PLANTING METHOD OF SUGARCANE

Introduction : Sugarcane is essentially a tropical plant. Sugarcane thrives best in the tropical hot sunny areas. A long summer growing season with adequate rain fall ,a fairly dry sunny and cool but frost free ripening period and free from cyclones are characteristics ideal. Sugarcane is grown in the world from latitude36.
7degreeN and 31.0 degree S to 1000 m of altitude or little more. It is a long duration crop and thus it encounters all the seasons viz rainy ,winter and summer during its life cycle.

Planting method of Sugarcane

1. Flat planting method
• Flat system of planting is mainly followed in the tropical areas.
• It involves repeated ploughing using wooden plough and compacting by planking to conserve moisture.
• For planting shallows furrows (8-10cm) are opened with a local plough at a distance 75-90cm.
• The cuttings are placed end to end or but to bud in the bottom of the furrow.
• After planting the setts are covered with 5-7cm layers of soil followed by leveling with planking.
• Irrigation does not follow immediately.
• The field should have adequate moisture at the time of planting.
• Manuring and cultural operations are done after receiving the monsoon rain.
• The entire crop receive 6-8 irrigation.
2. Furrow planting method
• Furrows of 15-20 cm depthare made with local plough or ridgers or spade at a distance of 90 cm apart from each other .
• Before planting setts ,the bottom of the furrow is dug and mixed with basal dose of fertilizers after placing the setts in the furrow they are covered with 5-7 cm layers of the soil leaving upper portionof the furrows unfilled .
• Immediately after covering of the setts water is let into the furrow.
3. Ridge and Furrow planting method
• This is the most common method of planting sugarcane adopted by progressive farmers where irrigation water is available.
• The system facilities easy irrigation, provides good solid aeration and solid support to the plant when a proper earthing up is done.
• In the finely prepared field ,ridges and furrows are formed using tractor drawn or bullock drawn ridgers.( or manually)
• The spacing followed ranges from 60-135 cm between the rows (common 90 cm).
• Closer spacing of 60-75 cm= for early ,short duration and shy tillering varieties and under poor soul fertility status.
• Wider row spacing (100-120 cm)= high fertility condition with good irrigation facility and for long duration and high tillering varieties.
• Depth of furrow should be 25 cm.
• A furrow length of 10-25 meters is ideal when guided irrigation is followed .
• The button of the furrow should be loosened to 10 cm depth.
• In this system first basal manures is placed in the furrow bottom and mixed slightly with the soil.
• The treated setts are placed either in end to end or bud to bud fashion.
• At the time of planting care should be taken to plant the setts in such a way that the buds are facing the sides ( facing downward = difficult in emergence and upward = expose on irrigation).
• The the setts are covered with soil and irrigated and better for light soil.
• In heavy clay soils , the furrows are irritated first and plant the sett and is called wet method.
4. Trench method of planting
• Suitable for : tall crops and strong wind – causes losing of cane .
• In this system U shaped trenches of 35 cm deep ( width 20 cm) at a distance of 90 cm are dug with the help of ridger / manual labour.
• After this already prepared mixture of NPK fertilizer s should be spread uniformly in the trenches and mixed thoroughly in the soil .
• Immediately after planting ( end to end ) this trenches are filled with loose soil as in case of flat sowing (5-7 cm of soil layer ).
• In due course of time when the shoots have well developed the trenches are filled by soils while giving earthing up (85-100DAP).
5. Deep Trench method of Planting
• Suitable for early drought (deep planting ) and late water logging conditions ( small drain trench ).
• In this method Trench size should be 30-45 cm depth and 60 cm width at a spacing of 120 cm ( center to center ) leaving gap of 60 cm.
• As the cane grows , trench is filled with soil with each manuring .
• Finally a small trench is formed between the seats of paired rows which serves as drainage channel.
• The system is highly labour intensive.
• But the system gives higher yield .Besides more number of productive rations can be raised.

Conclusion

Hence proper attention should be give during the planting of the sugar. If we practice proper and scientific method for plantation of sugarcane ,we can able to get more products. So best method should be selected during the planting time.

Writer: Sandip Timalsina (Address: Chandrapur-4, Rautahat, College: Gauradaha Agriculture Campus)