Guda:

Flowering thick-stemmed sugar cane Photograph by: Ton Rul

Cultivation:

Most commercial sugarcane is grown at latitudes between 35°N and S in the tropics, usually at elevations from sea level to 1,600 metres

The plant grows best in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,500 - 2,000mm, tolerating 1,000 - 5,000mm

It prefers a mean annual temperature within the range 24 - 37°c, though can tolerate 15 - 41°c

There are large differences between different cultivars in their tolerance to cold and susceptibility to frost

Generally, long-term exposure to temperatures below 10°c can be lethal, whilst even short periods at 0°c causes the leaves to become chlorotic, at about -3°c young plants turn brown and the terminal buds and leaves of mature cane die, when the temperature reaches -11.5°c the whole plant dies

Grows best in a sunny position. A very greedy plant, soon exhausting the soil of nutrients

The plant is considered to be moderately tolerant to saline soil conditions and relatively tolerant of acid soils

Grows best in a position sheltered from strong winds

Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 8, but can tolerate 4.5 - 9

Well-grown plants can become invasive

When irrigated, yields of 100 - 150 tons of cane can be obtained from mature plants

Young plants can yield 60 - 90 tons

There are many named varieties

The roots develop from the growth ring on the original planting piece and also from the new shoots that develop. The majority of the roots are thin and superficial with four fifths of the roots commonly found in the top 25 - 50cm of the soil. Thicker roots will penetrate to depths of 4 metres or more

Propogation:

Seed -

Cuttings, consisting of 2 - 3 joints of the upper part of a stem that has been selected from a vigorous, healthy plant. They are placed in the ground with only 2 - 5cm of the cutting projecting above the surface. In about two weeks from planting the eyes at each node will send forth shoots, and roots will grow from the nodes themselves. As the shoots develop, the parent stem decays and the young plants produce roots of their own

Harvesting:

Harvesting commences, according to the cv and climate, 12–20 months from time of planting, the canes becoming tough and turning pale yellow when ready for cutting. They are cut as close to the ground as possible, for the root end of the cane is the part richest in sugar. The rhizomes will continue to crop for at least 3–4 years, sometimes up to 8 or more years (MacMillan, 1925).

Kotakkal Ayurveda - Mother land of modern ayurveda

Guda - Saccharum officinarum - Poaceae

Guda:

Cultivation:

Propogation:

Harvesting:

Medicinal Plants