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Why is water withheld from sugarcane during the ripening period?
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Sugarcane
Field of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) in St. George Parish, Barbados.
Water is withheld from sugarcane during the ripening period because it promotes the maturation of the cane plant. While the crop requires significant amounts of water during its active growth phase to achieve high yields, reducing water intake as the plant nears harvest helps ensure the cane reaches the desired level of maturity.1