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Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a key industrial crop, and it is important to improve its physiological maturation to achieve optimal sugar production and processing. Conventional management methods do not ensure even ripening and this restricts the potential of maximum sugar extraction. This experiment evaluated the effect of low-dose herbicide-based ripeners: Glyphosate (T1), Trinexapac-ethyl (T2), Ethephon (T3), Maleic Hydrazide (T4) and Nicosulfuron (T5­), on sugar content and crop readiness of variety CPF-253 when used in the field under the College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan. The experiment was of randomized complete block design and had three replications. Growth parameters (plant height, leaf area, stem diameter) and quality traits of the juice (Brix, Pol, Purity, Recovery, pH, TDS and Specific Gravity) were measured and analyzed by ANOVA. Findings showed significant treatment differences. The tallest stalks (8.47 m) were observed with Etethephon (T3), vegetative growth was repressed with Glyphosate (T1; 6.40 m) and Maleic Hydrazide (T4; 6.83 m). Nicosulfuron (T5) recorded the highest Brix (22.34%), Pol (20.08%), and juice recovery (11.11%), followed by Ethephon (T3) and Maleic Hydrazide (T4), and the lowest value was recorded with the control. The highest purity of juice was obtained in Ethephon (T3; 93.29%), and the highest value of specific gravity was in Nicosulfuron (T5; 1.083), but pH did not vary greatly across treatments (5.50-5.63). These results indicate that optimal use of lower doses of herbicides can control vegetative growth, stimulate effective accumulation of sucrose and speed up physiological maturation. Nicosulfuron (T5) and Ethephon (T3) were the most promising of the tested ripeners, and they were effective to improve the quality of juices and recover sugars, which points to their possibilities to raise the harvesting efficiency and to promote sustainable region-wide sugarcane production. Keywords: Sugarcane, chemical ripeners, reduced herbicide doses, juice quality, cane yield, sucrose accumulation, agro smart measures, harmosis, food security

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