening in sugarcane is a problem due to high
temperature and frequent rains resulting in continuous growth of crop influencing the effect of
cropping off period. The study was conducted with the major objective of inducing ripening in
sugarcane by application of Glyphosate at eight month age of the crop and six weeks before
harvesting at Omo Kuraz sugar project during 2018 – 2019 cropping season. The study
consisted of three sugarcane varieties, B52298, NCo334 and C86/12 and five rates of
Glyphosate ripener treatment. viz., 240 g ai. ha-1, 300 g ai. ha-1, 360 g ai. ha-1,420 g ai. ha-1and
control. Field experiment was laid out in split plot design with varieties as main plot and ripener
treatments as sub plot. The varieties were differed significantly for cane yield, quality
parameters and sugar yield. Brix (%) trend of three sugarcane varieties were showed
conspicuous difference among varieties in the juice quality improvement. All the ripener
treatments significantly improved quality characteristics such as Juice Brix, pol, purity and
recoverable sugar percent cane. Ripener treatment at the rate of 360 g ai. ha-1 was found
appropriate for varieties, B52298 and C86/12, whereas420 g ai. ha-1 was optimum for variety,
NCo334. Marginal rate of return was maximum at ripener rate of 360 g ai. ha-1 that was 26.59.It
was concluded that Glyphosate at 360g ai. ha-1 used for varieties B52298 and C86/12, and
Glyphosate at 420 g ai. ha-1 for variety NCO334 may be used to induce ripening in sugarcane-and obtaining maximum sugar yield and income at Omo Kuraz sugar project.
