Biochar Use in Sugarcane BMP

This document from LSU is based on research by Isabel Lima, U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service and US Biochar Initiative Board Member.

Situation

Sugarcane is Louisiana’s No. 1 valued row crop. Commercial sugarcane is a large grass that produces high biomass composed of sucrose in the juice and fiber. Upon receipt at the raw sugar factory, sugarcane stalks are shredded, and juice is extracted by a series of mills. The juice is clarified, evaporated, crystallized and processed into raw sugar and molasses. The leftover pulp is referred to as bagasse. Bagasse is composed of fiber (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and ash content), some field soil and water. The moisture content of bagasse is about 50%. Approximately, 30% of the sugarcane brought into the raw sugar factory for processing is bagasse.