Sett

• Stem cuttings or sections of the stalks are called setts.
• It is the part of striped cane not less than 3 buds (one at each node) which is obtained by cutting the cane across with a sharp edge instrument.
• The middle bud of a 3-bud sett has the highest germination capacity followed by top end bud and the bottom end bud, respectively (Verma, 2004).
• The middle bud has an advantage in germination because, as a non-terminal bud having nodes on either side, its moisture resources are better protected than those of the terminal buds.

Sett preparation

• Sett with either 2 or 3 eye buds cut using a sharp knife placing the cane on a small wooden log.
• Provide a slanting cut leaving ¾ to 1 inch away from the node to each side of setts.
• The length of cane sett depends on length of internodes (8-12 inches).
• Multiple cuts must be avoided to safeguard buds and avoid splits in the setts.

Sett treatment

• Make 1% solution of Bavistin i.e. 1g chemical/lt.of water and then dipped setts for about 5 minutes soon after cutting.
• Dipping into either 0.5% solution of Agallol (3%) or 0.25% of Areton (6%) or Tafarian (6%) or Emisan (6%).

Settlings

• Cane setts with roots and shoots are known as settlings.
• It can be raised either in nursery bed or in polythene bags.
• Single node settlings are used as a planting material on spaced transplanting technique.

Sprouted Bud

• The bud which has grown out before the planting of sett or seed material is called sprouted bud.
• Little portion of stem with one bud is known as bud chips which are used to raise settlings in nursery.

Top one-third portion of cane:

• After cutting of a plant, use top 1/3rd portion for sugarcane planting, mostly because of the following reasons:

1. Top part is poorer in sucrose content or have high amount of glucose than bottom. So if the whole plant is crushed, it will produce poor quality juice and thus impair the quality of jaggery.
2. Top portion is relatively young and succulent as compared to the basal portion.
3. The eye buds of top parts are young, active and viable and start germinating and grow at faster rate after planting whereas the basal part have older, aged and dormant eye buds that takes longer time to germinate and grow.
4. Germination percentage is also higher.

Short crops

• A sugarcane crop raised exclusively for seed purpose is known as short crop.
• It is usually harvested at around 8 months. So that the planting date of the nursery should be accordingly adjusted.
• The entire stock can be used for preparing setts, discarding only the bottom most buds.
• Seedlings emerging from the short crops setts establish quickly and grow vigorously since they contain active and young buds.