Improved cultivation practices for autumn sugarcane

摘要

Sugarcane is one of the most important agro-industrial crops for sugar production grown in Punjab. It was cultivated on about 94 thousand hectares in the state with average cane yield of 300 quintals per acre andaverage sugar recovery 10.06 per cent during 2015-16. In Punjab, sugarcane is planted in two seasons i.e. autumn (September-October) and spring (February-March) and remains in the field for 2-3 years, either as a plant and/ or ratoon crop. Though, the spring planted crop occupies major area, which is generally planted after harvesting of potato, peas, rabi fodder, oil seed crops and even after wheat in April (results in lower yields and recovery). Therefore, autumn planting of sugarcane either as sole or inter crop is an important strategy to harness better returns in terms of cane yield for farmers and recovery for sugar mills. It also helps in early onset of cane crushing season enabling the farmers to grow other winter crops, thereby increasing perunit area profitability.