Enhancing Sugarcane Plant–Ratoon Productivity Through Bud Chip Transplanting Geometry

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for three consecutive seasons on sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid complex) plant–ratoon system (2013–2016) at Sugarcane Research Institute, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, to study the effect of planting distance and row spacing on productivity of sugarcane planted with bud chip raised settlings by furrow-irrigated raised bed method of planting. The results revealed that growth and yield attributes, viz. leaf area index, drymatter accumulation, plant population, plant height, net assimilation rate, cane diameter and millable canes, were significantly influenced due to planting distance and row spacing. The mean higher cane yield (81.7 and 74.6 t/ha) in plant and ratoon crops was obtained at 30 cm planting distance. Though the differences between 30 and 45 cm planting distance were not significant, the higher benefit/cost ratio was obtained at 45 cm planting distance. Among row spacing, planting at 90 cm row spacing showed the highest drymatter accumulation (30.6 and 28.1 t/ha), millable canes (102,000 and 116,300/ha), net returns (Rs. 137,700 and 140,600/ha) and benefit/cost ratio (1.67 and 2.40) in plant and ratoon crops, respectively. Planting of bud chip raised settlings at 90 cm row spacing significantly increased the yield of plant and ratoon canes during all the years of experimentation as well as on mean basis. Sucrose content juice was not affected by planting distance and row spacing. Correlation studies between cane yield and sucrose content with different growth and yield parameters of sugarcane plant and ratoon crops indicated that the yield of sugarcane was significantly and positively correlated with most of the growth and yield parameters.