EFFECT OF DIFFERENT CHEMICAL RIPENERS ON SUGARCANE (SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM L.) QUALITY, SUGAR YIELD AND RATOONING ABILITIES

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of various chemical ripeners (Ethephon, Glyphosate, Sulfometuron-methyl) on sugarcane cultivars (HSF-242, NSG-311, HSF-240, NSG-555). Each chemical ripener (200 ppm) was applied as a foliar spray 15, 30 and 45 days before cane harvesting for planted crops and ratoons were collected. Chemical ripeners significantly enhanced the quality and sugar yielding traits including harvest index, juice extraction and purity, sugar recovery % cane and total sugar yield for planted crop especially when treatment was applied 45 days before cane harvesting. Changes in antioxidant activities indicated the influence of various chemical ripeners on the planted crop. Chemical ripeners were imperative to create short-term changes for early cane maturity and sugar yielding abilities. Performance of ratooning crop was normal concerning growth, yield and antioxidant activities according to its existing genetic makeup showing non-significant effect of chemical ripeners. It was concluded that chemical ripeners can be suitable to boost up sugar yielding characteristics by inducing early cane maturity for a short duration before cane harvesting and it will have no effect on lateral life cycle span and its ratooning abilities.