16/02/2020
TO INCREASE OUR SUGARCANE YIELD PER UNIT AREA:
Our sugar yield i.e. cane yield x sugar recovery %cane is less than half of the developed cane growing countries of
the world. Still it is not the lowest in the world. The goal of increasing sugar yield per unit area is difficult, time
consuming and needs dedicated efforts of government, millers and the growers.
Some of the measures to bring down the cost of cultivation and improve cane productivity include
The selection of the right varieties,
Maintenance of soil health,
Quality planting material,
Nutrient management,
The adoption of copping systems approach,
W**d management,
Water management,
Ratoon management and sound post harvest handling,
According to the scientists.
3.1 Role of Grower:
As Grower is the main key factor which can help to increase the sugarcane production from the field. In Pakistan
most of the grower doesn’t know the proper method or procedure of sugarcane cultivation. So that’s why the cane
produced is of no good quality and we have less cane and sugar recovery. So it is recommended that there should be
organizations who should guide the growers to increase their production. Here are some of the steps that if taken
properly can improve the sugar cane production.
Improvement in Production Technology
Land preparation:
Sugarcane is a deep-rooted crop and proper land preparation plays an important role in the development of cane
root system, and achieving optimal growth of the crop. Land should be prepared by deep ploughing at least after
every two years. The soil should be disked.
It is very important that well-rotten farmyard manure (FYM) should be applied a month prior to land preparation.
Press mud from the sugar industry is another excellent source of organic matter and nutrients. .Green manuring may
also serve the purpose.
Soil in the prepared field should be friable and well worked so that full germination takes place and later on plants
grow without any inhibiting barriers (compact sub-soil layer).
Soil Insect Control at Planting Time
Growers should be ever mindful of practices they can use to decrease the possibility of soil insect damage. Only two
crop conditions require use of a soil insecticide in Louisiana sugarcane fields and usually only in sandy soils. These
are:
(a) When pasture, turf or grass-infested land is brought into cane production for the first time or after being out of
cane production for several years. There are usually enough grubs or wireworms already established in this type of
land to warrant a preventive application of insecticide at cane planting time. However, a soil insecticide application
may not be needed with the second plant-cane crop if the field has been kept reasonably free of grass during the
ratoon crops.
(b) When cane fields are extremely grassy, particularly when cane is planted in a field that was not kept free of
heavy grass infestation when fallow. Ongoing wireworm and white grub infestations will persist in grassy fields.
Again, this may be needed only on light or mixed soils.
Growers with fields similar to those described should consider control measures for soil insects at planting time and
base chemical control on verification of soil insect pest infestations (with fermented corn baits). Based on new
research data, the economic threshold is slightly above one wireworm per bait sample before planting. Soil
insecticides have had a suppressive effect on beneficial predators in sugarcane studies.
Planting time:
The selection of an appropriate planting method and schedule greatly influences crop growth, maturity, and yield.
Since low temperature and moisture stress are detrimental to germination and subsequent establishment, the
planting season in subtropical regions is preferably spring. But in areas where winter is severe enough to restrict
growth or even kill sugarcane, planting material may only be available in autumn, thus necessitating pre-winter
planting. In tropical regions, particularly where irrigation is not practiced, a sufficiently moist season should be
selected for planting and establishment.
Seed rate and planting pattern:
Appropriate seed rate and spacing are often ignored by farmers, with the result that the optimum plant population,
which is the key factor in sugarcane production, is not achieved in the field. The seed rate and spacing between rows
differ with variety
Method of Planting:
Sugarcane should be planted at a row spacing of 120 cm. Two budded double sets should be placed end to end with
the distance of 15cm in the furrows covered with 2 to 3 cm soil layer. About 3.2 to 4 tonnes seed (80 to 100
maunds) of thin cane varieties and 4 to 5 tonnes seed (100 to 120 maunds) of thick varieties is sufficient to plant
one acre.
Research has shown good yield increases in tonnage and sugar per acre when the planted row was widened from
the V-furrow to the 30- to 45-cm furrow. It showed further yield increases as the furrow width was increased from
60cm. Based on this research and the problems encountered by growers in handling furrow widths of more than 45
cm, it is suggested that growers use a 30- to 45-cm furrow for planting in 2011. Growers who can successfully
handle the 60-cm width furrow are encouraged to do so. It is also suggested that the furrow opener be constructed
to leave a wide bottom with a slight indentation on each side of the furrow and a slight ridge of loose soil in the
middle of the furrow bottom. This opening configuration can be obtained by attaching a single disk on each side of
the row opener to dig out the furrow sides and deposit the soil in the furrow middle. Some growers have found that
packing rows ahead of opening will give more uniform furrows when opening with a three-row opener. In this way
grower can get 26 more furrows per acre than V furrows.
Depth of Planting with Relation to Water Furrow
To avoid water damage to seed cane, it should be placed at least 3 to 4 inches above the final water furrow or
middle. In soils with poor internal drainage, the seed cane should be placed even higher above the final water
furrow.
Growers should be aware of the need to keep the seed cane above the area where water levels will hurt cane stands.
Low row height at planting time could be a problem, especially with billet seed cane.
Amount of Soil Cover over Seed Cane
Research on depth of soil cover over seed cane indicates that soil cover in excess of 4 inches can cause yield losses
even if the excess is removed in the spring following planting.
Heat-treated cane should be covered with 2 inches of packed soil. After the cane is up to a good stand and before
freezing weather occurs, add an additional 2 inches of soil to protect from freeze damage. Do not cover heat-treated
cane with more than 2 inches of packed soil at planting.
Varieties:
Use healthy seed of improved varieties of sugarcane and Method of Planting . Both can increase cane yield from 25 to 40 per cent
