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Sugarcane is one of the important commercial crops of India.Now a days due to scarcity of labour and increased cost of cultivation sugarcane cultivation is under doldrums. Under scarcity of labour pre-harvest burning and crushing of cane is a practice in overseas. Loss of cane in terms of cane weight and quality was more in brunt cane as harvesting delays after burning. The loss in cane weight and quality was less within 24 hours after burning. Cane quality in terms of reducing sugar percentage, dextrans contain in cane was high in burnt cane than unburnt cane. Loss in cane weight within 24 hours after burring was 4.5% and it raised up to 17.35% at 96 hours after burning. Burning of cane drastically reduces Juice extraction percentage up to 44. 23% at 96 hours ager burning. Juice pH was more acidic in burnt cane that Unburnt cane. Burning of cane reduces sucrose Percent 8.73% with in 24 hours and it was rises up 24.66 % at 96 hours after burning. Intentional burning of cane as a means of cost of harvest is not advisable because of lose in cane quality and quantity, environmental problems, additional cost in harvesting charges and differential cropping patterns of farming community etc.

Keywords: Pre harvest burning, Juice quality, Dextran, T A I (Titreble acidity index), C C S yield.