Sugarcane is one of the world’s most widely grown crops. In 2010, FAO estimated sugarcane was cultivated on around 23.8 million ha across more than 90 countries, with a worldwide harvest of 1.69 billion tonnes. Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane in the world with China, India and Thailand as the next three major producers. As a replacement for fossil fuel, there is increasing diversion of sugarcane towards ethanol production, most notably in Brazil where around 50% of the crop is used for ethanol production. There is also increasing co-generation of power from sugarcane bagasse.

The latest IPI Bulletin provides comprehensive coverage of plant development of sugarcane including mineral nutrition and fertilization for high yield and quality. Of interest to all sugarcane growing regions, this evidence-based publication is written by Ross Ridge who, for 33 years, was a research agronomist and soil scientist with BSES Limited, the principal research, development and extension organisation for the sugar industry in Australia. Since retiring from BSES as Principal Research Officer in 1999, Ross Ridge has undertaken a range of sugar industry consultancies and has visited sugarcane production areas in Brazil, Colombia, Fiji, Hawaii, Indonesia, Mauritius, Reunion, Swaziland, Taiwan, Thailand and USA where he has observed agronomic research and practices.

The bulletin can be downloaded from the IPI website. For hardcopies, please contact IPI head office.