Effect of Deheading on Juice Quality Characteristics and Sugar Yield of Sweet Sorghum

Abstract

A field experiment involving 10 sweet sorghum cultivars was undertaken to study the effect of panicle removal at anthesis on juice quality characteristics and sugar yield in sweet sorghum; control plants were left intact. The plants were harvested at grain maturity, and juice extracted from the millable stalk was analysed for sucrose contact (Pol percentage), brix and purity. Deheading treatment resulted in significant increases in millable stalk and sugar yields over those of the intact control plants. As a result of panicle removal, stem dry matter accumulation increased and side tillers were generated. The amount of juice extracted increased in the treated plants, but sucrose (Pol percentage), brix and purity levels in the juice were reduced in comparison with the intact plants.