Sugarcane

Sugarcane refers to several species and hybrids of tall perennial grass in the genus Saccharum that are used for sugar production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sucrose, which accumulates in the stalk internodes. Sugarcanes belong to the grass family. It is an economically important flowering plant family that includes maize, wheat, rice, and sorghum, and many forage crops. It is native to the warm, temperate tropical regions of India.

  • Subtropical Region

    1 September - 31 October
  • Tropical Region

    1 June - 31 July
Sugarcane field
Sugarcane field

Classification:

  • SCIENTIFIC NAME-  Saccharum officinarum
  • FAMILY - Gramineae
  • CLASS - Monocotyledons
  • ORDER- Glumaceae
  • SUB FAMILY - Panicoidae
  • TRIBE - Andripogoneae
  • SUB-TRIBE - Saccharininea

Introduction:

  • It belongs to the family of bamboo plants and is also indigenous to India.

  • It is also the main source of Sugar, Gur and Khandsari.

  • 2/3rd of the total sugarcane in India is used for the making of Gur and Khandsari and 1/3 is consumed by sugar factories.

  • Also, for manufacturing alcohol it provides raw material.

  • The crushed cane residue and Bagasse can be more beneficial for manufacturing paper instead of using it as a fuel for mills.

  • It is a productive alternate for petroleum products and also a host of other chemical products and a part of it is also used as a fodder.

  • Sugarcane has the largest value of production and holds a desirable position among the commercial crops in India.

  • It is the first choice for the farmers, because geographical conditions favor its growth.

Location:

  • Uttar Pradesh has the largest area for cultivation of Sugarcane.

  • It has almost 50 per cent of the cane area in the country.

  • The nine most important sugarcane producing states are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab.

  • Also, the production of Sugarcane is the highest in Uttar Pradesh followed by Maharashtra.

Season:

  • In Subtropical regions of India planting Seasons of Sugarcane are September- October and February - March (spring).

  • In tropical regions, it is June - August (Adsali) & January- February and October - November (Eksali).

Weather Requirement:

  • Sugarcane is a tropical plant and it requires warm weather to reach its maturity

  • Temperature of 20°c- 26°c and an average rainfall of 150cm is suitable for its cultivation

  • An area where water is partly supplemented by the canals requires much sunshine particularly at the end of the growing season to produce cane with high sugar content.

Climate Requirement:

  • It is a tropical plant and is grown in areas where the climate is more or less tropical but it can also be grown is sub tropics like North India.

  • Sugarcane grows in the world from altitude 35° N and 35° S, from sea level to 1000m of altitude or a little more.

  • A total rainfall between 1100mm- 1500mm is sufficient if the distribution is right and abundant in the months of vegetative growth with a dry period of ripening.

  • Also grown in area where rainfall is low upto 500 mm and rainfall above 1500 mm will cause lodging of cane.

Uttar Pradesh has the largest area for cultivation of Sugarcane.
Uttar Pradesh has the largest area for cultivation of Sugarcane.

Varieties 

NAME OF VARIETY

YEAR OF RELEASE

CANE YIELD (t/ha)

SUCROSE CONTENT

(% IN JUICE)

AREA RECOMMENDED

GENETIC RESEARCH FOR YIELD QUALITIY

CHARACTERISTICS

Co 8371

(Bhima)

2000

117.7

18.6

PZ

Bipateral crossing followed by clonal section

Midlate, resistant to smut, tolerant to drought and water logging

Co 86032 
(Nayana)

2000

102.0

20.1

PZ

Bipateral crossing followed by clonal section

Midlate, field resistant to red rot, tolerant to drought, good ratooner

Co 86249 
(Bhavani)

2000

104.2

18.7

ECZ

Bipateral crossing followed by clonal section

Midlate, resistant to smut and red rot, good ratooner

CO Pant

90223

2000

73.3

18.5

NWZ

Open pollination followed by clonal selection

Midlate, resistant to smut, tolerant to drought, water logging and cold, excellent ratooner

 Soil Requirements:

  • It grows best in alluvium and light-clay soil.

  • The best soil for cane is moist clay-loam with good drainage.

  • large amount of fertilizers are used to increase the yield as the crop is valuable

  • It also needs suffi­cient capital and labour.

Seed Rate:

  • At 90cm row to row spacing and @ 12 setts/meter long row, seed requirement per acre would be 45 quintals.

  • Single budded sets (12setts/meter) - 53,000-53,500 setts/acre

  • Single budded setts (end to end) – 31,000-31,500 setts/acre (40%-50% seed saving)

  • Two budded setts( end to end)- 26,500-27,000 setts/acre

  • Three budded setts- 17,500-18,000 setts/acre

Spacing:

  • 75cm in less fertile soil, late planning and under drought condition.

  • 90cm in fertile soil and under spring season.

  • 120cm in the autumn season along with the intercrops.

Seed Treatment:

  • Use disease free quality seeds for planting.

  • Before planting, put the seeds in 0.1% Carbendazim (100g in 100 liters of water) for 5 minutes.

  • For 1 hour treat the seeds in Moist Hot Aerated unit at 54°c.

Sugarcane is perennial grass primarily cultivated for its juice from which sugar is processed.
Sugarcane is perennial grass primarily cultivated for its juice from which sugar is processed.

Manure Requirement:

  • Apply FYM or compost at 4-5 ton/acre.

  • Before taking sugarcane and incorporate in situ using tractor- drawn disc harrow grow green manure crop like Dhaincha(13kgseed/acre) or green(6kgseed/acre).

  • Soil application of Azospirillum or Glucanoacetobactor at 4kg/acre in two split doses on 30 and 60 days after planting.

Fertilizer Requirement:

  • Fertilizers should be applied by keeping in view the soil test report or State Government recommendation or can follow a blanket dose of 60:20:20kg NPK/acre for plant crop and 90:20:20kg NPK/acre for ratoon.

  • Before planting in Furrows apply 50kg DAP and 33kg MOP/acre.

  • After planting apply 50kg urea/ acre.

  • After planting apply 50kg urea/acre at 90 days and give earthing up.

Irrigation:

  • During pre-monsoon irrigation should be done at 10 days interval.

  • In monsoon season it should be done as per the need.

  • During post monsoon season it should be done at 25 days of interval.

Yield:

  • Expected average yield shall be 350-400 quintals/acre.

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