Sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum ) is a perennial grass in the Poaceae family cultivated mainly for its juice, from which sugar is processed. It is typically grown in subtropical and tropical areas. Sugarcane stalks can reach 3 to 7 meters in height and have long, sword-shaped leaves. The stalks consist of segments with buds at each joint. When mature, the stalk develops a slender arrow at the upper end, bearing a tassel of tiny flowers. Besides sugar production, sugarcane is also used for biofuel production, particularly in Brazil, where it is used to produce ethyl alcohol (ethanol). By-products like straw and bagasse can produce cellulosic ethanol, a second-generation biofuel. Sugarcane also yields molasses, rum, and cachaça, and it can be used as thatch and livestock fodder.

Where does sugarcane grow best?

Sugarcane thrives in subtropical and tropical regions, requiring 2,000 to 2,300 mm of water during its growth period. The lowest temperature for good growth is about 20 °C (68 °F). Ideal soil is a mix of sand, silt, and clay with some organic material, demanding good drainage accommodated via surface and underground drains. The growth period varies by region, from 8–9 months in Louisiana to 15 months in Australia and Taiwan and up to 18–22 months in Hawaii, South Africa, and Peru.

What does a sugarcane plant look like?

The sugarcane plant ( Saccharum officinarum ) is a perennial grass primarily grown for its juice, from which sugar is processed. It is also cultivated for biofuel production. Sugarcane stalks typically reach heights of 3 to 7 meters (10 to 24 feet) and feature long, sword-shaped leaves. The stalks consist of multiple segments with a bud at each joint. When the plant matures, the stalk's upper end develops into a slender arrow with a tassel of tiny flowers. Sugarcane is propagated through cuttings with two or more buds. These cuttings are planted in fields and develop into primary shoots, with each shoot forming its own root system. Tillering, or sprouting, occurs at the plant's base, leading each original cutting to develop into multiple growing canes.

How is sugar extracted from sugarcane?

The process of extracting sugar from sugarcane involves several key steps. After harvesting, the sugarcane stalks are chopped and shredded to prepare them for juice extraction. The juice is extracted either by milling (crushing the cane between rollers) or by diffusion (moving the prepared cane through a countercurrent diffuser). The extracted juice is then clarified using heat, lime, and flocculation aids to remove impurities. Next, the clarified juice is concentrated through evaporation into a thick syrup. This syrup is then crystallized by adding seed crystals and spinning the mixture in centrifuges to separate the sugar crystals from the molasses. Finally, the sugar crystals are washed, dried, and cooled.

What products are made from sugarcane besides sugar?

Besides sugar, sugarcane is used to produce a variety of products. The sugarcane plant is grown for biofuel production, especially in Brazil, where the canes can be used to produce ethyl alcohol (ethanol). Other sugarcane products include: * Molasses , used in baking, candy-making, mixed animal feed, and in the industrial production of vinegar and citric acid * Rum and cachaça (a Brazilian alcohol) * Bagasse (cane fibres), which can be used to produce cellulosic ethanol, and as filler for paper, fibreboard, and particleboard * Sugarcane wax , which is similar to carnauba wax and used for polishes * Thatch and livestock fodder

How does growing sugarcane impact the environment?

Growing sugarcane can impact the environment in several ways: Sugarcane fields require substantial water, and irrigation is often needed to supplement rainfall. Disposing of water used in sugarcane processing can be a costly environmental problem. Also, before harvesting, sugarcane fields are sometimes burned to get rid of rodents, snakes, leaves, and trash. However, because of environmental concerns, sugarcane is increasingly harvested without burning in some areas. Sugarcane bagasse, the remaining fiber after juice extraction, can be used to create environmentally friendly products, such as biodegradable plastics and the biofuel ethanol. However, the dust and fibers from processing bagasse can cause respiratory disease if inhaled.

Sugarcane

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Images & Videos

Several freshly cut green sugarcane stalks, Saccharum officinarum, stacked together on a white background.

A sugarcane harvester loads freshly cut sugarcane into a truck beside a tall green field on a farm near Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil.

Close-up of a cane toad, Rhinella marina, showing its bumpy brown skin and large dark eye, with a blurred green background.

Tall, dense stalks of sugarcane grow on both sides of a narrow path, with green leaves arching overhead and sunlight illuminating the plants.

Sugarcane

plant

Also known as: Saccharum officinarum

Written by

Takeo Yamane

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 4, 2026 •History

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Angiosperm
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Saccharum

Top Questions

What is sugarcane?
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is a perennial grass in the Poaceae family cultivated mainly for its juice, from which sugar is processed. It is typically grown in subtropical and tropical areas.

Sugarcane stalks can reach 3 to 7 meters in height and have long, sword-shaped leaves. The stalks consist of segments with buds at each joint. When mature, the stalk develops a slender arrow at the upper end, bearing a tassel of tiny flowers. Besides sugar production, sugarcane is also used for biofuel production, particularly in Brazil, where it is used to produce ethyl alcohol (ethanol). By-products like straw and bagasse can produce cellulosic ethanol, a second-generation biofuel. Sugarcane also yields molasses, rum, and cachaça, and it can be used as thatch and livestock fodder.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where does sugarcane grow best?
Sugarcane thrives in subtropical and tropical regions, requiring 2,000 to 2,300 mm of water during its growth period. The lowest temperature for good growth is about 20 °C (68 °F).

Ideal soil is a mix of sand, silt, and clay with some organic material, demanding good drainage accommodated via surface and underground drains. The growth period varies by region, from 8–9 months in Louisiana to 15 months in Australia and Taiwan and up to 18–22 months in Hawaii, South Africa, and Peru.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What does a sugarcane plant look like?
The sugarcane plant (Saccharum officinarum) is a perennial grass primarily grown for its juice, from which sugar is processed. It is also cultivated for biofuel production.

Sugarcane stalks typically reach heights of 3 to 7 meters (10 to 24 feet) and feature long, sword-shaped leaves. The stalks consist of multiple segments with a bud at each joint. When the plant matures, the stalk's upper end develops into a slender arrow with a tassel of tiny flowers.

Sugarcane is propagated through cuttings with two or more buds. These cuttings are planted in fields and develop into primary shoots, with each shoot forming its own root system. Tillering, or sprouting, occurs at the plant's base, leading each original cutting to develop into multiple growing canes.
2 Britannica Sources
1. plume grass
2. sugarcane
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How is sugar extracted from sugarcane?
The process of extracting sugar from sugarcane involves several key steps. After harvesting, the sugarcane stalks are chopped and shredded to prepare them for juice extraction. The juice is extracted either by milling (crushing the cane between rollers) or by diffusion (moving the prepared cane through a countercurrent diffuser). The extracted juice is then clarified using heat, lime, and flocculation aids to remove impurities. Next, the clarified juice is concentrated through evaporation into a thick syrup. This syrup is then crystallized by adding seed crystals and spinning the mixture in centrifuges to separate the sugar crystals from the molasses. Finally, the sugar crystals are washed, dried, and cooled.
2 Britannica Sources
1. How Is Sugar Made?
2. sugar: Crystallization
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What products are made from sugarcane besides sugar?
Besides sugar, sugarcane is used to produce a variety of products. The sugarcane plant is grown for biofuel production, especially in Brazil, where the canes can be used to produce ethyl alcohol (ethanol).

Other sugarcane products include:
* Molasses, used in baking, candy-making, mixed animal feed, and in the industrial production of vinegar and citric acid
* Rum and cachaça (a Brazilian alcohol)
* Bagasse (cane fibres), which can be used to produce cellulosic ethanol, and as filler for paper, fibreboard, and particleboard
* Sugarcane wax, which is similar to carnauba wax and used for polishes
* Thatch and livestock fodder
6 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How does growing sugarcane impact the environment?
Growing sugarcane can impact the environment in several ways:

Sugarcane fields require substantial water, and irrigation is often needed to supplement rainfall. Disposing of water used in sugarcane processing can be a costly environmental problem. Also, before harvesting, sugarcane fields are sometimes burned to get rid of rodents, snakes, leaves, and trash. However, because of environmental concerns, sugarcane is increasingly harvested without burning in some areas.

Sugarcane bagasse, the remaining fiber after juice extraction, can be used to create environmentally friendly products, such as biodegradable plastics and the biofuel ethanol. However, the dust and fibers from processing bagasse can cause respiratory disease if inhaled.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Sugarcane, (Saccharum officinarum), economically and culturally important perennial grass primarily cultivated for its juice from which sugar is processed. Most of the world’s sugarcane is grown in subtropical and tropical areas. The plant is also grown for biofuel production, especially in Brazil, as the canes can be used directly to produce ethyl alcohol (ethanol). The by-products from cane sugar processing, namely the straw and bagasse (cane fibers), can be used to produce cellulosic ethanol, a second-generation biofuel. Other sugarcane products include molasses, rum, and cachaça (a Brazilian alcohol), and the plant itself can be used as thatch and as livestock fodder. This article treats the cultivation of the sugarcane plant. For information on the processing of cane sugar and the history of its use, see sugar.

(Read Britannica’s essay “What’s the Difference Between Cane Sugar and Beet Sugar?”)

Physical description

The sugarcane plant produces a number of stalks that reach 3 to 7 meters (10 to 24 feet) high and bear long sword-shaped leaves. The stalks are composed of many segments, and at each joint there is a bud. When the cane becomes mature, a growing point at the upper end of the stalk develops into a slender arrow bearing a tassel of tiny flowers.

Culture and cultivation

Sugarcane is propagated primarily by the planting of cuttings. The sections of the stalk of immature cane used for planting are known as seed cane, or cane sets, and have two or more buds (eyes), usually three. Seed cane is planted in well-worked fields. Mechanical planters that open the furrow, fertilize, drop the seed cane, and cover it with soil are widely used.

Seed cane is spaced 1.4 to 1.8 meters (4.5 to 6 feet) apart at densities 10,000 to 25,000 per hectare (4,000 to 10,000 per acre). Under favorable conditions, each bud germinates and produces a primary shoot. Root bands adjacent to each bud give rise to a large number of roots, and each young shoot develops its own root system. Tillering, or sprouting at the base of the plant, takes place, and each original seed cane develops into a number of growing canes, forming a stool. The plant crop is obtained from these stools.

Ceviche. Peruvian ceviche (sebiche). Raw seafood dish with lime, cilantro, peppers, plantains. Cuisine, food

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Another method of cane propagation is by ratooning, in which, when the cane is harvested, a portion of stalk is left underground to give rise to a succeeding growth of cane, the ratoon or stubble crop. The ratooning process is usually repeated three times so that three economical crops are taken from one original planting. The yield of ratoon crops decreases after each cycle, and at the end of the last economical cycle all stumps are plowed out and the field is replanted.

Sugarcane is grown in various kinds of soils, such as red volcanic soils and alluvial soils of rivers. The ideal soil is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay particles, with a measure of organic material. The land is plowed and left to weather for a time before subsoiling (stirring up the subsoil) is carried out. The crop demands a well-drained soil, and drains—on the surface, underground, or both—are provided according to the topographic conditions of the fields.

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To attain good yields, sugarcane requires 2,000 to 2,300 mm (80 to 90 inches) of water during the growing period. When precipitation is deficient, irrigation, either by spraying or by applying water in furrows, can make up for the deficiency. The growth period for cane crops varies considerably according to the region: 8–9 months in Louisiana, U.S.; 15 months in Australia and Taiwan; 18–22 months in Hawaii, South Africa, and Peru. The lowest temperature for good cane-plant growth is about 20 °C (68 °F). Continuous cooler temperature promotes the maturation of cane, as does withholding water. Harvesting and milling begin in the dry, relatively cool season of the year and last for five to six months.

Fertilizers are applied to sugarcane from the beginning of planting through the whole growth cycle but not during the ripening period. Optimum amounts of fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) vary greatly with soil types, climatic conditions, and the kind and length of the growing cycle. Fertilizer leaching and runoff in areas with high rainfall is a serious environmental problem associated with sugarcane production, contributing to harmful algae blooms in nearby waterways.

To secure a good crop, weeds in the cane fields must be attacked until the cane stools develop a good canopy, which checks weed growth. Weeding, still largely manual, is done with a hoe, though mechanical cane weeders with attached rakes have been developed. Chemical herbicides are widely used.

The mature cane is harvested by both manual and mechanical means. Some mechanical harvesters are able to sever and discard the tops of erect crops and cut cane stalks, which are delivered into a bin trailer for transport to the mill by tractor or light railway wagon.

Sugarcane

Physical description

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Culture and cultivation