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Long term sugarcane cultivation can alter soil physical properties. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of 38 years of sugarcane (Sacchrum officinarum L.) cul-tivation on the physical properties of fine textured soils (Haplustepts and Calciustepts) in southwestern Iran. Six paired soil profiles (three pairs in each soil type) were dug along parallel transects (100 m apart) in a side-by-side comparison of areas cultivated and un-cultivated with sugarcane. Composite and undisturbed soil samples from 0-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm layers were taken for physical and chemical analysis. The results of this study revealed that long term sugarcane cultivation resulted in a higher bulk density, lower structural stability, and an increased proportion of fine pores. The decreased number of macropores together with decreased structural stability indicated the formation of a dense compacted layer at 30-60 cm in sugarcane cultivated soils.

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The sugarcane stem borer, Sesamia cretica Lederer, is one of the most economically important pests of sugarcane in Khuzestan province, southwest Iran. The egg parasitoid Telenomus busseolae Gahan significantly affect S. cretica population in the field. Host age is an important factor of host acceptance and suitability for egg parasitoids. We examined the ability of T. busseolae to parasitize and develop in S. cretica eggs of different ages. In a no choice laboratory experiment, we measured the effect of host age (12, 36, or 60h old) on parasitism rate and offspring fitness characteristics such as survival, development time, sex ratio, size, and progeny longevity and fecundity. Results revealed that the suitability of host eggs decreased as host age increased. Exposure of parasitoids to 12h old eggs resulted in higher percentage parasitism, higher acceptance, higher survival and larger body size of parasitoid progeny. Progeny that emerged from 12h old eggs had also higher longevity and fecundity than those emerged from other host ages tested.
 

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The conditions for the refinement of clarified sugarcane juice, including temperature (50o, 60o and 70oC) and pressure (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 bars) by micro-filtration membrane technology were investigated. The raw sugarcane juice was initially pre-filtrated with lime and then the juice obtained (clarified juice) processed using a ceramic micro-filter mem-brane (0.2 micrometer). The characteristics investigated included brix, polarity (sucrose percent), turbidity, color and purity. The results showed that the effects of different proc-ess conditions with micro-filtration on reduction of turbidity and color were significant at probably <0.01 and probably <0.05, respectively. For other characteristics, no significant difference was observed. Finally, a temperature of 70oC and transmembrane pressure of 1.5 bar were determined as the optimum conditions for ceramic micro-filtration. Mem-brane processing at 70oC and 1.5 bars reduced the turbidity, viscosity and color of clari-fied juice 56.25%, 16.67% and 6.49%, respectively, and increased 0.87 units of purity.

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Ecological studies based on field data have shown that vegetation phenology follows a relatively well-defined temporal pattern. This pattern, that is reflecting the cumulative temperature from the date of the beginning of the growth, can be represented by the use of a suitable model. Due to the spatial, temporal, and ecological complexity of these processes a simple method to monitor phenological behavior of the vegetation canopies through remote sensing has proven elusive. Employing ASTER images from different seasons, might make it possible to produce an algorithm for sugarcane phenological date estimation and as well to monitor different stages of the plant growth from cultivation to harvest. For this, a parameter, namely Physiological Date is employed. Based on the field collected data and selected ASTER Images, 133 Regions Of Interest (ROI) having different Phenological Dates (PD) in units of Degree-Days (DDs) were supplied. One hundred of these samples were taken for modeling and another 33 for testing the models. Such indices as NDVI and SAVI along with PDs for the ROIs were calculated. The correlation between these indices and PDs was investigated. This ended up with the introduction of two models of PANDVI and PASAVI respectively based on the use of NDVI and SAVI indices for PD assessment. PANDVI model showed a better correlation with the field recorded data although either of the models can be well enough predictive.

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Telenomus beneficiens is a common egg parasitoid of sugarcane top borer Scirpophaga excerptalis; however, in winter time the incidence of the parasitoid on top borer eggs is extremely low. T. beneficiens adults were released at various time durations into sugarcane plots to evaluate the parasitic potentiality of the parasitoid against sugarcane top-borer. The egg parasitoid T. beneficiens of sugarcane top borer Scirpophaga excerptalis (Walker), was released into four sugarcane plots as once, twice, thrice and quadruple time treatments to compare its parasitic potential as a biological control agent. The four releases of the adult parasitoid were made within a time interval of one month and at a rate of 500 adults per plot. Results revealed a significant control of the pest through all the four treatments. The highest mean parasitism of 42.36±10.84% and lowest mean infestation of 12.05±0.99% was recorded for the treatment of quadruple releases, followed by the triple release plot, where 41.38±10.07% of mean parasitism and 12.61±0.78% of mean infestations were observed. As for the double release plot, 26.56±3.72 and 14.46±1.92% mean parasitism and infestation were recorded respectively, whilst in the single release plot, the corresponding figures equaled to 21.94±2.98 and 16.82 ±2.38% as compared with the check plots (15.71±3.03 and 16.82±2.55 %). It is evidenced that triple release results almost coincide with the quadruple release ones, and hence the triple release of the adult parasitoid is effective enough and recommended for the control of sugarcane top borer, S. excerptalis.

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Mill flower is one of the by-products that is produced in significant volumes. Mill flour is often mixed with mill ash from bagasse baking, which together forms the bulk of mill waste in sugar factories for disposal. Low levels of nutrients and high humidity make mill flour a dilute source of nutrients, and the demand for mill flour as a valuable material is higher from farmers and biotechnology companies, which leads to the accumulation of mill mud in most factories. The obvious use of mill mud is its use in sugarcane fields. As a result, the continued use of high-rate mill mud and ash, without proper knowledge of soil conditions and crop needs, has caused much concern in recent years. The risk of over-fertilization and heavy metal contamination on sugarcane fields and concerns about the off-site effects of leakage into waterways have raised questions about the excessive use of mill mud in industry. In this regard, this study examines the issues related to the responsible management of mill flowers produced in sugar or sucrose factories from sugarcane (a case study of sugarcane factories in southern Iran) and its cost-effectiveness in a wider range of farms away from mills. Reported as a means to minimize environmental hazards. Thus, the estimated size of food resources in the mill produced by Farabi and Dehkhoda sugarcane companies is 7300 tons of nitrogen and 4500 tons of phosphorus per year. This represents 60% of the 7700 tonnes of phosphorus estimated as fertilizer on sugarcane fields in 1400.
 

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Production of high-quality inoculum in sufficient quantities is crucial for biocontrol programs. Entomopathogenic Fungi (EPF) are highly suitable biocontrol agents due to their adaptability, mode of action, persistence, and wide host range. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of agro-wastes, including sugarcane bagasse, paddy husk, Post Mushroom Substrate (PMS), and sorghum grains with and without 10% molasses fortification, for mass production of four EPF isolates (Cordyceps fumosorosea: MT997932, Beauveria bassiana: MT997933, Akanthomyces lecanii: MT997935, and Hirsutella thompsonii: MT997936) isolated from two agro-climatic zones in Karnataka, India. The study employed solid-state fermentation. Results showed that sorghum grains fortified with 10% molasses had the highest mycelial growth and spore production of all isolates, followed by PMS with 10% molasses (T₇). Fortification with molasses positively influenced the growth and spore production of EPF. The results indicated that while sorghum grains were the best choice for mass production, PMS fortified with molasses also had great potential as an alternative substrate.