Cukornád

Cukornád, scientifically known as Saccharum officinarum, is a tall, perennial grass belonging to the Saccharum genus. It is a member of the Poaceae family, which also includes other important cereal crops. Cukornád is primarily cultivated for its high sugar content, making it the principal source of sugar and sugarcane juice worldwide. Its stem, or stalk, is thick, segmented, and contains a fibrous pith filled with a sweet, syrupy liquid.

The plant originates from the tropical regions of Southeast Asia and has been cultivated for thousands of years. It requires a warm, humid climate with ample rainfall and sunlight to thrive. Cukornád is typically grown in large plantations and is harvested by cutting the mature stalks at the base. The harvested stalks are then processed in sugar mills to extract the sucrose.

Beyond sugar production, cukornád has several other uses. The fibrous residue left after sugar extraction, known as bagasse, can be used as fuel, animal feed, or for making paper products. Molasses, a byproduct of sugar refining, is also used in animal feed, rum production, and as a sweetener. Cukornád can also be used to produce ethanol, a biofuel, through fermentation and distillation. The cultivation and processing of cukornád play a significant role in the economies of many tropical and subtropical countries.