Key findings:

The study found that both service quality and product quality positively and significantly affect consumer satisfaction at Jokopi Merr Surabaya. This indicates that improvements in these areas are likely to enhance customer satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high standards in both service and product offerings.

What is known and what is new?

Service quality and product quality are established factors that influence consumer satisfaction in the retail and service industries. This study specifically examines these factors within the context of Jokopi Merr Surabaya, revealing that both service quality and product quality significantly enhance consumer satisfaction in a drive-thru coffee shop setting, thus providing targeted insights for this specific business model.

What is the implication, and what should change now?

Ensuring high service quality and product quality is crucial for enhancing consumer satisfaction at Jokopi Merr Surabaya. Jokopi Merr should focus on consistently improving service standards and product offerings. Implementing regular staff training, quality control measures, and customer feedback mechanisms can help maintain and elevate these standards, ultimately boosting customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Sugarcane is a tall perennial grass that belongs to the genus Saccharum and the family Poaceae. [1].  It is grown in tropical and subtropical regions for its juicy stalks, which are rich in sucrose [2]. Sugarcane plants can grow up to several meters tall, and their stalks are usually harvested when they reach maturity and crop is about two to four meters in height [1]. It is a versatile crop that has many uses and plays an important role in the economies of many countries. It is cultivated in more than 90 countries worldwide.  Brazil, India, EU 27, China, USA and Thailand being the largest sugar producers in the past year [3]. In addition to its use in the production of sugar and ethanol, sugarcane is also used in the production of other products such as molasses, rum, and biofuels [4]. 

To obtain maximum yields of high-quality sugarcane, several agronomic practices must be followed. Some of these practices include:

1. Land Preparation: The land must be properly prepared before planting sugarcane. This involves plowing, harrowing, and leveling to create a suitable seedbed.

2. Variety Selection: The selection of suitable sugarcane varieties is crucial for high yields. The variety must be adapted to the local environment, resistant to pests and diseases, and have high sugar content.

3. Planting: Sugarcane is planted either by using stem cuttings or setts. The planting should be done at the beginning of the rainy season to ensure good establishment of the crop.

4. Fertilization: Adequate fertilizer application is crucial for good yields. The required nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which should be applied in a balanced ratio.

5. Weed Control: Weeds compete with sugarcane for nutrients and water, leading to reduced yields. Effective weed control methods include hand weeding, mechanical cultivation, and chemical control.

6. Irrigation: Sugarcane requires adequate water for good growth and development. Irrigation should be done when necessary, especially during the dry season.

7. Pest and Disease Control: Several pests and diseases attack sugarcane, leading to reduced yields. Effective control measures include the use of resistant varieties, cultural practices, and chemical control.

8. Harvesting: Sugarcane is harvested when it is fully mature, which is usually after 10-12 months. The crop is cut at ground level, and the stems are transported to the mill for processing.

9. Ratoon Management: Sugarcane can be grown for multiple years using the ratoon crop. After the first harvest, the crop can be allowed to regrow from the cut stubble. Effective ratoon management practices include weed control, fertilization, and pest and disease control [1].

By following above practices, farmers can obtain high yields of high-quality sugarcane. Among these agronomic practices, tillage is a crucial factor for farmers to consider. Tillage refers to the process of preparing the soil for planting crops by manipulating the soil. This is the one of crucial management practices as it improves the soil physical and hydraulic characteristics in order to maintain optimum plant growth [5].

There are several types of tillage, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:

1. Conventional Tillage: This involves using plows, discs, and harrows to break up the soil and prepare a seedbed. While it can be effective, conventional tillage can also lead to soil erosion and compaction, and it requires a lot of energy and resources.

2. Reduced Tillage: This involves minimizing soil disturbance while still creating a suitable seedbed. It may involve using minimum tillage equipment or using specialized implements like chisel plows, strip-tillers, or zone-tillers. Reduced tillage can help conserve soil moisture, reduce erosion, and save energy, but it may not be as effective at controlling weeds or pests.

3. No-Till: This involves planting crops directly into untilled soil using specialized planters. This can help reduce erosion and soil compaction, increase organic matter in the soil, and save energy, but it may not be as effective at controlling weeds or pests.

4. Mulch Tillage: This involves leaving crop residue on the soil surface to serve as a mulch layer that can help conserve moisture, reduce erosion, and improve soil structure. It may also involve using specialized equipment to incorporate the mulch into the soil to create a suitable seedbed. Mulch tillage can be effective at improving soil health, but it may require additional management to control weeds and pests.

5. Ridge Tillage: This involves creating planting ridges or raised beds that are tilled and planted with crops, while the rest of the soil surface remains untilled. This can help conserve moisture, improve drainage, and reduce erosion, but it may not be suitable for all crop types or soil conditions.

The choice of tillage method depends on various factors including the crop being grown, soil type and condition, climate and the farmer's objectives and resources  [6].

Review approach

The current study reviewed the existing literatures sources such as research articles, books, book chapters, review articles, comprehensive summaries etc. that have been written on the topic of sugarcane cultivation and its productivity fluctuations with the methods of tillage. Various types of indexed journals, non – indexed journals, conferences, open access and goggle scholar were the platforms basically used to find the details. 

This review article will provide the detailed information relevant to the use of best tillage practice on sugarcane cultivation in order to enhance the productivity of sugarcane in the region of tropical through a detailed overview of published research findings.   

Probable tillage practices that can be used for sugarcane cultivation in tropics 

Tillage practices in sugarcane fields may vary depending on factors such as soil type, climate, and equipment availability. However, some of the most common tillage practices used in sugarcane farming in   tropical regions include:

1. Plowing: This is the process of turning over the soil with a plow to break up the soil, loosen it, and bury crop residue. Plowing helps to prepare the soil for planting, improve soil aeration and water infiltration, and control weeds.

2. Harrowing: This is the process of breaking up the soil into smaller clumps after plowing. Harrowing helps to smooth out the soil surface, create a fine seedbed, and incorporate organic matter into the soil.

3. Ridging: This is the process of forming raised rows of soil to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging. Ridging is often done in areas with heavy rainfall and poorly-drained soils.

4. Mulching: This involves covering the soil with a layer of organic material such as sugarcane trash, rice straw, or grass to reduce soil erosion, retain moisture, and suppress weed growth.

5. No-till: This is a conservation tillage practice that involves planting crops directly into untilled soil, without plowing or harrowing. No-till helps to improve soil health, reduce erosion, and conserve soil moisture. [7].

It is important to note that some of these practices may have negative impacts on soil health and the environment if not done properly. Therefore, it is recommended to adopt sustainable tillage practices that reduce soil disturbance and promote soil conservation [8]. The relationship between tillage method and sugarcane productivity can vary depending on various factors such as soil type, climate, and cropping system. However, in general, the tillage method can have a significant impact on sugarcane productivity [9].

The main tillage methods used in sugarcane farming are conventional tillage (plowing, harrowing, and ridging), reduced tillage (minimum tillage), and no-till (direct drilling).  Studies have shown that the choice of tillage method can affect sugarcane productivity through various pathways, including soil erosion, soil compaction, water conservation, nutrient availability, and weed control [10]. 

Conventional tillage, which involves intensive soil disturbance, can improve soil aeration, drainage, and promote weed control. However, it can also lead to soil erosion, loss of soil organic matter, and reduced soil fertility over time, which can negatively impact sugarcane productivity. 

Reduced tillage, which involves minimal soil disturbance, can help to reduce soil erosion, improve soil structure, and conserve soil moisture. This can lead to higher sugarcane productivity, especially in regions with low rainfall or poor soil quality. No-till, which involves planting directly into untilled soil, can help to improve soil health, reduce soil erosion, and conserve soil moisture. This can result in higher sugarcane productivity, especially in regions with high rainfall or erosion-prone soils [11].

Overall, the choice of tillage method should be based on a careful consideration of the local conditions, including soil type, climate, and cropping system, and should aim to promote sustainable sugarcane production systems that maximize productivity while minimizing negative impacts on the environment [12].

Surendren, U. et al., 2015 [13] investigated the method of improving the productivity of sugarcane in the field of semi-arid tropics with respective to the management practices on tillage and trash. This research was conducted under three different tillage systems namely; tractor drawn off barring, conventional tillage by the bullock drawn country plough and no tillage integrated with trash management systems with seven treatments. Accordingly, highest productivity shown by the tractor drawn off baring tillage method which is integrate with combination of trash shedding, composted press mud and a one of decomposing agent commercially produced. 

Nevertheless, Emmerson Rodrigues de Moraes (2019) [14] recommended that mold board plowing followed by weed desiccation and mild spike tooth harrowing practice and mold board plowing followed by ratoon desiccation, spike tooth harrowing and mild spike tooth harrowing practice have a high rate of productivity of sugarcane than their other 4 treatments used in their research.

Another experiment was conducted by the Xuezhang Li et al, (2020) under the topic of Effect of Deep Vertical Rotary Tillage on Soil Properties and Sugarcane Biomass in Rainfed Dry-Land Regions of Southern China. In this experiment, they have newly designed a Deep Vertical Rotary Tiller (DVRT) as a tractor attachment. Total tillage depth of this implement was about 40 cm. leveling of the land and preparation of trenches were done with this tractor drawn DVRT. They have practiced no –tillage method in the later cane growing period. Results taken by the experiment has shown a significant increment of the above and below biomasses of the sugarcane with respect to the DVRT

Moreover, Hammad, E.A. et al, 2001 [15] was conducted another research relevant to this. 

In this experiment, four tillage treatments were selected under three field conditions namely non fallow condition, semi fallow condition and fallow conditions.  The experimental setup was tabulated as follows. 

According to the research findings, highest yield had been recorded by the method of chiselling to 20 cm which was 8.6% of highest yield than conventional method.  Further, chiselling to 20 cm and 30 cm depths had a significant difference in yield than other tillage methods. 

Table 02 summarizes above all research findings with respect to the increase the productivity of sugarcane fields in tropical climates

Table 02: Different tillage methods and their impacts on productivity of sugarcane

As per the previous researches, it is proved that type of the tillage practice is a factor fundamental to the increase the productivity of sugarcane in tropical region. The main conclusions of this study are summarized as follows:

1. Doing tillage practice prior to cultivate the sugarcane is the most prominent practice in the sugarcane cultivation process in order to increase the productivity. 

2. Compare the sugarcane characteristics with conventional tillage practice, it is proven that integrated tillage practices have a significant difference. 

Accordingly, implementation of tillage practices in the sugarcane fields became a prominent requirement for the tropical region farmers in order to increase their productivity. However, since the productivity performance of the sugarcane plant is highly dependent on the other characteristics such variety, trash management, soil type, climate factors selection of the proper tillage practice has a blended nature.

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

No funding sources 

The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka 

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2. Gopi, Karengula, et al. "Performance evaluation of mechanical and manual harvesting of sugarcane." Int. J. Current Microbiol. Appl. Sci 7 (2018): 3779-3788. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.702.447

3. About sugar,(2023) Retrieved March 20, 2023,from International Sugar Organization: https://www.isosugar.org/

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11. Aguilar-Rivera, Noé, et al. "The Mexican sugarcane industry: overview, constraints, current status and long-term trends." Sugar Tech 14 (2012): 207-222. DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-012-0151-3

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