🌱 Sugarcane Farming: Complete Guide for High Yield

Sugarcane is one of the most important cash crops in India. It not only strengthens the financial position of farmers but also serves as a key raw material for sugar production, jaggery (gur), and ethanol manufacturing. With proper scientific farming practices, sugarcane can provide farmers with steady income throughout the year.

🌾 Land Selection and Preparation

For better sugarcane yield, loamy soil with good drainage is ideal. Here’s how to prepare the land:

1. Summer Ploughing:
   Use a soil-turning plough twice – once horizontally and once vertically. This helps kill insects and weeds.
2. Make the Soil Crumbly:
   In the first week of October, plough the field again to make the soil soft and friable.
3. Level the Field and Make Furrows:
   Use a plank to level the field. Create furrows at a distance of 3 feet using a ridger.
   • For February–March planting, keep a 2-foot spacing between furrows.
4. Soil Treatment:
   During the final ploughing, treat the soil with Lindane 2% (10 kg per acre) to prevent pest attack.

🌿 Sowing Time

Sugarcane can be sown in two main seasons:

• October–November: Best time for maximum yield.
• February–March: Ideal for spring planting.

🌾 Improved Varieties of Sugarcane

Early-Maturing Varieties (9–10 months)

Variety	Yield (Quintal/Acre)	Sugar %	Characteristics
Co. 7314	320–360	21	Red rot resistant, ideal for jaggery
Co. 64	320–360	21	Good for jaggery, suitable for North India
Co.C. 671	320–360	22	Pest resistant, excellent for jaggery and juice

Medium to Late-Maturing Varieties (12–14 months)

Variety	Yield (Quintal/Acre)	Sugar %	Characteristics
Co. 6304	380–400	19	Disease and pest resistant, high yield
Co. 7318	400–440	18	Soft variety, good for distilleries
Co. 6217	360–400	19	Resistant to smut and red rot

Newly Improved Varieties

Variety	Yield	Sugar %	Characteristics
Co. 8209	360–400	20	Red rot resistant, high sugar content
Co. 87010	320–360	20	Disease resistant, suitable for Ujjain region
Jawahar 86-141	360–400	21	Excellent for jaggery, high yield

🌾 Seed Quantity and Sowing Method

• Seed Rate: 100–125 quintals of seed or about 1.25 lakh buds per hectare.
• Preparation: Cut sugarcane into small pieces with 2–3 buds each.
• Seed Treatment:
  Dip the cuttings in Carbendazim solution (2 gm per litre) for 15–20 minutes.
• Sowing Method:
  Place the treated cuttings in furrows, cover with soil, and irrigate lightly.

🌾 Intercropping in Sugarcane

Growing onion, garlic, potato, kidney beans, or peas between sugarcane rows gives extra income.

• Earn ₹6,000–₹10,000 per acre extra during October–November planting.
• During spring, growing green gram (moong) or black gram (urad) can add ₹2,000–₹2,800 per acre profit.

🌿 Fertilizer Management

Nutrient	Quantity per Hectare	Fertilizer Used
Nitrogen	300 kg	650 kg Urea
Phosphorus	80 kg	500 kg Super Phosphate
Potassium	90 kg	150 kg Muriate of Potash

Application Schedule:

• Apply phosphorus and potash before sowing.
• Split nitrogen into 3–4 doses:
  1. During germination
  2. During tillering
  3. While earthing up

Organic Option: Use farmyard manure or green manure for better soil health.

🌾 Weeding and Hoeing

• Weed control is crucial for the first 4 months after sowing.
• Do 3–4 manual weedings at regular intervals.
• Chemical control:
  • Pre-emergence: Atrazine 160 gm/acre
  • Post-emergence: 2,4-D Sodium Salt 400 gm/acre (with 325 litres of water)

🌾 Earthing Up (Soil Covering)

To prevent lodging (falling of canes), earthing up is essential.

• For crops sown in October–November:
  • First earthing up: February–March
  • Final earthing up: May

💧 Irrigation Management

• Winter: Irrigate every 15 days.
• Summer: Irrigate every 8–10 days.
• Method: Furrow (serpentine) irrigation is best.
• Moisture Conservation:
  Lay a 4–6 inch thick layer of dry leaves in the furrows to retain soil moisture and reduce evaporation.

🌾 Tying of Canes

To prevent lodging, tie sugarcane stalks into bundles using dry leaves.
Perform this work in late August or September.

🛡️ Crop Protection (Pests and Diseases)

Pest/Disease	Damage	Control Measures
Early Shoot Borer	Bores into cane and dries top portion	Apply Phorate 10G (600 gm/acre)
Top Shoot Borer	Damages midrib and tunnel formation	Carbofuran 400 gm/acre near roots
Root Borer	Feeds on underground parts	Phorate 400 gm/acre near roots
Pyrilla	Sucks sap from leaves	Spray Malathion 0.05% or Monocrotophos 0.04%
Red Rot	Turns cane pith red	Use hot-air treatment and fungicide
Smut Disease	Reduces juice and yield	Treat seed with Agallal fungicide before planting

🌾 Ratoon Crop Management (Sugarcane Regrowth Crop)

Many farmers ignore ratoon crops, but with proper care, they can yield as much as the main crop.

Benefits:

• Low cost (no re-sowing or ploughing needed)
• Early maturity
• Higher sugar content

Recommended Varieties:
Co.1305, Co.7314, Co.7318, Co.775, Co.1148, Co.1287, etc.

🌾 Harvesting and Field Management

• Harvest Time: February–March is ideal.
• Cut Close to Ground: Promotes healthy shoots for ratoon crop.
• Field Cleaning: Use plant residues for compost making.
• Post-Harvest Care:
  Spray Carbendazim (550 gm/250 L water) on the cut surface to prevent infection.

🌱 Filling Empty Spaces

If there are gaps of more than one foot, plant new treated cuttings and irrigate to maintain uniform crop stand.

🌾 Use of Dry Leaves

Farmers often burn dry leaves, which reduces soil fertility. Instead:

• Lay dry leaves in furrows.
• After that, sprinkle 10 kg BHC 10% dust per acre to control pests and conserve moisture.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What type of soil is best for sugarcane farming?

Loamy soil with good drainage is ideal for sugarcane cultivation.

2. When should sugarcane be sown?

October–November and February–March are the best sowing periods.

3. Which sugarcane varieties give higher yields?

Co.7314, Co.7318, Co.8209, and Jawahar 86-141 are high-yielding varieties.

4. What is the average yield per acre?

Depending on the variety, 320–600 quintals per acre can be achieved.

5. What fertilizers should be used in sugarcane farming?

Balanced use of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is recommended.

6. Which intercrops are profitable with sugarcane?

Onion, garlic, potato, peas, moong, and urad are profitable intercrops.

7. What are the major diseases in sugarcane?

Red rot, smut, and top shoot borer are the most common.

8. What is a ratoon crop?

It’s the regrowth of sugarcane from the stubble of the previous crop without replanting.

9. How to prevent sugarcane from falling?

Tie the stalks with dry leaves and perform regular earthing up.

10. How to save water in sugarcane farming?

Use mulching with dry leaves and irrigate alternate furrows.

🌾 Conclusion

Sugarcane farming requires both hard work and smart management. By focusing on soil preparation, improved varieties, nutrient management, and pest control, farmers can achieve higher yield and profit per acre.

Dear farmers, remember – sugarcane is not just a crop; it’s a symbol of your hard work, patience, and prosperity.
Adopt modern techniques, conserve resources, and let your soil grow sweetness and success! 🌱🇮🇳