Sugarcane — Package of Practices
A long-duration, water- and nutrient-hungry crop planted from setts — feed it heavily, earth up and prop against lodging, and harvest at peak sucrose.
Overview
Sugarcane is a long-duration tropical crop grown for sugar and jaggery. It is one of the heaviest users of water and nutrients, and it crops for many months before harvest.
Success rests on healthy planting material, heavy and well-timed feeding, support against lodging, and harvesting at peak sucrose; a ratoon crop often follows.
Climate & season
Sugarcane needs warm, sunny weather (about 20–35 °C) and a long growing season.
- Planted mainly in spring (Feb–Mar) and autumn (Oct).
- Needs abundant water and heat through grand growth.
- Sensitive to frost and to prolonged waterlogging.
Soil & land preparation
Best on deep, fertile, well-drained loam to clay loam at pH 6.5–7.5.
- Plough deep and form furrows or trenches.
- Mix in 20–25 t/ha farmyard manure or compost.
- Provide good drainage despite the high water need.
Planting material & setts
The crop is planted from setts (cane pieces) of two or three buds, taken from healthy, disease-free seed cane. Choose early or mid-late maturing types. No specific cultivar is named here.
Planting material
- About 35,000–40,000 three-bud setts/ha.
- Use 8–10 month-old, healthy seed cane.
- Place setts end-to-end in moist furrows.
Sett treatment
- Treat setts with a recommended fungicide (and hot-water treatment where ratoon-stunting is a concern).
- This guards against red rot and sett-borne diseases.
Planting & spacing
- Open furrows 90–120 cm apart.
- Lay treated two/three-bud setts end-to-end along the furrow.
- Cover with 4–5 cm of soil in moist conditions.
- Keep the soil moist for even sprouting.
- Gap-fill early to maintain a full stand.
Nutrient management
Sugarcane is a very heavy feeder; split the large nitrogen dose across the early and grand-growth phases.
| Input | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Farmyard manure | 20–25 t/ha | Basal, well-rotted |
| Nitrogen (N) split | 150–250 kg/ha | Several splits to grand growth |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 60–80 kg/ha | Full basal |
| Potash (K₂O) | 60–120 kg/ha | Basal; supports cane & sugar |
Water management
Sugarcane has a high water requirement spread over its long season.
- Most critical during the formative and grand-growth phases.
- Give frequent irrigations; ease off near maturity to build sucrose.
- Drip irrigation greatly improves water-use efficiency.
Earthing up, propping & detrashing
- Keep the crop weed-free for the first 90–120 days (it starts slowly).
- Earth up around the rows to anchor the clumps and aid drainage.
- Prop and tie the canes as they grow tall to prevent lodging.
- Detrash (remove dry lower leaves) to reduce pests and improve quality.
Plant protection
| Problem | Type | Watch for | Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early shoot borer | Pest | Dead hearts in young shoots | Healthy setts, trash mulching, egg-parasitoid release, recommended insecticide |
| Top & internode borers | Pest | Bored tops and stalks, bunchy tops | Detrashing, parasitoids, remove affected canes |
| Pyrilla & scale | Pest | Sooty mould, sap loss | Detrashing, conserve natural enemies; spray if severe |
| Termites & white grub | Pest | Damaged setts and roots | Sett treatment, soil management |
| Red rot | Disease | Reddened internal pith with white patches; drying canes | Disease-free setts, resistant types, rogue affected clumps |
| Smut | Disease | Black whip-like growth from the top | Healthy setts, rogue affected clumps |
| Wilt / ratoon stunting | Disease | Stunting, poor ratoon | Hot-water/treated setts, healthy seed plots |
- Plant treated, disease-free setts from a clean seed plot.
- Practise trash management and detrashing to cut borers.
- Release egg parasitoids for borers where available; rogue diseased clumps.
- Spray only at the threshold, following the label.
Use crop-protection inputs responsibly
Read the label, use the recommended dose, wear protective gear while spraying, and strictly observe the pre-harvest (waiting) interval before picking — on crops harvested repeatedly this matters at every picking. Prefer cultural and biological methods first and spray only when monitoring shows it is needed.
Harvesting, ratoon & yield
Harvest at peak maturity (judged by sweetness/brix), generally 10–18 months by type and planting time.
- Cut close to the ground and crush quickly — sucrose falls after cutting.
- A well-kept stubble can be carried as a ratoon crop for the next season.
- Cane yields of about 80–120 t/ha are achievable with good management.
Sugarcane — Package of Practices
A long-duration, water- and nutrient-hungry crop planted from setts — feed it heavily, earth up and prop against lodging, and harvest at peak sucrose.
Overview
Sugarcane is a long-duration tropical crop grown for sugar and jaggery. It is one of the heaviest users of water and nutrients, and it crops for many months before harvest.
Success rests on healthy planting material, heavy and well-timed feeding, support against lodging, and harvesting at peak sucrose; a ratoon crop often follows.
Climate & season
Sugarcane needs warm, sunny weather (about 20–35 °C) and a long growing season.
- Planted mainly in spring (Feb–Mar) and autumn (Oct).
- Needs abundant water and heat through grand growth.
- Sensitive to frost and to prolonged waterlogging.
Soil & land preparation
Best on deep, fertile, well-drained loam to clay loam at pH 6.5–7.5.
- Plough deep and form furrows or trenches.
- Mix in 20–25 t/ha farmyard manure or compost.
- Provide good drainage despite the high water need.
Planting material & setts
The crop is planted from setts (cane pieces) of two or three buds, taken from healthy, disease-free seed cane. Choose early or mid-late maturing types. No specific cultivar is named here.
Planting material
- About 35,000–40,000 three-bud setts/ha.
- Use 8–10 month-old, healthy seed cane.
- Place setts end-to-end in moist furrows.
Sett treatment
- Treat setts with a recommended fungicide (and hot-water treatment where ratoon-stunting is a concern).
- This guards against red rot and sett-borne diseases.
Planting & spacing
- Open furrows 90–120 cm apart.
- Lay treated two/three-bud setts end-to-end along the furrow.
- Cover with 4–5 cm of soil in moist conditions.
- Keep the soil moist for even sprouting.
- Gap-fill early to maintain a full stand.
Nutrient management
Sugarcane is a very heavy feeder; split the large nitrogen dose across the early and grand-growth phases.
| Input | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Farmyard manure | 20–25 t/ha | Basal, well-rotted |
| Nitrogen (N) split | 150–250 kg/ha | Several splits to grand growth |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 60–80 kg/ha | Full basal |
| Potash (K₂O) | 60–120 kg/ha | Basal; supports cane & sugar |
Water management
Sugarcane has a high water requirement spread over its long season.
- Most critical during the formative and grand-growth phases.
- Give frequent irrigations; ease off near maturity to build sucrose.
- Drip irrigation greatly improves water-use efficiency.
Earthing up, propping & detrashing
- Keep the crop weed-free for the first 90–120 days (it starts slowly).
- Earth up around the rows to anchor the clumps and aid drainage.
- Prop and tie the canes as they grow tall to prevent lodging.
- Detrash (remove dry lower leaves) to reduce pests and improve quality.
Plant protection
| Problem | Type | Watch for | Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early shoot borer | Pest | Dead hearts in young shoots | Healthy setts, trash mulching, egg-parasitoid release, recommended insecticide |
| Top & internode borers | Pest | Bored tops and stalks, bunchy tops | Detrashing, parasitoids, remove affected canes |
| Pyrilla & scale | Pest | Sooty mould, sap loss | Detrashing, conserve natural enemies; spray if severe |
| Termites & white grub | Pest | Damaged setts and roots | Sett treatment, soil management |
| Red rot | Disease | Reddened internal pith with white patches; drying canes | Disease-free setts, resistant types, rogue affected clumps |
| Smut | Disease | Black whip-like growth from the top | Healthy setts, rogue affected clumps |
| Wilt / ratoon stunting | Disease | Stunting, poor ratoon | Hot-water/treated setts, healthy seed plots |
- Plant treated, disease-free setts from a clean seed plot.
- Practise trash management and detrashing to cut borers.
- Release egg parasitoids for borers where available; rogue diseased clumps.
- Spray only at the threshold, following the label.
Use crop-protection inputs responsibly
Read the label, use the recommended dose, wear protective gear while spraying, and strictly observe the pre-harvest (waiting) interval before picking — on crops harvested repeatedly this matters at every picking. Prefer cultural and biological methods first and spray only when monitoring shows it is needed.
Harvesting, ratoon & yield
Harvest at peak maturity (judged by sweetness/brix), generally 10–18 months by type and planting time.
- Cut close to the ground and crush quickly — sucrose falls after cutting.
- A well-kept stubble can be carried as a ratoon crop for the next season.
- Cane yields of about 80–120 t/ha are achievable with good management.