Sweet advice
A change in agronomic practices is what researchers at the Regional Research Station, Vriddhachalam and the Sugarcane Research Station, Cuddalore, both at Tamil Nadu, recommend to improve the quality of sugar-cane juice and the resultant end-product of sugar. The juice is judged by the amount of sucrose present, and should also contain less amounts of reducing sugars, and starches among others as a measure of its purity. Some of the advised practices include planting of high- sugared varieties and harvesting them within a year. Avoiding intense application of nitrogen and extending the irrigation interval help to stabilise the sucrose percentage.