Submitted by Himal Jasani on Tue, 26/05/2009 - 11:38.
SEED Healthy seed material, free from pests and diseases, and having high viability is essential for establishing the crop in the first instance. The top one-third to half portion of a cane, being comparatively immature, has buds of good viability and is best to be used as seed. The bottom portion is usually richer in sugar than the top portion, and it is best to utilize it for sugar or gur-making. In tropical India, setts for sowing are taken from well-manured, erect and healthy canes. In some places in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, crop nurseries are adequately fertilized, and well protected against pests and disease.
Before planting, the leaves of the cane stalks are stripped off by hand in order that buds on them may not be damaged. These stalks are then cut into 3-bud setts each usually 30 to 50 cm long. If seed is required at a distant place, whole canes should be transported without stripping off the leaves or cutting them into setts. If planting is for any reason to be delayed, but the seed canes have been harvested, they should be heaped in shade under a thick cover of straw or cane trash, and periodically sprinkled with water. Under the dry condition of northern India, the soaking of seed in water for four to six hours before sowing improves and hastens germination. Under irrigated conditions in Peninsular India, the planted setts are liable to rot, and in some areas they are attacked by the pineapple disease. To prevent rotting and infection with the disease, the dipping of the setts into a suitable fungicide, such as 0.5 per cent mercuric chloride or 0.25 per cent Aretan or Agallol solution or 1 kg of Perenox in 400 litres of water is recommended. Aretan, along with gamma BHC, is also recommended in northern India; the former improves the germination and keeps off fungal attack and the latter keeps off termites is serious, gamma BHC at 1 kg actual ingredient per hectare in emulsion form and diluted 300 times is sprinkled with a watering-can on the setts placed in the furrows.
Depending on the distance between the rows and the vigour and soundness of the buds, 25 to 35 thousand 3-bud setts are usually enough to plant a hectare. According as the cane is thick or thin, 1 1/2 to 3 tonnes of cane by weight is needed to provide about 10,000 3-bud setts. In the Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, 2-bud setts planted in rows, about 60 cm (about two feet) apart, have been found to give the best results. In the case of late planting, the seed-rate is often increased slightly, and the setts are planted a little closer in the row in order ot gaurd against gappy germination.
Sugarcane seed and its treatment
SEED Healthy seed material, free from pests and diseases, and having high viability is essential for establishing the crop in the first instance. The top one-third to half portion of a cane, being comparatively immature, has buds of good viability and is best to be used as seed. The bottom portion is usually richer in sugar than the top portion, and it is best to utilize it for sugar or gur-making. In tropical India, setts for sowing are taken from well-manured, erect and healthy canes. In some places in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, crop nurseries are adequately fertilized, and well protected against pests and disease.
Before planting, the leaves of the cane stalks are stripped off by hand in order that buds on them may not be damaged. These stalks are then cut into 3-bud setts each usually 30 to 50 cm long. If seed is required at a distant place, whole canes should be transported without stripping off the leaves or cutting them into setts. If planting is for any reason to be delayed, but the seed canes have been harvested, they should be heaped in shade under a thick cover of straw or cane trash, and periodically sprinkled with water. Under the dry condition of northern India, the soaking of seed in water for four to six hours before sowing improves and hastens germination. Under irrigated conditions in Peninsular India, the planted setts are liable to rot, and in some areas they are attacked by the pineapple disease. To prevent rotting and infection with the disease, the dipping of the setts into a suitable fungicide, such as 0.5 per cent mercuric chloride or 0.25 per cent Aretan or Agallol solution or 1 kg of Perenox in 400 litres of water is recommended. Aretan, along with gamma BHC, is also recommended in northern India; the former improves the germination and keeps off fungal attack and the latter keeps off termites is serious, gamma BHC at 1 kg actual ingredient per hectare in emulsion form and diluted 300 times is sprinkled with a watering-can on the setts placed in the furrows.
Depending on the distance between the rows and the vigour and soundness of the buds, 25 to 35 thousand 3-bud setts are usually enough to plant a hectare. According as the cane is thick or thin, 1 1/2 to 3 tonnes of cane by weight is needed to provide about 10,000 3-bud setts. In the Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, 2-bud setts planted in rows, about 60 cm (about two feet) apart, have been found to give the best results. In the case of late planting, the seed-rate is often increased slightly, and the setts are planted a little closer in the row in order ot gaurd against gappy germination.