Planting methods of sugarcane

There are different methods of planting which can be adopted according to the condition of moisture level, soil and climate, level of mechanization, labor availability etc.

A. Conventional methods

• Flat bed method
• Ridge and furrow method
• Trench method
• Deep trench method

B. Improved methods

• Rayungans planting method or IISR8626 method
• Spaced transplanting method
• Ring planting method

a. Flat bed method

• Land is ploughed, harrowed, leveled and flat beds are prepared.
• 60-90 cm distance is kept between two rows depending upon soil type.
• Eye to eye arrangements of sett placement is to be followed and setts are covered with 5cm depth of soils by using spade or reversible MB plough.
• This system is suitable in areas where moisture stress is not a problem.
• Under moisture stress condition, furrow is first opened at 75-90 cm apart by means of spade or MB plough, sett is planted and then covered with soil. It is also called dry method of planting.
• The land is laid out into different blocks of 2.5-3.0 m in breadth and of any convenient length after proper tilth and fertilizer application.
• Beds are then completely saturated with irrigation water. In case of excess, water is drained out by the interspaces kept in between the two beds. The cane setts are then distributed over the raised saturated beds in zigzag manner and trampled down by feet.
• Seed required by this method is comparatively higher (about 50000-75000 three budded setts /ha). It is not a very common method and is known as wet method of planting.

b. Ridges and furrow system:

• This method is generally adopted in areas with moderate rainfall but have drainage problem.
• It is the most common method of sugarcane planting.
• Ridges and furrows are opened with the help of ridger by keeping 120 cm distance between furrows in heavy soil and 105 cm distance in light to medium soil.
• Closer spacing (60-75cm) is desirable for early varieties, short duration varities, and shy tillering varities and under poor soil fertility status and adverse growing conditions like moisture stress or limited irrigation, soil and water salinity, excess moisture or water logging and late planting.
• Wider row spacing (100-120 cm) is advisable under high fertility conditions with good irrigation facility and for long duration and high tillering varieties. Deep furrows are opened in’V’ shape (about 25 cm).
• The furrow bottom should be loosened to about 10 cm.
• Drainage channels which are deeper than furrows and the irrigation channels , should be opened along with field borders as well as within the field at regular intervals.
• The system facilitates easy irrigation, provides good soil aeration and solid support to the plant when a proper earthing up is done.

c. Trench system

• The trench system is mostly practiced in heavy clay soil, mainly in coastal wetlands where clod formation is common.
• In this system, U-shaped furrows or trenches of 25-30 cm depth are made mostly using spade about 75-120 cm ( mostly 90 cm) apart from each other.
• The width of trench is about 20-30 cm.
• The setts are planted in the middle of the trenches and covered with soil.
• Irrigation is given after the completion of planting.
• This method produces large clumps of cane which do not lodge when tied together.
• This method is labor consuming and costlier.

d. Deep trench system

• In this system, deep trenches of depth 30-45cm and width 60 cm are dug out manually at a spacing of 120 cm between the centers of two adjacent trenches.
• That is, the gap between the trenches is 60cm.
• Sugarcane setts are planted on either side of the trench bottom and covered with soil slightly.
• As the cane grows, the trench is filled with soil with each manuring.
• Finally, a small trench is formed in between two set of paired rows which serves as a drainage channel to remove excess water during monsoon rains.
• This system is found ideal for early drought and late waterlogged conditions. In the initial stage, because the setts are planted deep in the moist soil zone, they get adequate soil moisture and thus give good germination and a good initial crop stand is thus established.
• The trench formed later on, are useful to drain out excess soil moisture during the ripening phase of crop.
• This system is highly labor intensive. But the system gives higher cane yield. Besides, more number of productive ratoon can be raised.

e. Rayungans planting method or IISR 8626 method

• This method of planting was developed by Dr.R.R Panje and associates at the IISR, Lucknow for subtropical sugarcane growing conditions.
• The technique has been referred as “CAEGUS” system. The words stand for

‘Consociation  of  Auxin  Action’,  ‘Extension  of  Growth’  and  ‘Unhindered Utilization of Soil’, indicating the three basic principles of the system.

• About two month before planting, the seed crop is topped to remove the green leaves and the tip of the top most internodes.
• This leads to sprouting of buds and side shoot formation.
• The time of topping has to be adjusted depending upon the planting time. In cooler months from topping to planting about 2- 2 ½ months may be required while for April planting, a month only may be required.
• The cut end may be touched with a rod soaked in a fungicide solution.

f. Spaced transplanting technique

• Conventionally, planted cane is unable to harvest solar radiation at its optimum capacity and due to higher number of shoot mortality, stalk density per unit area is reduced and their yield per unit area are also less. Hence an improved method was developed by IISR, Lucknow. The method is known as spaced transplanting technique of sugarcane cultivation (STP) where proper crop geometry through proper spacing of plants are maintained in sugarcane field.
• In this technique, seedlings are raised in a nursery bed using single bud setts.
• Then when seedlings are of 6 weeks old, they are transplanted in prepared main field.

Advantage of STP method

Saving nearly 4 tonnes of seed cane per hectare as against 6-8 tons used in the normal planting.

1. Higher stalk population exceeding 1.2 lakh canes per hectare
2. Late shoot production considerably reduced
3. Lower incidence of pest and disease
4. Reduce lodging of canes
5. Increase in yield, 20-25% in tropical and 40-45% in subtropical regions.

g. Ring or pit system

• Circular pits of 90cm diameter are dug out to a depth of 45cm with a gap of 60cm between the two adjacent pits.
• At this spacing, irrigation channels are opened in the 90 cm gap and about 4000 pits can be formed per hectare.
• The pits are refilled with loose soil and farmyard manure to a depth of 15cm. while planting, 20 setts are planted per pit and covered with the soil to a thickness of 5cm.
• The system gives higher yield (about 25 % more), better ratoon and has also been found useful under saline soil and saline water irrigated conditions and also useful under drip irrigation system of irrigation. However, it requires higher labor.
• Close spacing is followed when plantings are late and wider spacing for early planting. The base of side shoot should be 5-10cm below the original soil surface. The number of ‘Rayungans’ required per hectare is about 20,000.

Advantages

• Remarkably higher yield
• Moderate requirements of fertilizers and irrigation
• Suited to canal as well as tube well areas.
• Greater efficiency of inputs and adaptable for short season
• Fewer cultural operation and less frequent attention

h. Paired row system

• Two canes are planted together followed by a wide gap between the next set of two.
• The paired row may be of 60cm with 120cm gap.

Wide gap is advantageous for intercrops and good earthing up.