2026 Volume 19 Issue 2 Pages 96-104
Predicting sugar quality in sugarcane stalks using in-field measurements is difficult because the outer layer is covered with wax, water, and soil. This layer contains fibers and acts as a strong protective barrier with high thermal conductivity, hindering light transmission and masking signals related to the internal sugar content, increasing difficulties in measurement due to the difference in outer layers between sugarcane cultivars. Our research presents a solution to address the varying outer layer conditions of sugarcane cultivars by peeling away the outer layers to achieve uniformity. The findings indicate that this peeling method enhances the quality of the absorbance spectra and that focusing on the significant and reliable wavelength range of 800–950 nm further improves the model prediction accuracy.
