“Latest Sugarcane Field Technologies and Guidelines for their Application and Monitoring

for Higher Productivity and Returns”

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Index

S.No. Detail Page no

1 Mandate & farm selection 1

2 Farm survey 1

3 Farm classification 3

4 Crop management practices 4

5 Soil reclamation 4

6 Land preparation 6

7 FYM / Bio-Compost / Bio compost application 8

8 Inter-row spacing 8

9 Varieties 9

10 Setts /Buds/ seedlings for planting 9

11 Sett / single buds treatment 10

12 Weedicide application 10

13 Intercropping 11

14 Fertiliser application 11

15 Biofertiliser 12

16 Irrigation 14

17 Drip irrigation 14

18 Gap filling 17

19 Chlorosis 18

20 Trash mulching 18

21 Propping 19

22 Pest management 19

23 Disease management 28

24 Yield estimate 34

25 Quality estimate 34

26 Generation of cutting orders 35

27 Harvest management 37

28 Cane preparation 37

29 Transport management 37

30 Ratoon management 38

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MANDATE & FARM SELECTION

The crop log cards and the crop management guidelines are prepared with the

following objectives.

1. To promote transfer of recent sugarcane crop cultivation technologies to the

field with maximum economic advantage to the farmer as well as the sugar

factory.

2. To promote systematic, timely application and monitoring of inputs to maximize

productivity.

3. To make the latest cultivation technologies readily available to all the cane

department officials to enable them to interact and disseminate the knowledge

to farmers through the latest computer based audio video system.

The guidelines also takes into consideration various situations and farming

requirements. Farm mechanization for all the operations from land preparation to till

harvest is given as an opportunity to reduce labour requirement.

FARM SURVEY

The mandate of the factory is to crush maximum cane in a season with an average

yield of 50 tonnes per acre and 10.5 - 11% recovery within a period of 3 years. To

achieve these targets, it is important that we select farms with good soil and irrigation

facilities. For this purpose each Field Assistant should obtain the latest village survey

map and also the list of land owners, giving information on the extent of the farm,

availability of well / bore well, power connection number and H.P of the motor or oil

engine. Based on this information the Field Assistant should select the concerned

farmer and approach him periodically and obtain the offer letter to plant sugarcane or

to register the ratoon crop.

It would be possible to achieve the above targets if meticulous care is taken by each

Field Assistant and persuade the farmer to adopt the recommendations at the right

time and also to apply correct dose of each input as specified in this guidelines.

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To start with, the Field Assistant should obtain offer letter with date atleast about 75

days in advance. Along with this all other details on item B and C should be

collected and entered in the field log sheet.

Soil and water samples should be collected from each farm as per the standard

procedure (Enclosure 1) and properly processed. It should be preserved in zonal

offices after proper labeling. One part of this must be sent to the R&D Soil testing

laboratory of the factory at Chelluru. The micro nutrient deficiency visually exhibited

by the earlier crop grown in the field should be given in item D-10.

The type of weeds (either monocot or dicot) and their intensity should be specified

in item D-13, to decide on weed control measures to be adopted. If dicot weeds are

more prevalent, then Atrazine (1.5 Kg/acre) on the third day should be applied

without fail and if more monocot weeds are present then intercropping, trash

mulching or application of Glyphosate weedicide three months in advance to

planting can be recommended.

Based on the information in E - 1, 2 and 3, sugarcane area that could be irrigated

(E- 4) by the motor should be arrived at by the thumb rule that a 5 HP motor can

irrigate 4.00 acres, 7.5 HP can cover 6.00 acres and 10.00 HP motor can cover

8.00 acres of sugarcane during summer months. Data on EC of irrigation water

should also be recorded.

The classification of farms should be based on soil type and availability of water.

For example, in a sandy soil even with good irrigation source, a 5HP motor cannot

sustain more than 3.00 acres of sugarcane during summer months.

FARM CLASSIFICATION

Based on the above information up to item E, the farm should finally be classified

as normal if it has black soil or red loamy soil. Farms without good irrigation source or

very sandy soils must be classified as drought prone farms during summer months.

Similarly, if the soil contains more salts, high EC (>1.5), high pH (>8.0), leading to

salinity, alkalinity or calcareous nature the same should be indicated in item F.

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After entering all the above information in the log sheet, the zone incharge should give

his recommendations, bearing in mind the physical characteristics, nutritional status of

the soil and the irrigation facilities including the quality of water and its availability as

indicated below.

If the farm has all the good facilities, he must recommend to choose the normal

management practices as given in this guidelines.

On the other hand, if he foresees drought situation in summer he must classify it as

drought prone farm and give indications to the Field Assistant to adopt drought

management practices.

If the farm soils are saline, proper directions should be indicated to adopt soil

reclamation methods using Gypsum.

In few farms, the soils may be highly calcareous with high pH and show severe

chlorotic symptoms in all crops. To overcome this, soil reclamation by application of

spent wash should be recommended provided it is approved by the Environmental

board.

Sandy soils should be improved by addition of Tank silt followed by ploughing and

sowing green manure crop. The type of irrigation method (viz., Furrow. Skip furrow

and drip) to be followed should be indicated in E7.

H. CROP MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

SOIL RECLAMATION (H 4)

A. Reclamation of Saline & High pH Soils: H 4 (P)

For reclamation of saline and high pH soils gypsum application is recommended. The

following table shows the amount of gypsum to be applied in proportion to the pH of the

soil. Based on the pH of soil the following Gypsum recommendation may be given for

reclaiming the soil.

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Soil Ph Amount of Gypsum (MTs. /Ac.)

8.5 – 9.0 1.0

9.1 1.4

9.2 1.8

9.3 2.2

9.4 2.6

9.5 3.0

9.6 3.4

9.7 3.8

9.8 4.2

9.9 4.6

10.0 and above 5.0

After application the field should be ploughed and irrigated.

B. Lime application to rectify Acid Soils:

pH of soil buffer

suspension

Ground limestone (t ha-1)

required to bring the soil pH

to

pH 6.0 pH 6.4 pH 6.8

6.7 1.0 1.2 1.4

6.6 1.4 1.7 1.9

6.5 1.8 2.2 2.5

6.4 2.3 2.7 3.1

6.3 2.7 3.2 3.7

6.2 3.1 3.7 4.2

6.1 3.5 4.2 4.8

6.0 3.9 4.7 5.4

5.9 4.4 5.2 6.0

5.8 4.8 5.7 6.5

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5.7 5.2 6.2 7.1

5.6 5.6 6.7 7.7

5.5 6.0 7.2 8.3

5.4 6.5 7.7 8.9

5.3 6.9 8.2 9.4

5.2 7.4 8.6 10.0

5.1 7.8 9.1 10.6

5.0 8.2 9.6 11.2

4.9 8.6 10.1 11.8

4.8 9.4 10.6 12.4

After application the field should be ploughed and irrigated.

C. Green Mannuring / Intercropping - H 21 (P) / H 19 (R)

Raising green manure crop is important to improve soil organic matter and soil

texture. This also adds some quantity of nitrogen to the soil besides helping in control

of Nematodes. If the farmer is raising sugarcane for the first time, he may be

encouraged to grow sun hemp, especially if the soils are sandy and light textured. In

case of black soils and saline soils, daincha may be raised. Pure green manure crop

should be raised 50 – 60 days before planting sugarcane in the case of sun hemp and

70 – 80 days in case of daincha. At flowering stage, the green manure crop should be

incorporated into the soil with tractor. Subsequently, after 7 – 10 days, field should be

prepared properly for cane cultivation.

LAND PREPARATION

DEEP PLOUGHING & MAKING FURROWS (H 6)

If sugarcane is planted after harvesting paddy or if fresh cane planting is taken

up, plough the land using Chisel plough attached to 60 Hp tractor with hydraulic

attachment (like Mahindra Arjun) to break the hard pan after every 4 1/2 feet and also

diagonally. Deep ploughing of the field is highly essential for improving yield per acre

as well as recovery by preventing the cane from lodging. This can be achieved by the

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use of reversible mould board plough / larger disc plough / Mould board plough. After

about 4 – 5 days use rotary plough to break the clods.

Next important operation is to make furrows and ridges. This is achieved by using

bucket type ridger (Coimbatore) in Red soils, Trench making ridger (Coimbatore) which

can be attached to 45 - 60Hp tractor with hydraulic attachment.

It is also essential to use Chisel plough for breaking the hard pan in between the rows

after harvesting the 3rd ratoon crop / after the yields of ratoon starts declining. Enough

time should be given between two ploughings for good aeration of soil and to expose

the eggs / larvae of pests to be picked by birds.

A rotary plough may be used in garden land condition and in high calcareous soils

where shallow planting of around 9 inches could be preferred to avoid lime induced

chlorosis.

Implements useful for land preparation in light soils

S.NO Type of implements Remarks

1 Chisel plough

Breaking hard pan once in five

years or to break the hard pen

once in three years in ratoon crop

2 RMB / MB / Disc plough For deep ploughing

3 Rotary plough / Rotavator

If clods are present, After RMB

field should be dried for 4-5 days

for breaking the clods effectively.

4.a Single deep ridger To get good furrow depth for single

row planting.

4.b Bucket type ridger

or Trench type ridger

To widen the furrow for zig-zag

planting or Double row planting.

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NOTE: After using RMB plough the field should be allowed to dry for 4 to 5 Days for

faster Microbial activity.

Implements useful for land preparation in heavy soils

S.NO Type of implements Remarks

1 Mole plough To improve drainage and to dry

the soil faster

2 Chisel plough To break the hardpan

3 RMB / MB / Disc plough For deep ploughing

4

Tyne harrow followed by

Rotary plough / Rotavator to

break the clods

If clods are present, After RMB

field should be dried for 4-5 days

for breaking the clods effectively.

5.a Single deep ridger To get good furrow depth for

single row planting

5.b Bucket type ridger

or Trench type ridger

To widen the furrow for zig-zag

planting or Double row planting.

FYM & SSP APPLICATION – H7 (P) – H14 (R)

For sustainable crop production, application of organic manure like FYM in addition to

inorganic fertilizers is essential. FYM @ 10 MT / acre should be applied to the soil as

basal dose in the furrows along with 200 Kgs of Single super phosphate seven days

before planting and irrigated. FYM spreader may be used to apply FYM / Fertilizer

mixture.

INTER ROW SPACING - H 6(P) – H 5 (R)

Deep furrows up to 30 cm may be formed by using a tractor drawn ridger with 3 to 5

feet spacing between rows in sandy soils and 4 ½ or 5 feet spacing between rows in

red soils, loamy soils and heavy soils (clay soils). In highly calcareous soils shallow

planting viz., 12” or less and heavy earthling up should be adopted. Wider rows of

4 ½ feet and above are highly essential for total mechanization. For this purpose, it is

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also essential to provide head space of 5 feet along the lengthwise orientation of the

rows. We may avoid head space in each small plot if we can merge them.

VARIETIES - H- 9 (P) – H 4 (R)

S.NO.

VARIETY

FOR SEASON

FOR ZONES

1.

2003V46

Mid & Late

Water availability, good

drainage system available areas

& Heavy soils.

2.

87 A 380

Mid

Water availability, good

drainage system available areas

& Heavy soils.

3.

Co 86032

Early - Mid

Well drained light soils

4.

91V83

Early, Mid & Late

Upland areas with water

availability

5.

Co7805

To be planted in February

& Harvested in next March

All types of soils

SETTS / BUDS/ SEEDLINGS FOR PLANTING (H – 8)

The seed rate for different spacing’s in terms of setts / single buds / single bud

seedlings are given in the table below. The plot number from which the setts are

supplied should be entered in item H- 11 for determining the quality of planting

material, which is a very important factor in determining cane yield. Setts from

commercial nursery (three tier nurseries derived) / self nursery should alone be used

for commercial planting.

The following information on spacing and seed rate may be used for forming ridges

and furrows.

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Spacing Single plant

Area in M2

Area / ac

(M2)

Seedling

requirement

(Nos/ac)

4 ½ X 1 feet 9680

4 feet X 2 feet 0.72 4000 5556

4 feet X 1.5 feet 0.54 4000 7407

5 feet X 1.5 feet 0.68 4000 5926

5.5 feet X 1.5 feet 0.74 4000 5387

In case, seed material from commercial crops or other farmers fields

are to be used for planting strict screening (Rouging H – 39 (N)) of the seed should be

followed to maintain the above seed rate and realize the expected yields. Excess use

of seed material should be avoided to minimize the cost of cultivation and also to

obtain higher yields.

SETT/ SINGLE BUDS TREATMENT (H – 12)

Setts/ Single buds required for one acre are to be treated in a mixture of Bavistin

(50gms) + Urea (1 Kg.) + lime ( 1 Kg.) + Malathion (1 lit) in 100 litres of water for 15 to

20 minutes before planting, especially in rainy months and drought prone areas (lime

treatment) for better germination and crop establishment.

WEEDICIDE (H – 16)

Weedicides should be sprayed on the 3rd day after life irrigation. Life irrigation should

cover the top of the furrow.1.5 kgs of Atrazine / acre should be sprayed preferably with

hand operated sprayer and with inverted nozzle (S40 size nozzle). At the time of

weedicide spraying the field should be in wet condition. The weedicide should be

dissolved in 200 to 225 lts of water for power sprayers or 400 to 450 lts of water for

hand operated sprayer. Spraying should be done uniformly moving in backward

direction. In case of heavy and persistent weed incidence like creepers especially in

wider spaced crops, 2nd weedicide application of Metribuzine / Sencor (300gms/ acre)

mixed with 2,4-D (5Kgs/acre) must be taken up uniformly in the inter row spacing.

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Intercrop planting to greatly reduce weed incidence should be done 20 days after

Atrazine application. If intercrop is already present or required to be planted, earlier 1.5

liter of Lasso + 0.5 Kg Atrazine mixed in 200 litres of water can be applied in one acre.

If trash mulching in plant or ratoon crops or trash spreading using shredder is done in

ratoon crops, weedicide application is not required.

INTERCROPPING - H 21 (P) – H- 19 (R)

Pulse crops like black gram / green gram can be raised as inter crop along with

sugarcane in plant crop after planting or on the 24th / 30 th day if weedicide has been

applied. (Two rows of pulse for 4 ½ feet spacing or three rows of pulse crop for 5 ½ to

6 ½ spacing). After harvesting the pods, the dried rejects of pulse crop should be

applied along the furrows by the side of the sugarcane crop and earthed up.

Alternatively, Vegetable crops or Green manure crops may also be raised. The benefits

of these practices are

1. To get additional income through inter crops.

2. To save labour on hand weeding.

3. To save expenses on application of weedicide.

4. It adds additional nitrogen and organic matter to the soil. If they are leguminous

crops

5. It would maintain the natural soil microbial population.

6. More importantly, it minimizes the incidence of shoot borer.

FERTILIZER APPLICATION – H 25/28/31 (P) - H 23/ 26/29 (R)

The recommended dose of fertiliser as outlined below should be applied to plant and

ratoon crops on scheduled dates. The crop must be irrigated on the same day. Top

dressing of fertilizers should be carried out followed by light covering of soil initially, half

and heavy earthing up later to subsequent fertilizer application. For nursery crop, 50

Kg. of additional urea has to be applied on 130th day (H – 34 (N)) for better

germination of harvested setts. Super phosphate has to be applied on one side of

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the ridge and other fertilisers on the other side of the ridge for the first dose in a ratoon

crop.

A. Pocket Manuring

Top dressing could be done by pocket mannuring with an applicator or a sharp pointed

pole designed for this purpose. In this method 7 - 10cm deep hole is made around 7cm

away from the sugarcane plant. The distance between two pockets should be around

20 – 30cm or applied by the side of each clump. Care should be taken to see that the

total quantity of fertilizer used per acre does not exceed the recommended dose. This

should be followed by irrigation immediately. Pocket mannuring is ideal for single bud

seedlings. There would be significant improvement in nutrient uptake by the crop

resulting in higher yields.

B. Fertilizer schedule

To ensure optimum and timely supply of fertilizers for proper crop growth resulting in

cane yield and quality, the following fertilizer dose is advocated on different days after

planting.

The detailed schedule and quantity of nutrients supplied is given below.

PLANT CROP RATOON CROP

S.No. Fertiliser and date of application

Quantity / Kgs

S.No. Fertiliser and date of application

Quantity (Kgs.)

1. Basal – at planting Super phosphate

200

1. 13th day Super phosphate Urea

200 75

2. 50th day Neem coated Urea

50

2.

50th day Neem coated Urea

75

3. 75th day Neem coated Urea Murate of potash

75 50

3. 75th day Neem coated Urea Murate of potash

75 50

4. 100th day Neem coated Urea Murate of potash

50 50

4. 100th day Neem coated Urea Murate of potash

50 50

Quantity of nutrients supplied per acre (kgs.)

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Plant crop

N – 124: P2O5 – 39: K2O – 60: Micronutrients – 20 Kg

Ratoon crop

N – 124: P2O5 – 39: K2O – 60: Micronutrients – 20 Kg.

OR

Follow the recommendations given to the cane officers based on the soil testing done by the R&D division of the factory. FERTILIZER RECOMMEDATION - NURSERY CROP

S. No.

Fertiliser and date of application

Inorganic fertilizer (Kgs)

1. Basal – at planting Super phosphate

200

2. 50th day Neem coated Urea

50

3.

75th day Neem coated Urea Murate of potash

75 50

4.

100th day Neem coated Urea Murate of potash

50 50

5. 150th day Neem coated Urea

50

BHOO SHAKTHI (BIO FERTILIZERS & OTHERS) - H 24 (P) – H22 (R)

To facilitate easy handling of all the following inputs they are mixed and supplied in a

bag (Bhoo Shakthi @ 6 bags of 50 kg each per acre) for direct application. This each

bag contains Organic manure mixed with Biofertilizers (Bio N, Bio P & Bio K @ 1 lt

each / Ac), VAM @ 5 Kgs/Ac, Humic acids @ 5 Kgs/Ac, Micronutrients (Zinc & Iron)

and Neem cake @ 10 Kgs/Ac.

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IRRIGATION (H 12)

Life irrigation should be given on the 3rd day of planting. The irrigation schedule given

below may be followed in normal days. During rainy days, irrigation may be skipped

depending on the quantity of rainfall received. If 50 mm of rainfall is received one

irrigation may be skipped.

Irrigation interval (days)

Growth phase Days Sandy Loam Red Loam Black soil

Germination 0 – 45 5 – 6 6 – 7 8 – 10

Tillering 45 – 120 6 – 7 7 – 10 12 – 15

Grand growth 120 – 270 Weekly 10 12 – 15

Ripening 270 – 360 10 12 – 15 15 - 20

In case of drought during summer months, trash mulching is highly essential to

conserve soil moisture. Skip furrow irrigation in alternate furrow, trash mulched plots

will save 50 % of actual water used in very drought prone / affected areas.

Drip Irrigation / Fertigation

The spacing to be adopted for drip irrigation will be 6 ½ feet and with two rows of setts

planted ½ feet apart in the furrows. In case the farmer decides to sow intercrop, install

Chapin drip irrigation system (low cost lateral lines) of M/s.Jain Irrigation Systems

additionally for maintaining the irrigation and fertilizer schedule of intercrop separately.

Sub-surface drip irrigation system is to be promoted after testing in plots having good

quality water and soil which are free from salts like carbonates, bi carbonates, sodium

and chlorides. The lateral lines should be laid at a minimum depth of 12 inches and

setts are to be placed at 9 inches depth before light covering up of soil initially. Care

should be taken to irrigate the crop every day or on alternate days in this system to

prevent clogging of drip lines add Triflouralin @ 125 ml per dripper is to be applied

initially on 4th day after planting and after harvest of the crop every year.

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The crop needs to be irrigated according to the irrigation schedule card issued by the

drip irrigation company based on date of planting. The irrigation time should not exceed

the recommended time as this will leach the nutrients to below the root zone and

reduce yield drastically.

The detailed fertigation schedule for a crop based on type of soil is outlined below .This

is only a blanket recommendation and needs to be changed based on soil analysis and

specific soil and nutrient conditions.

Fertigation Schedule for Sugarcane Crop - Soil Type : Medium & Heavy Soil

(N: P: K - 150: 60: 60 Kg / acre)

Basal Application at planting - 100 Kg Super phosphate per acre 90th Day - 30 to 50 Kg DAP / Faramphos per acre

Days After Planting

FERTILIZER ( Kgs per acre )

UREA WHITE POTASH

25 17 2.0

32 17 2.0

39 17 2.0

46 17 2.0

53 17 2.0

60 15 2.0

67 15 2.0

74 15 2.0

81 15 2.0

88 15 2.0

95 15 2.0

102 15 2.0

109 12 2.0

116 12 2.0

123 12 2.0

130 12 2.0

137 12 2.0

144 12 2.0

151 12 2.0

158 12 2.0

165 12 2.5

172 10 2.5

179 10 2.5

186 8 2.5

193 - 5.5

16

200 - 5.5

207 - 5.5

214 - 5.5

221 - 5.5

228 - 5.5

235 - 5.5

242 - 5.5

249 - 6.0

TOTAL 326 100

Fertigation Schedule for Sugarcane Crop - Soil Type : Sandy Soil

(N: P: K - 150: 60: 60 Kg / acre) Basal Application at planting - 100 Kg Super phosphate per acre 90th Day - 30 to 50 Kg DAP / Faramphos per acre

Days After Planting FERTILIZER ( Kgs per acre )

UREA WHITE POTASH

25 13 1.5

30 13 1.5

35 13 1.5

40 13 1.5

45 13 1.5

50 13 1.5

55 10 1.5

60 10 1.5

65 10 1.5

70 10 1.5

75 10 1.5

80 10 1.5

85 10 1.5

90 10 1.5

95 10 1.5

100 10 1.5

105 9 1.5

110 9 1.5

115 9 1.5

120 9 1.5

125 9 1.5

130 9 1.5

135 9 1.5

140 9 1.5

145 9 1.5

150 9 1.5

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155 9 1.5

160 9 2.0

165 9 2.0

170 8 2.0

175 8 2.0

180 8 2.0

185 8 2.0

190 - 3.5

195 - 3.5

200 - 3.5

205 - 3.5

210 - 3.5

215 - 3.5

220 - 3.5

225 - 3.5

230 - 3.5

235 - 3.5

240 - 3.5

245 - 3.5

250 - 5.5

TOTAL 327 100

PROMOTTING TILLER PRODUCTION: SPRAY 20ML OF ETHOPHAN IN 200LTS OF WATER ON 45DAYS OLD SUGARCANE CROP FOR INCRESING NMC AND ALSO SUGAR RECOVERY.

THIS MAY BE TRIED IN SETT/SINGLE BUDS DIRECT PLANTED AND ALSO IN SINGLE BUD SEEDLINGS PLANTED COMMERCIAL CROPS.

GAP FILLING IN PLANT AND RATOON CROP - H 19 (P) – H 17 (R)

One of the major reasons for low yield in plant & ratoon crops is occurrence of gaps

due to germination failure or mortality of seedlings in plant crop itself. In ratoon crop

germination failure of the stubbles is another reason. This should be overcome by

taking up gap filling around 20th to 30th day after planting the main crop with 30 – 35

days old single bud seedlings raised in nurseries of the same variety should be utilized

for this purpose. The date of gap filling has to be entered in H 19(P) and H 17 (R).

Care should be taken to undertake gap filling in the evening hours after trimming the

green leaves.

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In the evening hours, the seedlings must be uprooted along with soil by compacting the

soil around the seedling. The seedlings are to be immediately transplanted in the gaps

after adding 5 grams of DAP or any complex fertilizer to the pits before transplanting.

The soil around the seedling must be properly compacted to avoid air pockets followed

by copious irrigation for good establishment of the seedlings.

Alternatively to overcome germination failure in ratoon crop, quartering by splitting the

uprooted stubbles into smaller portions with soil or removal of a portion of stubbles

from existing stubble with soil and using them to plant in the gaps must be adopted. In

case of excessive gaps in the field, stubbles from one end should be completely

uprooted along with soil, leaves are to be trimmed and then stubbles are to be split into

smaller portions for planting in the gaps. Copious irrigation before uprooting of stubble

and also after planting is to be given for good establishment. Fresh planting in the

vacant area, where stubbles have been removed, is then taken up with seedlings.

CHLOROSIS

Yellowing of leaves is commonly observed in the command area, especially in ratoon

crops. To rectify this, micro nutrient application to the soil along with major fertilizers is

to be undertaken as given in the fertilizer schedule. In spite of that, if the crop is

showing chlorosis, foliar application of 0.5% Ferrous sulphate + 2% Urea should be

undertaken twice or thrice at 15 days interval. If sugarcane is planted after paddy 1 kg

of zinc sulphate should be applied.

TRASH MULCHING - H 33 (P) – H 13 (R)

In the plant crop, dry and semidry leaves must be detrashed and placed in the furrow

itself at 5 th and 7 th month after planting. Bio- D (5Kg. per acre) mixed with farmyard

manure should be spread over the trash and irrigated copiously to speed up

decomposition. Alternatively, dissolve 100 - 200 kg of fresh cow dung and 5 kgs of

urea in water and spray on the trash and irrigate the crop. This practice has to be

recommended for adoption in all areas and specifically in sandy soils, drought prone

areas and low fertility soils.

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Around 5 to 6 tonnes increase in yield would be obtained in trash mulched fields.

Spraying of Urea (2 %) + ferrous sulphate (0.5 %) solution is to be done in trash

mulched plots if yellowing of crop is noticed. Chloropyriphos @ 2ml/lit is to be mixed

with irrigation water and applied slowly to spread over the entire area or applied

through drip irrigation system @ 1 liter per acre in termite prone or infected areas.

PROPPING - H 30 (P) – H 28 (R)

Propping of sugarcane crop after detrashing must be recommended for adoption as it

will prevent lodging; ensure better light penetration and aeration for sustained growth of

cane and decreased pest or disease incidence. Trash twist propping or single clump or

two row propping can be done based on the situation.

PEST MANAGEMENT

1. TERMITE CONTROL - H 18 (P) – H 16 (R)

Symptoms of damage

1. They occur in dry areas with poor irrigation facilities.

2. Termites damage the setts by entering through cut ends.

3. They also damage the grown up crop upto 5 – 8 nodes from soil.

4. Crop damaged with termites show drying symptoms.

5. 50% of the planted buds during germination are lost due to termite infestation.

Control measures

1. Fields with termite infestation should be given deep ploughing so that the termite

queen will be ploughed out and picked by birds

2. Chloropyriphos 40 EC (2ml/ litre water) may be applied basally or drenched during

planting in the areas of infestation especially sandy soils.

3. Powdered neem cake at 1:4 ratio mixed with FYM / compost / well decomposed

pressmud and distributed in the furrows 7 days before planting and irrigated for

organic sugarcane production.

4. Crop rotation with paddy may be done.

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EARLY SHOOT BORER CONTROL (ESB) - H 27 (P) – H 25 (R)

The infestation of ESB will be serious during the months from March to June in sandy

and saline soils and also in drought prone areas. “Economic Threshold level” (ETL) for

taking up control measure without fail is when more than 15 out of 100 plants are

infested.

Control measures

1. Sex pheromone traps are to be installed @ 8 traps per acre at 15 metre spacing

and from the border on the 40th day followed by a lure change on the 75th day. The

traps are to be installed at 1 feet height on 40th day and increased to 1 ½ feet height

on 75th day. Control through this method will be effective till 120th day.

2. Drenching of shoots with Lindane WP /EC @ 4 gm or ml / litre of water on 30th day

after planting around the base of the plants. Application is to be done using low

volume hand operated sprayers. The dead hearts should be pulled out before

application to facilitate chemical penetration to the core of the shoot.

3. Spray application of granulosis virus at 106 - 107 inclusion bodies / ml of water with

surfactant like Teepol to be repeated at 15 days interval can be done for organic

sugarcane production.

4. Corygen spray @ 120 - 150ml / Ac.

5. Trash mulching or shredding would also greatly help to control the pest in ratoon

crop fields.

6. Take up sowing of intercrops.

2. WHITE GRUB CONTROL - H 17 (P) – H 11 (R)

Symptoms of damage

Adult beetles in Neem and other host trees could be noticed right from day one

after onset of summer showers.

Wilting of shoot, eaten away holes and without soil filling inside eaten areas (In

termite attack the eaten areas will be filled with soil).

Drying of cane clumps in circular patches (or) border rows (or) drainage canal

borders (or) near host trees. The damaged clumps can be pulled out easily.

21

In early stages of attack mild yellowing of clumps in the borders would be noticed

needing confirmation by removing the soil around the clumps and collecting the

grubs.

Control measures

1. Beauveria bronghiartii culture + Metarhizium @ 5 Kgs each per acre mixed with 500

Kgs of FYM to be applied near the setts during planting, covered with soil and

irrigated.

2. Thimet or Furadon granules (1 Kg.) or Methyl parathion dust (3 Kg.) must be mixed

to approximately 10 tonnes of existing compost heaps (or) thimet / lindane mixed

compost heaps can be maintained around host trees to kill only early instar larva of

white grubs as they first feed on compost before feeding on the roots (later instars).

3. Adult beetles in Neem and other host trees should be collected using light traps

(yellow lights) right from day one after onset of summer showers for 10 to 15 days

till decline of adult catch. See details given below for setting up of light traps

4. The host trees around the field can be pruned or sprayed with any systemic

pesticide just after first summer showers to kill feeding adult beetles. A few

branches plucked and sprayed with pesticide can be kept below the host tree to

trap adult beetles.

5. Application of any pesticide formulation to the soil for control is ineffective and

should not be recommended. Crop rotation with sunflower or paddy may be

resorted to in heavily infested areas.

Action plan to be taken regularly in all endemic areas.

Steps should be taken to collect the adult beetles on the same night of receipt of first

summer shower with a rainfall intensity of 2-2.5 cm every season regularly especially if

there is rainfall failure in the previous season.

Materials needed for collection of adult beetles

1. Torch light – 3 numbers (only yellow light should be used. White light like

petromax and tube light should not be used.

2. Hooked bamboo poles – 2 numbers to shake the tree branches.

22

3. Buckets – 3 numbers to collect the beetles.

4. Poly bags – 2 numbers to collect beetles

5. Nuvan – 1 Lit. to kill beetles

Procedure to be followed

1.

a. The host trees viz., Neem, Ailanthus, Accasia arabica, Ilanthai, Guava, Naval

should be earmarked well in advance

b. On the same night of the first summer shower, the host trees should be

inspected carefully for presence of beetle.

c. The beetles should be dislodged by shaking the branches using hooked

bamboo poles and beetles should be hand picked immediately.

d. They must be collected in a poly bags and killed by pouring 0.1 % Nuvan (1ml

per lit. of water).

e. The process should be repeated for next three days or till no beetles is collected

2. Decomposed pressmud or farm yard manure may be spread uniformly in tow or

three places around the host trees. The adult beetles would be attracted for laying their

eggs. These beetles can be collected and destroyed.

3. Lindane dust may be applied around the host trees to kill the adult beetles that

escape collection.

I. Management of White Grub in Standing Crops

a. Infestation seen clump wise

Digging the infested clump, collecting and destroying the grubs.

If crop is young, gap filling to be carried out.

b. Infestation in patches

Remove the infested and lodged plants

II. Management of White Grubs in Harvested Field

a. Field to be ratooned

Remove the trash mechanically or by burning

Off bearing

23

b. Field to be ploughed

Disc ploughing followed by harrowing to expose the grubs & pupae for avian predation,

dessication and hand collection and destruction.

3. WOOLY APHID CONTROL (SWA) - H 37 (P) – H 35 (R)

Symptoms, life cycle, mode of spread and damage:

Initial colonies appear as small patches in shady areas and later on it is visible as a

wooly coating spread over the entire undersurface of the leaf. The wooly coverings

falling on the ground appear as white powder sprinkled on the ground

The honey dew excreted by SWA fall on the lower leaves which encourages black

sooty mould growth on the upper surface of the immediate lower leaf. This reduces

the photosynthetic efficiency of the plant.

SWA can reproduce as small SWA directly without mating (parthenogenesis) and

hence one single SWA can develop to 221 crore SWA in a months time.

Young nymphs crawl actively and drift to nearby plants and winged forms (black

aphid without wooly coating and transparent wings) produced in crowded colonies

also drift to nearby plants enabling spread.

SWA attacks sugarcane at all stages and when 3 to 6 month crop is affected the

canes become stunted and are less vigorous in growth. Poor ratoon germination in

subsequent crop is also noticed in affected patches. A loss of 20 % in yield and

recovery will be realised if the crop is attacked by SWA from 6th month.

Control measures

1. Field monitoring should be done once a week. Avoid movement of tops, trash and

setts from infested fields. If seed material from affected plot (but with control

measure taken) is to be moved setts should be treated with 0.1% Malathion for 15

minutes.

2. If predator is not found, spraying with 2ml or 2gm per litre of dimethoate 30 EC or

Monocrotophos 36 EC or Acephate 75SP must be done on the undersurface of the

leaf with hand operated high volume sprayer. Un-infested clumps 10 metres away

should be sprayed first and then the centre affected area should be sprayed. The

24

chemicals must be sprayed in rotation and no mixing of two chemicals should be

done if fresh patches of attack appear. The entire cane crop should not be sprayed,

but only the affected and nearby clumps.

3. If predators (Dipha & Micromus) are present they should be collected and left in a

separate clump with SWA for augmentation later before spraying in that area. In

such fields with high predator activity, Rogar – P application to the soil (0.5ml/lit)

can be taken up. If sustained control after spraying is not achieved release of Dipha

and Micromus reared in shade nets can be done. This is the best method of control

if situation goes out of hand.

The predators should be collected from any available source and released in the

field.

4. WHITEFLY CONTROL - H 37 (P) – H 35 (R)

Symptoms

Damaged crop shows nitrogen deficiency symptom with yellowing and drying of

leaf.

Heavily infested crop turns black due to sooty mould development

Presence of ants on infested leaves and numerous black and white coloured pupae

on the leaves.

Control measure

1. Excess nitrogen application and water logging must be avoided.

2. Spraying of affected areas alone with Monocrotophos (1.6ml / litre of

water).Spraying should not be done if parasitoid is present

3. Detrashing and burning of affected leaves (even a few green leaves with heavy

pupa) must be done.

4. Release of Encarsia or Amytus parasitoid as infected pupae ( in leaf strips) from

outside will effectively control the pest. The parasitoids can be identified by the

presence of one or many black pin holes in the white pupa and small ant like adults

(red or black in colour) with transparent wings moving on the leaf. The parasitoids

should be collected from whatever source and released in the field immediately.

25

5. INTER NODE BORER (INB) - H 36 (P) – H 34 (R)

Symptoms and damage

Major pest found round the year with peak incidence from June to September. Yield

losses upto 5-6 tonnes and recovery loss of 0.3 to 0.5 % have been estimated as a

result of this pest incidence.

The pest functions as a top borer and causes dead heart formation resulting in

arrest of further growth and sprouting of axillary buds giving a bunchy top appearance.

This is commonly noticed from 1980’s when the pest changed its mode of attack to the

top node instead of bottom nodes. The ETL level of 10 % (10 infected shoots per 100

shoots) is based on number of dead hearts (drying up of inner centre core shoot).

Biological control measures are the only possible methods and they will have to be

adopted in a community area or block basis by all farmers for effective control.

Control measures

1. Since the infestation of INB starts after 4 ½ to 5 months of planting chemical

control is not possible.

2. Removal of water shoots at 8 / 9 months age

3. Avoid high dose of nitrogen.

4. Draining of water in low lying areas.

5. Spray Monocrotophous @ 1.6ml/lt twice at days interval during June – July

months.

6. Trichogramma is to be released inundatively with an objective that the parasite

population outnumber the host egg population, before the target pest could

cause serious damage to the crop. The normal recommendation is 6cc / acre

from 5th month onwards to 7th month or upto harvest, based on the severity. An

interval of 7 days should be given between 2 releases.

The egg cards bearing the parasitized eggs are cut into small pieces of convenient

size. These small pieces are stapled to the underside of leaves or tied. To protect

the parasitized eggs from rains or predators, the cards may be placed in small

plastic disposable cups fitted with wire mesh at the bottom and hung onto the canes

at different places.

26

7. Sex pheromone traps @ 8 traps per acre and at 15 metre spacing between

traps and field boundary should also be used as detailed below to trap male

moths. This will prevent mating / proliferation of generation and is to be

employed along with Trichogramma release for effective control.

S.No.

Age of the crop for

installation and time of

lure change

Height of trap

installation

1. 150th day 3 feet

2. 195th day 5 feet

3. 240th day 6 - 7 feet

Field application – distribution of traps

The traps are to be monitored every week and topped with water and a thin layer of

diesel/ kerosene / waste oil. The traps should not be removed even if a decline in catch

is there as INB has a continuous brood development with a gap of four to five days.

The package is made available by the Research and Development zone of the factory.

6. PYRILLA: - H 37 (P) – H 35 (R)

1. Pyrilla is the most destructive foliage-sucking pest of sugarcane

2. Heavy rainfall followed by 75-80% humidity, intermittent drought periods, high

temperature (26-30°c) and wind movement favour rapid buildup of pyrilla. Other

factors favoring Pyrilla buildup are dense and luxuriant crop, excess nitrogen

application, water logging, lodging of cane and varieties with broad and

succulent leaves.

3. Adults and the nymps suck leaf sap from the under surface of the lower leaves.

When the infestation is heavy, leaves turn yellowish white and wither away. Due

to continuous desapping by large number of hoppers top leaves in the affected

27

canes dry up and lateral buds germinate. The hoppers exude a sweet sticky

fluid known as honeydew, which promotes quick and luxuriant growth of the

fungus, capanodium species and as a result the leaves are completely covered

by the sooty mould. This affects photosynthesis.

4. The loss in cane yield due to pyrilla have been estimated to be around 28% with

about 1.6% unit loss in sugar.

Control:

1. Avoid excess fertilizer (Urea) application, water logging and drought.

2. Collect predators (Epricania) from affected fields and mass release in the fresh

area.

3. Drain out excess water during rainy season.

7. Scale Insect (Melanaspis Glomerata) H 37 (P) – H 35 (R)

Water logging, high temperature and humidity favour buildup of scale insect

population. Rainwater and high wind velocity facilitate dispersal of the pest. It

spreads to new areas through seed material. Men and animals passing through

the infested fields also lead to spread of the pest to the adjoining areas.

Scales usually establish on internodes covered with leaf sheath. The leaves of

infested canes show signs of tip drying and unhealthy pale green color and with

continued infestation turn yellow. Desapping leads to non-opening of leaves

also, which also turn yellow and finally dry out. Nodal region is more infested

than internodal region.

Infested crop losses its vigour, canes shrivel, growth is stunted and the

internodal length is reduced drastically. Ultimately cane dries up. Such canes

when slit open appear brownish red. Thus yield and quality suffer. The yield loss

could range from negligible to total crop failure.

Control:

1. Use of healthy seed material / Chip bud / Single bud seedlings.

2. Avoiding transport of infested seed material from infested areas to pest free

areas.

3. Plant crop once met with heavy infestation should not be ratooned.

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4. Dipping setts in 0.1% Malathion or 0.05% Dimethoate for 15 minutes before

planting. The best way is to plant Chip bud/ Single bud seedlings.

5. Detrashing the cane in the first weeks of July, August and September months

(while Detrashing ensure that eight functional leaves are retained) followed by

spraying with Dimethoate 0.05% or Malathion 0.15%.

Survey methodology & observations to be recorded for Pests:

Data should be recorded at 30 days interval starting from 35th day and continued up to 120 days. ETL (Economic threshold level) should be calculated after noting the pests incidence at four corners and also in the middle of the field in one M2 area. ETL of the borers can be calculated as followes: ETL = No. of infested shoots X 100 No. of shoots

Apply insecticides if ETL exceeds 20%, In case of internode borrer calculate the

intensity of the borrer effect by split open the cane by counting the number of inter

node bores. In case of top borrer, observations are to be recorded during 5 th & 7th

month and calculate % incidence.

The grade of infestations given as under:

Grade % Incidence for INB % Incidence of Top

borrer

Less Susceptible (LS) Below 20 Below 10

Moderately Susceptible (MS) 20.1 – 40 10.1 – 20

Highly Susceptible (HS) Above 40 Above 20

DISEASES MANAGEMENT

The presence of smut or red rot disease in any variety must be entered in log sheet

and informed to the Cane / R&D department immediately for carrying out suitable

control /management measures.

1. SMUT - H 38 (P) – H 36 (R)

Symptoms

1. A black whip like growth of 25 cms to 150 cms length is seen on the top of the

cane.

2. At the initial stage this whip is covered with soft white tissue. This will burst open

and release black fungal spores after maturity of the whip.

29

3. A smut whip of average length can release 5000 – 6000 million fungal spores.

4. The smut disease spreads mainly through setts taken from infected canes. It also

spreads through air and water.

Control measure

Prophylactic control is the best method for smut control.

1. Avoid planting smut susceptible varieties in water logging prone areas and bringing

in sett material of varieties from outside our cane command area.

2. Avoid bringing seed material from infected fields.

3. Treat setts before planting in a mixture of 50 grams Bavistin + 1kg.urea + 1Kg lime

in 100 litres of water and soaking the setts (required per acre) for 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Use the seed materials from three tier nursery system.

5. If smut whip is seen in mature crop, remove the smut whip after covering it with a

plastic bag (to avoid distribution of spores), remove the affected clump and fire the

clump and whip.

6. Crop rotation should also be practiced if heavy smut incidence is noticed.

7. Ratooning may be avoided if smut infestation is above 10% in the total field area.

2. RED ROT: H 38 (P) – H 36 (R)

Mode of spread

1. Primary infection takes place through infected seedcane and it transmits the

disease to the germinating buds and stools leading to germination failure. Apart

from this, it can also spread through infected debris left in the soil.

2. Secondary infection takes place through the entry of fungal spores into the healthy

cane nodes, wounds and open growth cracks through air. The conidia of the

fungus makes entry at the leaf scar, root primordia and growth ring at the nodes

through irrigation water / flood water (at the bottom cane) or through rain or dew

washed spores deposited on the upper inter nodes.

Symptoms

1. Yellowing of leaves from bottom to top and ultimately drying of all the leaves.

2. Drying of cane clumps in patches.

3. Breaking of cane at the nodal joints.

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4. The infected cane shows brown to dark brown patches.

5. Affected cane will exhibit fungal sporulation at the root eyes in the nodes.

6. Reddish area interspersed by white patches will be noticed if the affected canes are

split open longitudinally.

7. In severe cases, the parenchyma cells are destroyed and the fungus ramifies within

this area as a fluffy growth inside the cane.

Control / Management

1. A thorough survey of the entire cane area should be done for screening the red rot

disease and the affected fields/areas are to be mapped. This record should be

maintained properly for monitoring the control measures.

2. Strict ban on movement of seed cane from affected fields should be enforced since

there may be latent infection in the cane.

3. Prevent irrigation water or rainwater flowing from the affected fields/areas to the

neighbouring fields/areas.

4. Affected cane or leaves should not be taken for use as cattle feed or use as roofing

material.

5. Affected cane clumps should be removed and burnt.

6. If symptom of Red rot is seen in a field, the cane should be harvested immediately

on priority.

7. Ratoon cropping should not be done in the red rot affected fields, as the disease

pathogen in the stubbles will cause devastating damage to the subsequent ratoon

crop.

8. The affected field should not be planted again with sugarcane and the field should

be rotated with two crops of paddy followed by a green manure crop before taking

up next cane planting.

9. After two crops of paddy, cane cultivation should be done with seed materials taken

from healthy, disease free commercial nursery.

10. In garden lands where irrigation water is not available for raising two crops of

paddy, the affected fields should be deep ploughed and the stubbles and debris are

to be removed completely and burnt in the same field.

31

11. Cultivation of varieties like to CO 86032 and CO 94010 in the affected areas, which

can resist the red rot pathogens in the field, should be recommended in hot spot

areas.

3. Wilt (Cephalosporium Sacchari): H 38 (P) – H 36 (R)

1. Disease spreads through infected setts. The fungi gain entry mainly through

injuries.

2. Biotic stresses like nematode, root borer, termite, scales, mealy bugs etc and

abiotic stresses like drought, water logging etc predispose the plants for wilt

infection

3. Moisture stress coupled with high temperature and low humidity reduces plant

resistance to wilt.

4. Typical wilt symptoms appear during monsoon and post monsoon periods.

5. Affected plant appears wilted and conspicuously stunted. The crown leaves turn

yellow, loose turgor and eventually withers.

6. Wilt-affected canes loose their normal colour and are light in weight. The most

characteristic symptom during the early stage of infection is the presence of

diffused reddish brown patches on the internal tissue. Later canes become light

and hallow and shrink.

7. Disease reduces germination and in severe cases total cane yield losses occur

due to drying up of shoots and wilting of the stalks.

Control:

1. Frequent irrigations during summer.

2. Avoid water logging.

3. Use disease free seed material / bud chip seedlings.

4. Application of Nitrogen as per recommendation only.

5. Sett treatment with Bavistin 2gm / litre for ½ hour.

6. Apply Trichoderma viride before planting.

4. RATOON STUNTING DISEASE: H 38 (P) – H 36 (R)

32

1. Ratoon stunting disease has been considered as the most important cause

for sugarcane varietal degeneration.

2. Primary spread of the disease is through infected setts.

3. Also spreads through harvesting implements contaminated with the juice of

diseased canes.

4. Expression of disease is more under adverse conditions.

5. Progressive yield decline takes place due to the disease. Ratoon crop

suffers more damage due to RSD than the plant crop.

6. Disease is known to reduce germination and yield

7. Most characteristic symptom of the infected stalks is the presence of pin

head like orange coloured dots of bacteria on the internal soft tissue in the

nodal region.

8. Other symptoms include stunted growth, thin stalks with short internodes,

pale yellowish foliage and rapid tapering of the stem towards the top.

9. Spreads through harvest knives.

10. Avoid disease affected nurseries & use Chip bud seedlings for commercial

planting / for raising nurseries.

5. Grassy Shoot Disease (Phytoplasma): H 38 (P) – H 36 (R)

1. It is a mycoplasamal disease.

2. Primary transmission of disease is through disease infected setts

3. Profuse tillering with narrow chlorotic leaves giving a grass like

appearance is characteristic symptom of GSD incidence

4. Very few tillers of GSD infected plants develop into canes, which are thin

and produce white shoots from the side buds.

Control:

1. Use of healthy seed material (TC or AST nursery or Chip buds seedlings

passed through TC lab).

33

2. Uproot and destroy diseased clumps in their place plant healthy stubbles or

Chip bud seedlings.

3. Control insect vectors by spraying Malathion (2 ml/ltr) or Dimethoate (2

ml/ltr).

4. Follow rouging at 30-60 days age of clumps to control the spread.

6. Yellow leaf disease: H 38 (P) – H 36 (R)

Symptoms of SCYLV are a yellowing of the leaf midrib on the underside of the

leaf. The yellowing first appears on leaves 3 to 6 counting down from the top

expanding spindle leaf. Yellowing is most prevalent and noticeable in mature

cane from October until the end of harvest in March. The yellowing expands out

from the leaf midrib into the leaf blade as the season progresses until a general

yellowing of the leaves can be observed from a distance. Eventually, almost all

leaves of the plant turn yellowish. Cold and nutrient stress appear to intensify

the symptoms.

Control:

1. Select seed from healthy nurseries.

2. Nuvacron spray 1 gm/lit to control vectors to transmit the disease during

summer months

RODENT /ELEPHANTS /JACKALS /WILD BOAR CONTROL- H 39 (P) – H 37 (R)

Rats damage the sugarcane crop from 5th month of planting sugarcane and after

paddy harvest in adjoining and nearby fields. The rats cut the sugarcane shoots near

the ground level and the result is the affected cane starts drying and dies finally. To

control the rats, rodenticide “Zinc Phosphide” can be used along with some food items

preferred by rats @ 1:49 ratio. The Zinc Phosphide mixed bait material should be kept

near the live burrows. Before baiting with Zinc Phosphide, pre baiting with normal food

items for 2 – 3 days is necessary. Other products like ‘Roban” cake (Bromodialone)

and rodent traps may also be used for the control of rats.

34

To repel the attack by elephants, Jackals, wild pigs, rats, etc mix 250 grams of chilly

powder and 100 gram of tobacco snuff in 3 litres of waste oil and stir the mixture well. If

required, additional small quantity of chilly powder and snuff may be added and mixed

to make the mixture quite effective.

Apply this mixture on a 6mm diameter coconut fiber rope and tie the rope at 6 – 12

inches around 1 acre of land above the ground level to pegs erected all around the

field. This method should be adopted at the time when the crop is vulnerable for

damage and may be repeated once the smell is reduced.

YIELD ESTIMATE - H 40 (P) – H 38 (R)

At the age of 11th month of the crop yield estimation should be carried out.

Field Assistant should personally inspect the field and by observing the stand of crop

and variety, yield should be estimated. For random comparison, number of millable

canes in one cent and weight of 10 canes may be recorded and yield computed by

multiplying number of millable canes per acre with single cane weight. At harvest the

actual yield realised should be compared with the estimated yield. Variation or

difference between estimated yield and actual yield should be very narrow. Actual yield

realized periodically may be taken as a guideline for further estimation of yield.

QUALITY ESTIMATE - H 41 (P) – H 39 (R)

It is essential that we harvest the crop at peak maturity to achieve maximum recovery.

Hence, it is recommended that the field brix using the hand refractometer be recorded

in the 10 ½ th months for the ratoon crop and 11 ½ th month for the plant crop using the

following procedure.

Brix readings in a field should be recorded at 5 spots. At each spot composite

sample may be drawn at the bottom and top separately using a pouch piercer.

The 5 spots chosen are, one each from quarter of the field and one from the

centre. The final brix is arrived as below:

Brix = Average of top brix reading

Average of bottom brix reading

35

The ideal situation would be to achieve a reading of 1, as an indication of full

maturity and that the field is fit for harvesting.

If the reading is lower than 1, by virtue of lower top brix, the harvest may be

delayed by 1 or 2 weeks depending on the brix recorded initially.

If the reading is higher than 1, it indicates that the crop has started deteriorating

at the bottom and it should be harvested immediately.

GENERATION OF CUTTING ORDERS: - H 44 (P) – H 42 (R)

1. A system of cutting order generation automatically from cane main office based on

scientific principles and individual plot database is to be introduced. The individual

plot log sheet data base has already been computerized. This is to be filled up by the

cane zone office and sent to CMO.

2. This system of harvesting will be based on scientific principles like planting date,

plant or ratoon, Variety, soil type and Brix which will improve our recovery significantly.

It will be appreciated that recovery does not depends only on age at crushing but also

other parameters detailed below.

3. Rankings and proportion for each harvesting parameter is fixed based before the

season (sample format given below) and the computer system will assign plots to be

harvested taking these assigned values and database of individual plots already fed

into the system.

4. There is provision for inclusion or deletion of plots for harvesting based on

exigencies like fire, non approachability, flooding, drought etc.,

5. This system will ensure maintenance of appropriate proportion of cane harvested

(age, plant & ratoon, variety, soil type, maturity etc.,) throughout the season thus

enabling the unit to record good recoveries.

36

S.No. Factor Parameter specification

Assigned values

1

Planting date

>14 17.5

13-14 15

13-12 12.5

12-11 10

12 7.5

11.5 4.5

11 3

10.5 1.5

<10 0.01

2

Plant /Ratoon

R2 & Multi ratoon 0.35

R1 0.15

P 0.01

3

Variety

Early 0.15

Mid 0.1

Late 0.05

4

Brix

21-24 1

18-21 0.5

<18 0.01

5

Soil type

X1 Y1

X2 Y2

X3 Y3

6

Exigencies

Fire A1

Drying A2

Flooding A3

Approachability A4

Others A5

Alternative method based on variety, soil type, planting type and type of crop may be

adopted.

Early variety Mid variety Late variety

1.Ratoons of more than 2

2.Plant

1.Ratoons of mid varieties

2.Plant of early variety

1.Ratoons of 2 or 3 of mid varieties

2.Plant of late variety

Proportion of total cane

supply is 30 %

Proportion of total cane

supply is 50 %

Proportion of total cane supply

is 20 %

37

HARVEST MANAGEMENT (I)

Care must be taken to harvest the cane at ground level or preferably one internode

below the ground level, as the lower portion of the cane is rich in sucrose as compared

to the top portions. Hence, hand axe shaped “Parasuram kodavali /modified local knife”

should be used for harvesting.

CANE PREPARATION (J)

The harvested cane should have the following characteristics:

1. Should have uniform brix at bottom, middle and bottom of cane which indicates full

maturity and peak sucrose availability in juice.

2. Should have low level of non sugars and can be ensured by detopping and removal

of green leaves.

3. Should have high purity.

4. Optimum fibre content

5. Negligible amount of unwanted materials (trash, binding materials, dead and dry

Canes, mud particles, water shoots, etc.)

6. Should have higher quantity of juice.

7. There should not be pith in the cane.

8. The cane should not have flowered.

To achieve the above the Field Assistant must monitor the brix and control irrigation

before harvest to promote ripening. In case of black and heavy soils, the irrigation

interval should be stopped before 15 days, whereas in sandy soils this could be 10

days. The Field Assistant should supervise the harvest and loading of cane.

TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT (K)

The harvested cane should reach the factory within 14-24 hours. The post harvest

deterioration of cane due to delay in crushing of the harvested cane either in the field

or at factory could be avoided by covering the cane with trash and sprinkling water.

38

RATOON MANAGEMENT

TRASH MULCHING (H 13)

Trash should be placed uniformly in the furrows within 5 days of harvesting or trash

shredder must be operated in 4 feet spaced plots within 5 days after harvesting in dry

trash condition by stopping irrigation well before harvest.

If the trash from the harvested cane field has to be removed or burnt it should be done

within two days after taking good care not to affect the neighbouring crops. To enable

this, the plots should be harvested within the shortest possible period of 4 – 5 days.

Trash removal or burning is essential under the following conditions:-

1. Plant crop infected by pests and diseases like scales, mealy bugs, etc.

2. In areas prone to heavy termite attack. (However it would overcome by drenching

with chloro pyriphos).

3. Areas prone to rodent attack.

4. Excess moisture affecting sprouting.

5. In soils where sub soil drainage is poor.

6. In areas where fire hazard exists.

Alternatively, the collected trash may be used for making compost externally or part of

it may be retained along the bunds for trash mulching during summer months.

STUBBLE SHAVING AND OFF BARRING - H (7 & 8)

Stubble shaving should be achieved by encouraging bottom level harvesting

using hatchets (Parasuram axe) / local modified knife. This will allow development of

ratoon shoots from buds at the base which will be more vigorous, non lodging and high

yielding. Off barring should be done immediately after trash removal on the third day

itself for better aeration and to encourage fresh root growth for higher yields.

The stubble shaving and offbarring should be undertaken after trash

mulching/shredding operation by using tractor drawn ratoon manger implement. In

smaller and narrow spaced plots, stubble shaving should be done with hand held

implement followed by off barring either by manual labour or by operating bullock

drawn small Mould Board plough.

39

GAP FILLING - H 17

The other operations that are required to be carried out in ratoon crops to improve their

productivity are as below.

First dose of organic manure/ Biomixture/FYM mixed with biofertilizers should be

placed on the side of the off barred ridgers and covered or by using tractor

drawn implements.

Apply 5 kgs BIO-D with super phosphate per acre by mixing slowly in irrigation

water or alternatively mix with 100 kgs of FYM and spread over trash bits. Then

the field must be irrigated immediately and copiously thereafter.

Alternatively, apply cow dung slurry with urea (2 Kgs) and spread over trash

bits.

Inter crops like Green manure/ Vegetables/ Pulses should be dibbled at

appropriate spacing.

It is also essential to use Chisel plough for breaking the hard pan after

harvesting the 3rd ratoon crop.

Mould board plough may be used for uprooting the stubbles in ratoon crop if the

farmer wishes to change the crop.

Thereafter follow the crop management practices as that of the plant crop.