Sowing of Sugarcane crop

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

a. Selection of stem cuttings: Sugarcane crop is propagated by stem-cutting. The upper- half-portion of the plant bears buds of high viability and are best for raising new crop. Cane setts of two or three nodes, bearing 3 or 4 vegetative buds are made from the healthy, free from insect pests and diseases, top portions of the plants after hand peeling. About 35,000 sets are required for one hectare.

b. Sett treatment: Cane-seed-setts are wet and sugary, therefore, while in soil, before sprouting into new plant, these are mostly damaged by insects (termites) and fungus. To avoid these losses, the sets, before planting, are dipped into 0.5% Agallol (3%), or 0.25% Aretan or Tafasan (6%) for 2-3 hours.

c. Time of planting: The best time of planting the sugarcane setts for spring crop is the period when the atmospheric temperature records an average of 25°C. Therefore, the time of sowing in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka is earlier (December -January) than the time of sowing in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh (February -March). The crop can be sown round the year. Crop planted before winter season gives less sprouting and tillers due to cold weather, during early sprouting stage.

d. Method of sowing: Sugarcane crop is sown by various methods, depending upon the field problems. Common methods of planting are described here.

1. Flat planting: Flat planting method is mostly common in intensive sugarcane growing areas where soil-moisture is available in plenty. Sets are kept in shallow (8-10 cm) deep furrows at 75 cm apart. On an average, one viable bud per ten centimeter length in each furrow is planted (i.e. one sett/feet). The field is heavily planked. This method of sowing is popular in North India.

2. Furrow planting: Furrow planting method is mostly common under low soil moisture condition. After sowing irrigation is given immediately. Sets are kept deep (10-15 cm) furrows, at 90 cm apart. On an average, a 3 budded sett/feet length is planted. Furrows are covered with 5-6 cm soil and irrigation in furrows is applied.

3. Trench method: Trench method of sowing sugarcane is mostly used in areas where strong winds and rainy season cause lodging of the cane i.e. in coastal areas where crop grows tall. Furrows are not made, but in place of these only trench 25 cm deep at 90 cm distance in line are made by manual labour. Fertilizers, and insecticides are mixed with soil and trenches are again filled with soil, keeping one set/trench at the depth of 5 cm. irrigation is applied only on successful sprouting.