Bagasse - Sugar Cane Mulche

I was told it was bad.  Now I gotta do an investigation on this now.

Bagasse, or residue of sugar cane, after sugar is extracted (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bagasse, also called megass ,  fibre remaining after the extraction of the sugar-bearing juice from sugarcane. The word bagasse, from the French bagage via the Spanish bagazo, originally meant “rubbish,” “refuse,” or “trash.” Applied first to the debris from the pressing of olives, palm nuts, and grapes, the word was subsequently used to mean residues from other processed plant materials such as sisal, sugarcane, and sugar beets. In modern use, the word is limited to the by-product of the sugarcane mill.

Bagasse is burned as fuel in the sugarcane mill or used as a source of cellulose for manufacturing animal feeds.   Paper is produced from bagasse in several Latin American countries, in the Middle East, and in sugar-producing countries that are deficient in forest resources.

Bagasse is the essential ingredient for the production of pressed building board, acoustical tile, and other construction materials and can be made into a number of biodegradable plastics.

Bagasse is also employed in the production of furfural, a clear colourless liquid used in the synthesis of chemical products such as nylons, solvents, and even medicines.

Bagasse is readily available as a waste product with a high sugar content and has potential as an environmentally friendly alternative to corn as a source of the biofuel ethanol (ethyl alcohol).

Sugar Cane Mulch has lots of benefits

Chemical Residues: Tested by AMAL Laboratories as NIL. Certified Organic by NASAA (National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia).

PATHOGENS

: Tested free of Pythuim, Phytophthora, and domestic plant diseases.

HAZARD INFORMATION

Direct contact with, or inhalation of organic material or its dust may result in skin or eye irritation or, more rarely, respiratory illness including hay fever, asthma or pneumonia.

FIRST AID

If irritation occurs wash eyes with water, wash skin with soap and water. Seek medical advice if skin, eye or respiratory irritation persists.

PRECAUTION FOR USE

Certified organic sugar cane mulch is made from materials, which may contain micro-organisms, such as bacteria, fungi and protozoa.

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

This product may contain micro organisms and bacteria. Avoid breathing dust or mist. Wear particulate mask if dusty. If irritation occurs move person to fresh air.

SKIN PROTECTION

Wear standard duty gloves (AS2161), loose comfortable clothing and boots. Long sleeved shirts and long trousers are recommended if skin irritation occurs. Wash skins with mild soap and water immediately after working with these materials.

We used five bags of sugarcane mulch on Kathy's beautiful Vegetable Garden.   First we put down a thick cardboard covering that was well soaked and then put on the mulch and soaked it with water,  this will do the garden well.

Eminpee Fotography!