Sugarcane Crop
Complete Notes
General Overview
| Particular | Information |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Sugarcane |
| Scientific Name | Saccharum spp. |
| Family | Poaceae (Gramineae) |
| Chromosome No. | 2n = 80 (Commercial hybrids) |
| Crop Type | Cash & Industrial Crop |
| Economic Product | Cane stalk (Stem) |
| Photosynthetic Pathway | C4 Plant |
| Propagation | Vegetative (Stem Setts) |
| Origin | New Guinea |
| Centre of Diversity | South-East Asia |
| Common Title | King of Sugar Crops |
Important Species
| Species | Chrom. | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Saccharum officinarum | 2n = 80 | Noble cane, high sugar content |
| Saccharum barberi | 2n = 82-124 | North Indian cane, early maturing |
| Saccharum sinense | 2n = 111-120 | Chinese cane |
| Saccharum spontaneum | 2n = 40-128 | Wild species, disease & stress resistance |
| Saccharum robustum | 2n = 60-194 | Ancestor of noble cane |
✨ Species Quick Facts
Noble Cane: S. officinarum
Indian Cane: S. barberi
Chinese Cane: S. sinense
Wild Species: S. spontaneum
Ancestor: S. robustum
Climate & Soil
Environmental Requirements
| Climate | Tropical & Subtropical |
| Temperature | 20-35°C |
| Optimum Temp. | 25-30°C |
| Germination Temp. | 32-38°C |
| Ripening Temp. | 18-22°C |
| Rainfall | 100-150 cm |
| Frost | Harmful |
Soil Framework
| Best Soil | Deep fertile loam to clay loam |
| Soil Depth | >1 m |
| Drainage | Well-drained |
| Soil pH | 6.5-7.5 |
| Organic Matter | High |
Cultivation & Sowing
| Crop Season | Spring & Autumn |
| Spring Planting | February-March |
| Autumn Planting | September-October |
| Propagation | Stem Setts |
| Number of Buds/Sett | 2-3 Buds |
| Planting Method | Flat, Furrow, Trench, Ring Pit |
| Planting Depth | 10-15 cm |
| Spacing | 75-90 cm rows |
Seed Rate & Material
| Propagation | Vegetative (Stem Setts) |
| Seed Material | Healthy, disease-free canes (6-8 months old) |
| Number of Buds/Sett | 2-3 buds |
| Seed Rate (3-bud) | 35,000-45,000 setts/ha |
| Single Bud Chips | 50,000-60,000 buds/ha |
| Seed Cane Req. | 6-8 t/ha |
| Sett Length | 30-45 cm |
Seed Treatment
| Hot Water Treatment | 50°C for 30 minutes |
| Fungicide | Carbendazim 0.1% (or recommended fungicide) |
| Biofertilizer | Azospirillum / Acetobacter inoculation |
Nutrient Matrix
| Nutrient | Dose (kg/ha) | Time of Application |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | 150-250 | Split into 2-3 doses |
| Phosphorus (P2O5) | 60-100 | Basal |
| Potash (K2O) | 60-120 | Basal / Split |
| Sulphur (S) | 20-30 | Basal |
| Zinc (ZnSO4) | 25 kg/ha (if deficient) | Basal |
Organic & Biofertilizers
| FYM | 20-25 t/ha |
| Press Mud | 5-10 t/ha |
| Green Manure | Dhaincha / Sunhemp |
| Biofertilizers | Azospirillum, Acetobacter, PSB |
Deficiency Symptoms
| Nitrogen | Pale green leaves, poor tillering |
| Phosphorus | Stunted growth, poor root development |
| Potassium | Leaf tip and margin scorching |
| Zinc | White streaks, short internodes |
| Iron | Chlorosis of young leaves |
Water & Irrigation
| Total Water Req. | 1500-2500 mm |
| No. of Irrigations | 10-20 (depends on climate & soil) |
| Summer Interval | 7-10 days |
| Winter Interval | 15-20 days |
| Best Method | Drip Irrigation |
| Waterlogging | Harmful |
Critical Stages of Water Requirement
| Stage | Importance |
|---|---|
| Germination | Critical |
| Tillering | Critical |
| Grand Growth Phase | Most Critical |
| Cane Elongation | Critical |
Weed Management
Major Weed Categories
| Weed Type | Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|---|
| Grassy | Bermuda Grass Jungle Rice | Cynodon dactylon Echinochloa colona |
| Sedge | Purple Nut Sedge | Cyperus rotundus |
| Broad-leaved | Congress Grass Horse Purslane Pigweed | Parthenium hysterophorus Trianthema portulacastrum Amaranthus viridis |
Management Strategies
| Mechanical | 2-3 hoeings + earthing-up |
| Cultural | Trash mulching, crop rotation |
| Pre-emergence | Atrazine @ 1.5-2.0 kg a.i./ha |
| Post-emergence | 2,4-D @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (broad-leaved weeds) |
| Integrated | Herbicide + Hoeing + Earthing-up |
⏱️ Weed Competition Quick Facts
Critical Competition Period: 30-90 DAP
Best Pre-emergence: Atrazine
Best Post-emergence: 2,4-D
Most Problematic Sedge: Cyperus rotundus
Earthing-up: Essential for weed control and lodging prevention
Plant Pathology (Diseases)
| Disease | Causal Organism | Symptoms & Management |
|---|---|---|
| Red Rot | Colletotrichum falcatum | Red discoloration of internodes with white patches, drying of canes. Mgt: Resistant varieties, healthy seed cane, crop rotation. |
| Smut | Sporisorium scitamineum (Syn. Ustilago scitaminea) |
Black whip-like structure from growing point. Mgt: Disease-free setts, hot water treatment, resistant varieties. |
| Wilt | Fusarium sacchari | Yellowing, wilting, drying of stalks. Mgt: Healthy seed, crop rotation. |
| Pokkah Boeng | Fusarium verticillioides | Twisting, chlorosis and deformation of young leaves. Mgt: Healthy seed, fungicide spray. |
| Grassy Shoot Disease (GSD) | Phytoplasma | Excessive tillering, grassy appearance, no cane formation. Mgt: Healthy seed cane, rogue infected plants, control leafhoppers. |
| Ratoon Stunting Disease (RSD) | Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli | Stunted growth, thin stalks. Mgt: Hot water treatment, sterilized cutting tools. |
| Leaf Scald | Xanthomonas albilineans | White pencil-like streaks, drying of leaves. Mgt: Disease-free seed, resistant varieties. |
Entomology (Insect Pests)
| Insect Pest | Scientific Name | Symptoms & Management |
|---|---|---|
| Early Shoot Borer | Chilo infuscatellus | Dead heart in young crop. Mgt: Timely planting, chlorantraniliprole/cartap hydrochloride. |
| Top Borer | Scirpophaga excerptalis | Dead heart, bunchy top. Mgt: Remove affected shoots, insecticide. |
| Internode Borer | Chilo sacchariphagus indicus | Bores into internodes reducing sugar recovery. Mgt: Pheromone traps, biological control. |
| Root Borer | Emmalocera depressella | Root and basal stem damage. Mgt: Earthing-up, insecticides. |
| Pyrilla (Leafhopper) | Pyrilla perpusilla | Sap sucking, honeydew, leaf drying. Mgt: Release Epiricania melanoleuca, insecticides. |
| White Grub | Holotrichia spp. | Root feeding, wilting. Mgt: Soil treatment, deep ploughing. |
| Termites | Odontotermes spp. | Damage to setts and roots. Mgt: Sett treatment, chlorpyrifos application. |
| Scale Insect | Melanaspis glomerata | Sap sucking, reduced growth. Mgt: Remove affected canes, recommended insecticides. |
🪰 Pest Quick Facts
Most Serious Borer: Early Shoot Borer
Major Sucking Pest: Pyrilla
Key Bio-Control Agent: Epiricania melanoleuca (against Pyrilla)
Most Serious Root Pest: White Grub
Major Sett Pest: Termite
Physiological Disorders
| Disorder | Cause | Symptoms & Management |
|---|---|---|
| Lodging | High wind, excess nitrogen | Canes fall over. Mgt: Proper earthing-up, balanced fertilization. |
| Moisture Stress | Drought | Reduced tillering and cane growth. Mgt: Timely irrigation. |
| Poor Germination | Dry setts, poor-quality seed | Low plant population. Mgt: Healthy treated setts, adequate moisture. |
| Nutrient Imbalance | Deficiency of N, K, Zn | Chlorosis, poor growth. Mgt: Balanced fertilizer application. |
| Frost Injury | Low temperature | Leaf drying and reduced sugar content. Mgt: Timely harvesting, irrigation before frost. |
Harvesting
| Harvesting Time | At physiological maturity |
| Crop Duration | 10-18 months (depending on region and variety) |
| Harvesting Method | Manual or Mechanical |
| Harvesting Indicator | Dry lower leaves, high Brix value, mature internodes |
| Harvesting Height | Cut close to ground level |
Varieties Matrix
| Variety | Developed By | Maturity | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co 0238 | SBI, Coimbatore | Early | High yield, high sugar recovery, most popular in North India |
| Co 0118 | SBI, Coimbatore | Early | High sugar recovery |
| Co 98014 | SBI, Coimbatore | Early | Suitable for tropical region |
| CoS 767 | Shahjahanpur | Mid-late | Widely cultivated in North India |
| CoJ 64 | Punjab | Early | High yielding |
| CoPant 84211 | Pantnagar | Early | Suitable for Uttarakhand & North India |
| CoLk 94184 | Lucknow | Mid-late | Good ratooning ability |
| Co 86032 | SBI, Coimbatore | Mid-late | Popular in South India |
| Co 62175 | SBI, Coimbatore | Mid-late | High yielding |
| BO 91 | Bihar | Mid-late | Popular in Eastern India |
📈 Variety Quick Facts
Most Popular (North India): Co 0238
Most Popular (South India): Co 86032
High Sugar Recovery: Co 0238
Best Ratoon Variety: CoLk 94184
Related ICAR Institutes
| Institute / Estd. | HQ Location | Major Operational Role |
|---|---|---|
| ICAR-SBI Estd: 1912 |
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu | Sugarcane breeding, variety development, germplasm conservation. |
| ICAR-IISR Estd: 1952 |
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | Crop p |
One Response