Ring/pit method of planting

Ring planting (90x45 cm) system increased the crop yield up to 180 t/ha at IISR. In each ring (pit) about 22 three budded setts are placed horizontally in a circular manner. The crop under ring planting consists mainly of mother shoots which are thicker and heavier.

Suitable for:

• Drought prone areas
• Undulating topography
• Light textured soils
• Saline - sodic soils
• Multiple ratooning
• High yielding, tall and thick cane varieties
• However, labour and capital intensive
• High seed requirement

Merit and limitations of Pit planting

Merits

• 1. Less irrigation water is require
• 2. Nutrient use efficiency is enhanced due to localized placement
• 3. Increase the opportunity of employment generation
• 4. Higher sugarcane yield of plant cane as well as ratoon
• 5. Greater efficiency of solar energy utilization
• 6. Prevent lodging both for plant cane and multi ratoons

Limitations

• 1. Availability of pit digger machine for making ring/pit in the fields
• 2. More requirement of labours for manual pit making, mixing of manure and fertilizer with soil in the pit, covering of set with soil