The Effect of Temperature on the Quality of Sugarcane Sucrose at Nakambala Estate, Zambia

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2022 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Physical Geography, Geomorphology, Environmental Studies, grade: A, , language: English, abstract: Global, regional, and national temperatures have indeed been on an increase over the past few decades. This rise in temperature can have significant changes not only on the quantity but also on the quality of production in the agriculture sector. Hence, the study on the effect of temperature on the quality of sugarcane sucrose produced in the last twenty (20) years from the year 2001 to 2020 at Nakambala estate was instituted. Nakambala estate is located 125km south of Lusaka, Zambia at a geographical location of 15o 52' 0'' S and 27o 46' 0'' E. This scientific study used historical data measured by an automated sacharimeter (to test for sucrose content) at the Direct Analysis of Cane Laboratory (DAC) stored on the Nakambala intranet communication systems. The temperature data was obtained from the automated meteorological station located at geographical coordinates 15o 14' 85'' S and 27o 44' 31'' E. The temperature analysed was the average of the maximum and minimum temperature. The mean yearly temperature values were obtained from the annual monthly means and were plotted on graphs against time. The sucrose quality against time was plotted to establish relationships. The sugarcane sucrose quality data was detrended to remove other influencing factors on sucrose quality. Similarly, the non-detrended data was also used to obtain relationships with annual mean temperature. The excel data analysis tool pack was used obtain tables for the Analysis of Variance and the regression analysis.

Tellespholias Simuyandi Maanya obtained a Master's degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development of the Mulungushi University in Kabwe, Zambia in 2021. He joined Zambia Sugar Plc in 2010 as a Farm Manager, thereafter worked as an Agronomist and currently, Grower Support Manager. Prior to this he worked as volunteer teacher at St Joseph's Secondary School, in Chivuna, Southern Zambia after attending a General Entry Program in Science at the University of Cape Town in the Republic of South Africa (2004). In 2009 graduated with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Zambia, Great East Road Campus. He also served the Teaching Service Management of Botswana as a teacher of Agriculture Science in a little village called Letlhakeng. Prior to this he worked for the Teaching Service Commission of Zambia at St Marks Secondary School in Mapanza, Choma and later Canisius Secondary School as a teacher of Agricultural Sciences, Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science. In 1998, he completed an Advanced Secondary Teacher's Diploma in Science (chemistry) from Nkrumah Teachers' Training College (now Nkrumah University), and furthermore, in 1992, graduated from Natural Resources Development College in Lusaka, Zambia with a Diploma in Agricultural Education.