Assessment of the Effect of Transit Time between Harvesting and Processing on the Physicochemical Quality Parameters of Preharvest Burnt Sugarcane

Aim: This study was aimed at assessing the effect of time interval between harvesting and processing on the physical and chemical quality parameters of pre-harvest burnt sugarcane

Study Design: An experimental research design was carried out that involve random selection of samples and sent to laboratory for analysis

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out on July from 26th to 30th 2023 in Kilombero Valley located in the eastern part of Tanzania, between latitude 7 0 42'42'S and longitude 37 0 00'00'E.

Methodology: The NCO 376 variety of sugarcane was used, that were cut below ground level, the tops removed, stalks tightened in bundles. The sample size was 15. each sample constituted of 30 burnt sugarcane stalks samples that were randomly collected and sent to laboratory for analysis after 24 ,72 and 120 hours of storage. On every respective storage time, the samples were scratched with knife to remove external contaminants, the stalks were then milled using two roller machines to extract juice. The juice was filled and sealed in sterilized and labelled bottles ready for laboratory analysis. The laboratory analysis data collected were coded and entered in excel sheet and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25.

Results: The result shows the means values for pH, brix , pol, purity and weight decreased with increase in storage time whereas the means values for dextran, yeast and Leuconostoc increased with increase storage time The results revealed that purity values were satisfactory in all storage time levels as compared to SASTA standard purity values (97.0 – 98.0% ), whereas mean values for brix and pol stored for 120 hours of storage time was not satisfactory.as compared to SASTA standard values for brix ( 18 – 23%) and pol (14 – 21%) .Dextran concentration was high as compared to South African Sugar Terminals (SAST) that maximum requirement for dextran is 150 mg/kg, dextran level as the measure of microbial deterioration was high in 72 and 120 storage hours indicating microbial contamination.

Conclusion: Farmers and processors should be well informed about the consequence of delayed processing burned sugarcane to avoid economic loss for farmers and processors.