FURTHER STUDIES ON THE DETERIORATION OF CANE AND CANE JUICE

The deterioration of chopper-harvested cane has been extensively investigated in recent years (Egan, 1971; Foster, 1969a, b; Foster and Wright, 1969; Henderson and Kirby, 1972; Ivin and Bevan, 1973). This work has established that severe economic losses can be attributed to deterioration. However, many members of the sugar industry still do not appreciate this fact. The result can be seen in lower values of c.c.s. and in deleterious effects on processing and raw sugar quality. As part of a continuing study on the deterioration of cane and cane juice undertaken by the Institute, further aspects of the problem were investigated at Babinda and Tully mills during the latter part of the 1973 season (October to December).