Effect of Planting Density and Weed Management Options on Weed Dry Weight and Cane Yield of Spaced Transplanted Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)after Wheat Harvest in Sub-tropical India

摘要

Sugarcane is grown in both tropical and subtropical areas of India with an area of over 4.41 million hectare with total production of 294.6 million tonnes and productivity of 66,8 t/ha. In sub-tropical zone, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab have 2.058, 0.115 and 0.105 million hectare area with productivity of 58.4, 70.0 and 60.0 t/ha, respectively. Sugarcane-ratoon-wheat is the most prevalent sugarcane-based cropping system in sub-tropical zone. A drastic reduction in the yield of late planted sugarcane after wheat harvest is observed under this system. In spite of low yield of plant cane, farmers prefer to delay the planting of cane till wheat harvest as wheat meets the immediate need of both food and fodder for their families and the animals theykeep. Sugarcane spaced transplanting (STP) wherein sugarcane is planted after wheat harvest using sugarcane setts involves transplanting of single bud pre-germinated shoots raised in soil which help in improvement in cane yield of late planted crdps after wheat harvest. This technique leads to a significant reduction in the cost of seed cane which compensates for the additional cost in nursery raising and transplanting. Nearly 7.5-8.0 t/ha cane seed is utilized as planting material in conventional method, whereas 1.6-2,0 t/ha seed cane is sufficient to transplant one hectare in STP.