Cultivation of Sugarcane

Botanical Information

• Botanical name: Saccharum officinarum (Tropical Cane)
• Family: Poaceae (Gramineae)
• Origin: New Guinea
• Inflorescence: Open panicle, known as “arrow”
• Type of crop: Long duration, perennial (grown as annual)

Root Types

• Sett roots: Temporary; support initial growth.
• Shoot roots: Permanent; provide anchorage.

Major Sugarcane Producing Countries

1. Brazil (since 1979)
2. India
3. Cuba
4. China

Climatic Requirements

• Temperature:
  • Germination: 32–38°C
  • Tillering: 25–30°C
  • Maturity: 15–20°C
• Rainfall: 1000–1500 mm (well-distributed)
• Sunlight: Bright sunshine essential
• Soil:
  • Deep, well-drained loamy soils rich in organic matter
  • pH: 6.5–7.5

Varieties

• Tropical canes (Saccharum officinarum): Thick, juicy, sweet canes, high sugar content
• Indian canes (S. barberi, S. sinense): Short, thin stalks, early maturing

 Land Preparation

• 2–3 deep ploughings followed by harrowing
• Land should be well-leveled and weed-free
• Apply 10–15 tonnes/ha of FYM or compost before last ploughing

Planting Time

• Tropical India: October–November (autumn), January–February (spring)
• Subtropical India: February–March (spring)

Planting Methods

(i) Conventional Methods

1. Flat Bed Planting: 8–10 cm furrows; setts placed end-to-end; North India.
2. Furrow Method: 10–20 cm deep furrows; eastern UP, Peninsular India.
3. Trench/Java Method: U-shaped trench (20–25 cm); used in coastal windy areas.

(ii) Improved Techniques

1. Partha Method: Tamil Nadu; ideal for waterlogged conditions.
2. Spaced Transplanting Technique (IISR): Nursery with single-budded setts (18000/ha); transplanted after 45–60 days.
3. Winter Nursery System (IISR): Polythene-covered nursery in December; produces ‘Slip Setts’.
4. Rayungan Method: Developed buds from mother cane; transplanted on ridges.
5. Sablang/Sprouting Method: Transplanting tillers with roots.
6. Tjeblock Method: Half cane planted vertically; buds sprout and used as setts.
7. Algin Method: Uses top nodes, planted between wheat rows (Allahabad Agri. Institute).

(iii) Sett Placement Techniques

• End to end method – low sett rate.
• Eye to eye method
• Double row system – for thick planting.
• Single bud planting – for nursery-based transplanting.

Seed Rate

• Thick canes: 50–70 q/ha (3-budded setts)
• Single bud sett: 18000 setts/ha (nursery method)

Nutrient Management

• Nitrogen (N): 150–200 kg/ha (split doses)
• Phosphorus (P₂O₅): 60–80 kg/ha
• Potassium (K₂O): 60–120 kg/ha
• Micronutrients: Zn, Fe as per soil requirement

Water Management

• Water requirement: 1500–2500 mm total
• Critical stages: Germination, tillering, grand growth, maturity
• Irrigation interval: Every 7–10 days (summer), 15–20 days (winter)

Intercultural Operations

• Weeding: First 30–60 days after planting
• Earthing up: 60–90 DAP
• Trash mulching: Retains moisture and controls weeds

Growth Phases

1. Germination phase: 0–60 DAP
2. Tillering (Formative) phase: 60–130 DAP
3. Grand growth phase: 130–250 DAP
4. Maturity phase: 250–365 DAP

Harvesting and Ripening

• Indicators of maturity:
  • Yellowing of leaves
  • Arrowing, cessation of growth
  • Brittle stalks with metallic sound
  • Bud swelling, eye sprouting
  • Brix % of 16–18% in stalk middle (measured using Hand Refractometer)
  • Glucose < 0.5% (tested using Fehling’s solution)

Chemical Ripening

• Balsario: 4.5 kg/ha in 1000L water
• Others: Polaris, Sodium Metasilicate (sprayed 6 weeks before harvest)

Yield

• Average cane yield: 60–100 t/ha
• Sugar recovery: 10–12%
• Jaggery recovery: 9–10%
• By-products: Molasses, bagasse, press mud

Importance

• Raw material for sugar, ethanol (gasohol), jaggery, paper, power
• Generates employment and income
• Contributes to bioenergy production and by-product utilization

 Sugar Extraction Sources

• Sugarcane
• Sugarbeet
• Sorghum
• Sugar palm

Important Institutions

• SBI, Coimbatore – Sugarcane Breeding Institute
• IISR, Lucknow – Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research
• ISI, Kanpur – Indian Sugar Institute

Sugar Recovery Statistics

Importance and By-products

• 50% – White sugar
• 30% – Gur/Jaggery
• 20% – Alcohol (ethanol for fuel; Gasohol = 80% petrol + 20% ethanol)

Comparison: Sugarcane vs. Sugarbeet