Organic Sugarcane Research Articles

Influence of biochar amendment on removal of heavy metal from soils using phytoremediation by Catharanthus roseus L. and Chrysopogon zizanioides L.

Advances in sustainable toxic heavy metal treatment technologies are crucial to meet our needs for safer land to develop an urban resilient future. The heavy metals bioaccumulate in the food chain due to their persistence in the soil, which poses a serious challenge to its removal and control. Utilisation of hyperaccumulators to reduce the mobility, accumulation and toxic impact of heavy metals is a promising and ecologically safe technique. Amendments such as biochar and chelates have been shown to enhance the phytoremediation efficiency. However, the potential soil improvement is influenced by the properties of the amendment, plant and metal heterogeneities. In this study, an organic sugarcane bagasse biochar amendment for the 60-day pot experiment using Catharanthus roseus L. (NT) and Chrysopogon zizanioides L. (VT) in a heavy metal-contaminated soil was applied. The influence of biochar on the phytoremediation of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) from the soil was explored. The plant survival rate enhanced to 100% with biochar amendment, and the biomass increased from 5.83 to 15g in Zn-contaminated samples. Nutrients such as potassium concentration are directly correlated to the amendment rates, whereas phosphate decreases beyond the 2% biochar amendment rate in both plants. High heavy metal accumulation capacities with improved growth with biochar indicate the sustainability of the process. The translocation factor (TF) > 1 for Zn in NT represents the phytoextraction efficiencies whereas VT indicates high BCF values in the range of 0.5-3.53 for the amended Zn-contaminated soils. The findings indicate that the amendment rate of 2% improves nutrient cycling, plant biomass and heavy metal removal efficiencies. The insights from this study establish that the synergy between biochar amendment and the selected medicinal plants improved the phytoremediation efficiency.

Application of essential oils as natural antimicrobials in lactic acid bacteria contaminating fermentation for the production of organic cachaça

Sugarcane-based fermentation is an essential process for different sectors of economic importance, such as the food industry with fermented and distilled beverages. However, this process can suffer from high contamination by wild yeasts and bacteria, especially lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This makes it necessary to use decontamination strategies and search for new methods that have a low environmental impact and contribute to the production of organic products. Among the options, oregano and thyme essential oils stand out for their antibacterial compounds. The aim of this study was to use oregano and thyme essential oils as natural antimicrobials in the alcoholic fermentation of sugar cane juice. Initially, the minimum inhibitory concentration of the essential oils in the fermentation was assessed through turbidity in the sensitivity test, which allowed us to determine which concentrations of essential oils would inhibit the contaminants, 3 morphologically selected LAB strains, as well as assessing the viability of CA-11. For LAB, 3 concentrations of each essential oil were tested, ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 μl/mL, while for CA-11 it was 0.06, to 0.1 μl/mL. The results indicated a maximum total value of essential oils per ml of 0.06 μl. Based on this result, a 24-1 fractional factorial was established, with 8 conditions +3 central points, with 4 variables, oregano essential oil (0, 0.03 and 0.06 μl/ml), thyme (0, 0.03 and 0.06 μl/ml), initial soluble solids (14, 16 and 18°Brix) and initial yeast concentration (2.5, 3 and 3.5 g/l), with the temperature set at 32 °C for a period of 12 h. The results showed that the center point condition with 0.03 μl/ml of oregano EO, 0.03 μl/ml of thyme controlled the proliferation of contaminating bacteria compared to the control condition. In the experimental validation, the treatment with essential oils had a lower final population of LAB (5.95 log) than the final population of the control treatment (6.53 log), and it was also observed that the treatment with EOs had an alcohol production around 3 % higher than the treatment without antimicrobials. The experimental validation phase confirmed the synergistic action of oregano and thyme essential oils in controlling the proliferation of contaminating bacteria. In conclusion, it was possible to determine the synergistic antimicrobial action of essential oils against LAB during alcoholic fermentation based on organic sugar cane.

A New Ready-to-Eat Product Based on Enzymatically Peeled 'Hernandina' Clementine Segments and Citrus Syrup.

Ready-to-eat fresh fruit have an increasing presence in international markets due to their convenience and health benefits. However, these products are highly perishable and efficient technologies to increase their shelf life are needed. In the present research, different citrus fruit species and cultivars from organic farming were assessed to obtain enzymatically peeled citrus segments. The best results in terms of segment quality were observed for 'Hernandina' clementine, which was chosen to make a new ready-to-eat product based on peeled citrus segments that were packaged in glass jars with a light syrup made of citrus juice and organic sugar cane. Different citrus juice mixtures were assayed and the most appreciated syrup, based on the sensory scores given by panellists, was that containing 50-50 (v/v) of 'Fino' lemon and 'Hernandina' clementine juices. In addition, different pasteurization treatments were assessed for their effects on conserving the safety, nutritional quality and sensory properties of the product during cold storage. The results show that pasteurization treatment at 50 °C for 45 min was sufficient to prevent microbial contamination with mesophilic and psychrophilic aerobic bacteria or yeast and mould and to maintain sensory properties until five weeks of storage at 4 °C. In addition, only a 10% reduction in vitamin C concentrations was observed in fresh-segments or syrup until the end of the storage period, showing that a high bioactive compound content and health benefits were conserved in the new ready-to-eat product after pasteurization and prolonged cold storage.

Eco-friendly approach toward preparation of plantable paper like material from organic sugarcane Bagasse waste

Present research work focused on sugarcane bagasse powder having potential cellulose source which can be used in pulp and paper industries. Ecological concerns have increased the need for nonwood pulp as a low cost raw material for paper making. This also led to the development of alternative pulping technologies that are eco-friendly. Cellulose pulp from the generated agro based waste is collected from the street vendors and chemically prepared in the laboratory and used in paper making. The optimal cooking time and dose of pulp by moist weight found were 180 minutes & 150 g of pulp per frame, respectively. To improve the quality and the shelf life of paper we incorporated sucrose in the sugarcane pulp. Sucrose acts as a natural preservative. To study the effect of sucrose as preservative we prepared a solution of sucrose and distilled water in 1:4 ratio. The solution is then mixed with sugarcane bagasse in 5:250, 10:250, 15:250 and 20:250 and observed the OD of the mixture on 20th and 27th day. By using this pulp we developed a paper with incorporated artificial seeds within it, so that after use of this paper rather than discarding the paper simply sowing it in garden soil a plant will grow from it and generate a means of eco initiatives. This plant able paper is developed by handmade process without using any harmful chemicals and can be made using everyday use material. Anyone can use this method and make the paper. The paper obtained from this process is found to be of good quality and durable and can be used for preparation of commercial Kraft’s of different purposes like greetings card, packaging etc., and can generate new way of a revenue.

Design of a New Fermented Beverage from Medicinal Plants and Organic Sugarcane Molasses via Lactic Fermentation

Functional beverages obtained using medicinal plants and fermented with lactic acid bacteria are gaining much interest from the scientific community, driven by the growing demand for food and beverages with beneficial properties. In this work, three different batches of medicinal plants and organic sugarcane molasses, named FB-lc, FB-sp and FB-lcsp, were prepared and fermented by using Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 43121, Bifidobacterium breve B632 and a mix of both strains’ culture, respectively. The three fermented beverages revealed a high level of polyphenols (expressed as gallic acid equivalent), ranging from 182.50 to 315.62 µg/mL. The highest content of flavonoids (152.13 µg quercetin equivalent/mL) and tannins (93.602 µg catechin equivalent/mL) was detected in FB-lcsp trial. The IR spectroscopy analysis showed a decrease in sugar (pyranose forms, D-glucopyranose and rhamnosides). In addition, the aromatic compounds of the fermented beverages, detected by GC-MS headspace analysis, showed twenty-four interesting volatile compounds, which could give positive aroma attributes to the flavor of the beverages. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in the beverage obtained by the mix culture strains. Accordingly, the production of these beverages can be further investigated for considering their well-being effects on human health.

Abundance, biomass and community composition of soil saprophagous macrofauna in conventional and organic sugarcane fields

Tropical island saprophagous invertebrates have received little attention despite their important role in sustaining soil fertility. Soil biodiversity in the agroecosystems of the Lesser Antilles is subject to various anthropic and environmental perturbations; therefore, it is crucial to promote agricultural practices that help preserve it. Here, we investigate the effect of conversion to organic farming in sugarcane production on soil saprophagous invertebrates in a Martinique plantation (Lesser Antilles). The abundance, biomass and diversity of communities were measured in three fields undergoing organic conversion and in two control fields under conventional production. Invertebrates were sampled both by pitfall trapping and Tullgren extraction. The results indicated that abundance was significantly higher in fields undergoing conversion (342 ± 78 ind.m−2) compared to fields under conventional farming (146 ± 34 ind.m−2). The response of the whole community's biomass to organic conversion was not significant, reflecting a contrasting response of each invertebrate taxa: isopod biomass was the most impacted, earthworm biomass was moderately impacted and diplopod biomass was not significantly affected. A total of 25 morphospecies for all taxa were distinguished in this study. However, the diversity did not differ and community composition remained similar under both farming practices. The response of invertebrate abundance and biomass could be either due to the direct toxicity of herbicides intensively used in conventional sugarcane cultivation or to the indirect effects of herbicides modifying micro-habitat parameters (weed biomass, amount of mulch and litter humidity). In conclusion, the study shows that organic farming has a beneficial effect on soil saprophagous invertebrates even after a short period of conversion (between one and two years), which is promising for restoring soil biological processes in the context of agroecological transition.

The True Cost of Sugar: Economic trade-offs in conventional, organic and Fairtrade sugarcane and sugar beet production.

Sugar is an important economic commodity that is produced and consumed around the world. The impacts of different production methods differ on social, economic and environmental aspects. This research focuses on the economic trade- offs in conventional, organic and Fairtrade sugarcane production in India and sugar beet production in the Netherlands. Previous research provides insights into single production methods, but a complete comparison between different production methods is currently lacking. Data was collected using both literature research and interviews in the Netherlands and India. After developing a Multi-Criteria Analysis, it is concluded that organic sugarcane and Fairtrade sugarcane rank slightly higher than conventional sugarcane on the economic criteria. However, conventional sugar beet and organic sugar beet rank higher on all economic aspects, with conventional sugar beet ranking the highest. The main differences between the production methods can be seen in the innovation, and to a lesser extent the in the production.

SUGARCANE PRODUCTIVITY ESTIMATION THROUGH PROCESSING HYPERSPECTRAL SIGNATURES USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS

Abstract. This project uses an artificial neural network to calculate the net primary productivity of an organic sugarcane crop in Hatico’s farm, in Cerrito, Valle del Cauca. The pilot scheme used in this project is composed by 6 treatments of nitrogen fertilization based on green manures (poultry manure and cowpea). During the last two crops’ phenological phases, the artificial neural network was provided with hyperspectral data collected in the field. In addition, an exploratory data study was implemented in order to identify anomalous signs related to the light saturation and the curvature geometry. The first network applied was Autoencoder, in order to reduce the dimensionality of the radiometric resolution of the data. The second network applied was Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), to calculate the productivity values of the patches. After having compared the actual productivity values provided by Cenicaña, this project obtained an accuracy of 91.23% in the productivity predictions.

Sugarcane Straw Recovery for Bioenergy Generation: A Case of an Organic Farm in Colombia.

In Latin America, the energy potential from sugarcane straw, such as tops, secondary stalk, and leaves, has been debated, but the literature associated with organic crops and its implementation for energy purposes is limited. Sugarcane straw is either left in the field for soil recovery or used for animal feed. This paper presents an analysis of using organic sugarcane straw for energy generation. We have characterized the physicochemical properties of this organic sugarcane straw, including caloric value, moisture, carbon, and ash content, and have explored the environmental benefits of using biomass to replace coal as an energy source. The study showed that it is possible to achieve the replacement of coal using 16% of the residual biomass, with the benefit of generating lower CO2 emissions compared to coal combustion. Additionally, emissions derived from transporting the biomass from the field to the farm are 68% lower than those involved in transporting coal. The residual biomass from the organic crop showed similar properties relative to bagasse. The use of organic sugarcane straw biomass will result in the reduction of energy costs and will generate green energy with lower emission of CO2.

Evolution of the content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and color in organic sugarcane spirit aged in barrels of different woods

During the aging of sugarcane spirit several chemical reactions occur. Therefore the aim of this work was to study the evolution of phenolic content, antioxidant activity and changes in color in organic sugarcane spirit aged in different woods for twelve months. The sugarcane spirit aged in barrels of jatobá showed higher levels of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity (277.3 mg EAG.100 g-1 and -7.749 mg.L-1), followed by sassafras (83.8 mg EAG.100 g-1 and -0.299 mg.L-1) and ipê (67.6 mg EAG.100 g-1 and 4.180 mg.L-1). The colorimetric variables (brightness, chroma and metric hue angle) were significantly influenced by the species of the woods.

ORGANIC SUGARCANE CULTIVATION IN TAHITI

Organic sugarcane has a strong economic potential in Tahiti. However, there is nomodel for small-scale organic cultivation, and the rules enforced by the applicablestandards don’t always respect the agroecological principles. To determine whethera small organic sugarcane farming system is profitable or not, especially in termsof productivity, control of bioagressors (weeds, rats and pests) and human resourcecosts, a 1ha field of sugarcane was planted in 2015, with nine different varieties, ina machineable context under European organic standards. After two years, thecultivars used showed yields from 40 up to 100 tons/ha of cane. Regarding thecontrol of bioagressors results were the following: 1) manual removing of weedsrequired 4 to 6 months after planting or after the first ratoon; 2) study of rat attacksduring the maturation period showed that in a dirty field, for early varieties (18°Brix at ten months of cultivation), the cane stalks can be entirely damaged, andthese attacks can even occur on canes with sugar content lower than 10%. Finally,the hand labor hoeing represented around 75% of the production costs. This resultdemonstrates that such organic cultivation is possible even when facing pest andweed problems. In further investigations, to improve hand labor efficiency, we willfirst focus on weed control using small mechanized treatments; secondly, we willaim at reducing rat infestations by the use of some unique early maturated varietiesto attract and treat them locally.

Two-stage constructed wetland systems for polluted surface water treatment

Two pilot scale wetland systems were studied for the removal of organics, nitrogen, phosphorus and coliform from polluted surface water. Each system consisted of two units: a vertical flow (VF) wetland packed with construction materials gravel, brick or organic sugarcane bagasse, followed by a surface flow (SF) or floating treatment (FT) wetland. All wetland units were planted with Phragmites. The wetland systems were operated under constant and shock hydraulic load (HL) periods. Input COD, N, P loadings ranged between 61 and 2181, 7–1040, 2–194 g/m2d, respectively across first stages of each system. Mean removal percentages ranged between 39 and 97, 11–83, 20–100% and 4–85, 16–86, 1.4–100% across first and second stage wetlands, respectively. Mass balance analyses revealed ≤7% N and ≤14% P accumulation in plants; as such, microbial and adsorption kinetics controlled removal dynamics. Nitrification was the limiting nitrogen removal factor in first stage wetlands; organic carbon was supplied by the employed media. Aerobic organics removal and nitrification were diminished during initial stage of shock load periods. In contrast, second stage SF and FT wetlands showed stable removal performances under similar conditions. Resuspension of settled particles decreased removal performance in second stage wetlands, as shock periods progressed toward final stage. Coliform mortality was increased in second stage wetlands. Physico-chemical properties of brick materials in construction material based VF wetland and hanging root volume inside the water column of FT wetland supplemented removal performance. In general, this study provides evidence on potential application of constructed wetlands for polluted surface water treatment.

Isolation and prospection of diazotrophic rhizobacteria associated with sugarcane under organic management.

Microorganisms associated with organic management are essential in nutrient transformation and release for plant use. The present study aimed to isolate, identify and characterize plant growth promoting diazotrophic rhizobacteria associated with sugarcane under organic management. Rhizospheres of organic sugarcane varieties IAC 911099 and CTC4 were sampled and inoculated onto nitrogen free NFb and Burk media. The isolated microorganisms were screened in vitro concerning their ability to produce plant growth promoting factors. Eighty-one bacteria were isolated; 45.6% were positive for the nifH gene and produced at least one of the evaluated plant growth promotion factors. The production of indole-3-acetic acid was observed in 46% of the isolates, while phosphate solubilization was observed in 86.5%. No isolates were hydrogen cyanide producers, while 81% were ammonia producers, 19% produced cellulases and 2.7%, chitinases. Microorganisms belonging to the Burkholderia genus were able to inhibit Fusarium moniliforme growth in vitro. Plant growth promoting microorganisms associated with organic sugarcane, especially belonging to Burkholderia, Sphingobium, Rhizobium and Enterobacter genera, can be environmentally friendly alternatives to improve sugarcane production.

Organic cultivation of sugarcane restores soil organic carbon and nitrogen

Sugarcane cultivation in the Cerrado biome causes changes in soil attributes and affects the sustainability of agricultural production. The organic system may constitute an alternative to the conventional system. We have hypothesized that (i) the replacement of native Cerradao vegetation to sugarcane cultivation in a conventional system modifies the physical and chemical attributes of the soil and that (ii) organic cultivation may contribute to restoring physical and chemical properties that have been degraded by conventional cultivation. The study consisted of the following areas: (a) Cerradao, (b) pasture, (c) sugarcane in an organic system (organic sugarcane), (d) sugarcane in a conventional system with straw burning before harvest (burned sugarcane), and (e) sugarcane in a conventional system without burning the straw before harvest (raw sugarcane). The soil carbon and nitrogen contents and total soil density and porosity were evaluated. Six soil layers were sampled: 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–30 cm, 30–40 cm, 40–50 cm, and 50–60 cm depth. The results have showed that the sugarcane cultivation altered all the evaluated attributes when compared to Cerradao soil. The most significant changes, with a reduction in carbon and nitrogen contents, total porosity and soil bulk density, occurred in conventional cropping systems. In the organic system, there were few changes in the evaluated attributes when compared to the Cerradao ecosystem. In this paper, we show that a reduction in the total nitrogen in the 0–10 cm layer was the only observed decline. Organic sugarcane proved to be a viable alternative for production in the Cerrado biome as it restores soil attributes similar to those of the Cerradao ecosystem.

Isolation and Screening for Multi-trait Plant Growth Promoting Actinobacteria From Organic Sugarcane Rhizosphere

Isolation and Screening for Multi-trait Plant Growth Promoting Actinobacteria From Organic Sugarcane Rhizosphere

Soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in sugarcane systems by Bayesian conditional autoregressive model – an unbiased prediction strategy

ABSTRACTSpatially dependent data are predominant in soil science and prone to biased inferences from standard statistical analysis. Thus, the aims of this study were: to model the spatial dependency among soil sampling points using a Bayesian conditional autoregressive (CAR) prior; and to determine the effects of different sugarcane management systems on soil C and N stocks. Four sugarcane sites were evaluated: conventional burned (BSC); unburned (USC); and organic sugarcane for 4 years (O04) and 12 years (O12). A native vegetation forest (NVF) site was used as a reference. The CAR model prediction agreed with the observed results of both soil C and N stocks. The highest predicted soil C and N stocks at 0-30 cm depth were observed for O12 (57.3 and 4.8 Mg ha-1), and the lowest were for BSC (37.6 and 3.0 Mg ha-1). The Bayesian CAR model captured the spatial dependence among soil sampling points and allowed to compare soil C and N stocks of different sugarcane managements. Thus, Bayesian spatial modeling is a novel approach to evaluate soil management practices when performing ad hoc monitoring of soil carbon within contiguous areal units.

Diversity and Abundance of Edaphic Arthropods Associated with Conventional and Organic Sugarcane Crops in Brazil

Abstract Although studies have shown enhancement of insects, birds, and plants in organically managed agroecosystems, information on arthropod diversity and abundance in conventional and organic sugarcane farms is scarce. This research was conducted to analyze and compare the diversity and abundance of edaphic arthropods in organic and conventional sugarcane by using pitfall traps. The study was conducted during 2 growing seasons in Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil. In total, 13,244 individuals belonging to 190 morphospecies were collected. In the conventional system, 4,964 specimens were collected, representing 122 morphospecies distributed in 15 orders and 50 families. In the organic system, 8,280 individuals were captured, representing 142 morphospecies in 13 orders and 45 families. Ants of the genera Pheidole Westwood, Dorymyrmex Mayr, Camponotus Mayr, and Crematogaster Lund (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were predominant. Higher abundance and richness of arthropods (especially predators and omnivores) were ...

Brazilian organic sugarcane spirits: Physicochemical and chromatographic profile

ABSTRACT There has been a growing demand for products from organic agriculture for the food market. Brazil leads the production of sugarcane spirits and produces about 1.6 billion liters/year. New technologies have been sought throughout the supply chain to improve production, and organic raw material has been used in the production of sugar cane for the production of beverages. This study aimed to define the physicochemical and chromatographic profiles of eleven organic sugarcane spirits samples from various Brazilian states. The secondary components and contaminants were identified and quantified through physicochemical analyses, HPLC and gas chromatography (GC). A significant percentage of the organic sugarcane spirits samples contained concentrations of components that were above the limits required by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Provisioning (MAPA), specifically the esters (18.20%), copper and dry extract (9.10%). This contamination is caused by bad conditions employed during the production process, which are not in compliance with the good manufacturing practices determined and legislated by Brazilian law.

Produção de matéria seca e controle de plantas daninhas por leguminosas consorciadas com cana-de-açúcar em cultivo orgânico

Resumo:O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção de matéria seca e o controle de plantas daninhas por espécies de leguminosas consorciadas com cana-de-açúcar, em cultivo orgânico. As espécies leguminosas Arachis pintoi, Cajanus cajan, Calopogonium mucunoides, Crotalaria anagyroides, Crotalaria juncea e Stylosanthes 'Campo Grande' foram semeadas em novembro de 2012, nas entrelinhas da cana-de-açúcar. O delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso foi utilizado com quatro repetições e dois controles - um tratamento capinado e outro sem capinar. A massa de matéria seca das leguminosas foi avaliada aos 142 dias após a semeadura (DAS), e a massa de matéria seca de plantas daninhas, aos 29, 85 e 142 DAS. A massa de matéria seca de plantas daninhas foi inferior à da testemunha em todas as épocas amostradas. A produção de massa de matéria seca das leguminosas no consórcio foi baixa. As espécies Crotalaria juncea, Cajanus cajan e Calopogonium mucunoides produziram massa de matéria seca superior à das espécies Arachis pintoi e Stylosanthes 'Campo Grande'. A produtividade de colmos da cana-de-açúcar não foi afetada pelo consórcio. O consórcio entre cana-de-açúcar orgânica e leguminosas com semeadura tardia, para adubação verde, é eficiente no controle de plantas daninhas.

A simple and practical control of the authenticity of organic sugarcane samples based on the use of machine-learning algorithms and trace elements determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A practical and easy control of the authenticity of organic sugarcane samples based on the use of machine-learning algorithms and trace elements determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is proposed. Reference ranges for 32 chemical elements in 22 samples of sugarcane (13 organic and 9 non organic) were established and then two algorithms, Naive Bayes (NB) and Random Forest (RF), were evaluated to classify the samples. Accurate results (>90%) were obtained when using all variables (i.e., 32 elements). However, accuracy was improved (95.4% for NB) when only eight minerals (Rb, U, Al, Sr, Dy, Nb, Ta, Mo), chosen by a feature selection algorithm, were employed. Thus, the use of a fingerprint based on trace element levels associated with classification machine learning algorithms may be used as a simple alternative for authenticity evaluation of organic sugarcane samples.