Sugarcane diseases & their management

Fungus, bacteria and virus cause diseases to sugarcane crop. These are transmitted from one plant to another and one field to another field either by original seed set or causal organism already in the soil or spores are carried by blowing wind. Some of the diseases of sugarcane crop and their suggested control measures are discussed here.

Sowing of Sugarcane crop

Efficient care and precautions should be taken while selecing the cuttings, treating it with chemicals at the time of planting.

Cropping season and duration of Sugarcane

Depending upon the variety and sowing time it takes about 12 to 18 months to mature. In general January to march is the period of planting and December to March is the period of harvesting. In some states sugarcane is grown round the year. After harvest, generally a ratoon crop is cultivated from the regrowth. In some countries 2-6 ratoons are allowed.

Emergence of the value added arecanut products such as Scented Supari, pan masala and Ghutka had given real boost to the arecanut economy in India. The emergence of these new products further gave a fillip to the demand for arecanut and has resulted in remunerative prices for farmers leading to rapid expansion in area, not only in traditional belts, but also to non-traditional plains of Karnataka. As per the Ministry of Agriculture, GOI, the area under arecanut is around 4 lakh hectares with a production of around 4.78 lakh metric tons in 2010-11 in India.

Rejuvenation of Mango Orchard

Management strategies for Chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis)