IIFSR – DSS

Sugarcane Crop Management Guide

A step-by-step guide to optimal sugarcane cultivation practices for high yield and profitability.

1. Choosing a Location

The choice of location and field history are critical for successful sugarcane cultivation.

Soil Type: Loamy or clay-loam soils with good drainage are ideal. Avoid excessively sandy or heavy clay soils.
Water Logged Areas: The field must be well-drained. Sugarcane does not tolerate waterlogging, especially in the early growth stages.
Crop Rotation: Do not plant sugarcane after sugarcane. A rotation crop (e.g., legumes, oilseeds) should precede sugarcane to break disease cycles and enrich the soil.

2. Soil Preparation

Proper land preparation ensures a fine tilth, which is essential for root establishment and cane growth.

**Deep Ploughing:** Begin with deep ploughing (up to 30-40 cm) to break up hardpans, followed by cross-ploughing.
**Clod Crushing:** Use a rotavator or planker to crush clods and achieve a fine, leveled seedbed.
**Leveling:** The field must be perfectly leveled to ensure uniform irrigation and prevent water stagnation.
**Manure:** Incorporate **Farm Yard Manure (FYM)** or compost (20 tonnes/hectare) during the final ploughing to improve soil organic matter.

3. Spacing Guidelines

The recommended row-to-row spacing varies based on the planting method and variety:

Planting Method	Recommended Row Spacing (cm)	Notes
Conventional (Trench)	75 – 90 cm	Standard practice in North India.
Paired Row Trench	30 cm (paired rows) x 120 cm (trench gap)	Facilitates intercropping and mechanization.
Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI)	120 cm (or wider)	Used for single-bud/sprout planting (see Polybag method).

4. Sett Treatment

Treating the sugarcane setts (seed pieces) before planting is essential to protect them from soil-borne pathogens and enhance germination.

Recommended Treatment:

**Hot Water/Hot Air:** For 2- or 3-bud setts, a **Hot Water Treatment (HWT)** at 50°C for 2 hours is recommended to eliminate internal diseases (e.g., ratoon stunting, grassy shoot).
**Fungicide Dip:** Dip the setts in a solution of a recommended fungicide (e.g., Carbendazim) for 5-10 minutes. This protects against rot.
**Insecticide Dip:** Combine the fungicide dip with a systemic insecticide to protect against early shoot borers.
**Biofertilizer:** Finally, dip the setts in a solution of **Acetobacter** or other recommended biofertilizers to promote nitrogen fixation and rapid growth.

Visual guide for pre-planting sett treatment.

5. Polybag Nursery Method (SSI / Settling Method)

The Polybag Nursery Method involves raising healthy seedlings from single-bud setts in a nursery before transplanting them to the field. This method is highly efficient and labor-saving in the long run.

**Preparation:** Use plastic polybags (10x15 cm) filled with a mixture of soil, sand, and FYM.
**Planting:** Plant single-bud setts (pre-treated) vertically or slightly inclined in the bags.
**Nursery Care:** Keep the bags moist and protected in a shaded environment. Seedlings are ready for transplanting in **35 to 45 days**.
**Transplanting:** Transplant the seedlings into the main field at a wider spacing (e.g., 120 x 60 cm), following the SSI method. This ensures better tillering and light penetration.