Indian Farming 68(01): 59–64; January 2018

How to double farmers' income

in sugarcane-based cropping system?
S. K. Shukla1, Lalan Sharma2, A. D. Pathak3 and V. P. Jaiswal4
Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) 226 002

Sugarcane is grown in an area of about 5.0 million ha in both tropical and sub-tropical regions
of the country. India is the second largest sugarcane cultivating country next to Brazil. Sugar
industry is also second largest agro-based industry in India after cotton and textiles. Sugar from
sugarcane crop is the main source of sweetener and contributes about 80% at international
level,while remaining sugar is contributed by sugarbeet crop. Besides this, sugarcane is also used
for making brown sugar (khandsari) and jaggery (gur) in the country. During white sugar
production, by-products of sugarcane industry like bagasse and molasses are also produced. Bagasse
is mainly used as fuel and also used for production of compressed fibre board, paper, plastic etc.
Molasses is used in distilleries for the manufacturing of ethyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, citric acid and
also used as an additive to feeds for livestock. Press mud-cake can be used as soil amendment in
saline and alkali soils whereas its application on normal soils also increases the organic carbon
content of soil besides supplying N,P,K,S and other micro-nutrients. In India, there are two
distinct agro-climatic regions of sugarcane cultivation viz., tropical and sub-tropical region.

Key words: Cropping system, Farmer, Income, Sugarcane

T HE average sugarcane yield in

the country is about 71 tonne/
ha. The country had produced 25.12
in gur and khansdari production.
During 2014-15, about 359.33
tonne of sugarcane was produced.
affected by duration of the standing
crop, soil, topography and other
climatic factors. It is obvious that
mt of sugar during 2015-16. Presently about 76% sugarcane actual cost of production differs
Presently, the 716 installed sugar produced in the country goes for significantly in different states. The
factories are running in the country sugar manufacturing, 12.8% to cost of production of plant and
with crushing capacity to produce jaggery production and khansdari ratoon crops of sugarcane in different
around 33 million tonne white sugar. sector, and remaining 11.2% for states is given in Tables 1 and 2. Thus
The fluctuating trend in sugar seed, feed and chewing etc. Policies benefits from the sugarcane
production requires main focus on of liberalization like import of sugar cultivation can be analysed.
development of climate resilient from other countries directly or Although, sugarcane crop production
technologies and adoption of indirectly influence sugarcane and marketing depends upon several
advanced sugarcane production farmers’ interest in cultivation, factors viz., crop season, agro-
technologies in the country. income generation, sugar millers climatic region, input cost,
promotion for technological availability of labourers, availability of
Sugarcane production and utilization advancements, increasing crushing sugar mill in the area, distance from
Sugarcane is multi-purpose crop capacity of sugar mill, fluctuations of sugar mills/collection centre etc.
and has economic values. It can be sugar prices and overall profit of the Table 1 showed that the
used for sugar production, jaggery industry as well. expenditures/ha excluding land lease
production and chewing purpose. It charges are higher in Uttar Pradesh
can be a good option for the Cost of sugarcane cultivation in the (` I65,000) and are closely followed
generation additional income to the country by Bihar (` 164,441) in sub-tropical
sugarcane growers in the country. Sugarcane is long duration crop region whereas in tropical region,
The percentage of white sugar and requires higher levels of nutrients Karnataka (` 193,750) excelled in the
production has increased during last and water for better growth and cost of production of sugarcane plant
10 years while decreasing percentage development. Crop yield is also crop. The gaps in average cane yields

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January 2018
Table 1. Cost of cultivation of sugarcane plant crop

States Cost of Expenditures/ha Attained cane FRP/SAP Gross Net profit B:C Ratio
production/q excluding land yield at field (price/q)* Income
(`) lease charges (tonne/ha) (`)
(`)
Sub tropical region
Uttar Pradesh 194.11 165,000 85.00 315 (SAP) 267750 102750 1.62
Bihar 223.72 164,441 73.50 230 169050 4609 1.02
Punjab 165.05 140,300 85.00 230 195500 55200 1.39
Haryana 135.47 100,252 74.00 230 170200 79948 1.69
Rajasthan 150.55 135,500 90.00 230 207000 71500 1.52
Asom 157.33 118,000 75.00 320 240000 122000 2.03
Tropical region
Maharashtra 84.13 147,229 175.00 237.10 414925 267696 2.81
Andhra Pradesh 205.92 152,592 74.10 230 170430 17838 0.12
Karnataka 129.16 193,750 150.00 250 375000 181250 2.10
Gujarat 233.44 186,991 80.10 310 248310 61319 1.32
Tamil Nadu 93.47 135,073 144.50 285 411825 276752 3.04
Odisha 146,87 141,000 96.00 230 220800 79800 1.56
*Source: http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/SugarNew29.pdf

in different states have been observed sugarcane cultivation by sugarcane 17) and sugar recovery level up to
mainly due to planting season, growers on the principle of increasing 10.62% during current year.
duration of crop, maturity and crop productivity, reducing cost of Adoption of sugarcane early
environmental factors. This affect cultivation and value addition in maturing and high-yielding varieties
benefit: cost ratio of the crop. The sugar products and allied products such as Co 0238 and CoLk 94184
higher benefit: cost ratio was are discussed here. has contributed significantly in
recorded in Tamil Nadu (3.04) Selection of improved sugarcane increasing cane productivity and
followed by Maharashtra (2.81). varieties: Under AICRP on sugar recovery of the state.
Variation in benefit cost ratio is Sugarcane, so far 115 sugarcane Trench method of planting: Earlier
directly influenced by FRP/SAP varieties are identified and out of trench method of planting was
(price/q). It is recommended by them 53 have been notified and usually adopted in coastal areas as
Union Government and adopted and released for different sugarcane zones well as other areas where the crop
recommended by the state of the country. The improved growth was very tall. Due to strong
governments. It is privilege given to sugarcane varieties are in higher cane winds during rainy season, sugarcane
state government to encourage yield, juice quality parameters viz., crop may lodge. But now, this
sugarcane cultivation and provide sugar content, sugar recovery and method of planting is being widely
benefits to the sugarcane growers of commercial cane sugar yield. adopted in sub-tropical region also.
the state. The Andhra Pradesh, Sugarcane varieties are also available Trenches are dug at a distance of
Odisha, Bihar and Gujarat are facing showing tolerance under adverse 75-90 cm, with the help of ridger
difficulties in getting higher benefit: climatic conditions like drought and tractor mounted or by manual
cost ratio in sugarcane ratoon crop. flood. Selection of quality seed and labourer. The trenches should be
Adoption of improved technologies zone specific varieties may yield about 30 cm deep. The mixture of
may certainly increase their farmers higher as compared to local existing/ NPK fertilizers should be uniformly
income. cultivating varieties. Sugarcane spread in the trenches and mixed
varieties have been widely adopted thoroughly in the soil. Then setts are
Increase the cane productivity, sugar and occupied larger share in different planted end to end method within
recovery and farmers income zones viz. Co 86032 (70%) in the trenches made. Drenching of the
Farmers are growing sugarcane peninsular zone, Co 0238 (35%) in setts is done with chlorpyriphos @
crop to get more income with North-West Zone and Central Zone, 0.05% to protect from the soil-borne
application of limited inputs or and CoLk 94184 (28%), BO 91 insect pests. Trenches are filled up
management. They have achieved (20%), Co 6907 (20%) and Co Bln with loose soil after planting. The
higher income after adoption of 9104 (18%) in Eastern Zone of sugarcane cutter and planter
advanced methods/package of country. Uttar Pradesh has achieved developed by Indian Institute of
practices of sugarcane cultivation. 1 st rank in sugar production (8.7 Sugarcane Research, Lucknow can
Some methods and techniques are million tonnes in 2016-2017) also be used for combining the
being given here by which sugarcane because of improved sugarcane operations of opening the furrows,
growers not only to get more income varieties and their better management placement of fertilizers and then
but can double their income in on farmers’ conditions. It has also planting setts in the rows. Paired row
different parts of the country. increased Uttar Pradesh average trech planting is done at 30:120 cm
Generating more income from productivity (72.3 tonne/ha – 2016- in subtropical India. However, in

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Table 2. Cost of cultivation of sugarcane ratoon crop

States Cost of Expenditures/ha Attained cane FRP/SAP Gross Net profit B:C Ratio
production/qtl excluding land yield at field (price/q)* Income
(`) lease charges (tonne/ha) (`)
(`)
Sub tropical region
Uttar Pradesh 83.75 67000 80.00 315 252000 185000 3.76
Bihar 140.94 98664 70.00 230 161000 62336 1.63
Punjab 93.28 74627 80.00 230 184000 109373 2.46
Haryana 106.53 74571 70.00 230 161000 86429 2.15
Rajasthan 111.36 81300 73.00 230 167900 86600 2.06
Asom 125.17 87617 70.00 250 175000 87383 1.99
Tropical region
Maharashtra 44.17 44179 100.00 237.10 237100 192921 5.36
Andhra Pradesh 170.99 105506 61.75 230 142025 36519 0.35
Karnataka 125 125000 100.00 250 250000 125000 2.00
Gujarat 180.24 132120 73.30 310 227230 95110 1.71
Tamil Nadu 87.20 124000 142.20 285 405270 281270 3.26
Odisha 177.58 103000 58.00 230 133400 30400 1.29
*Source: http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/files/SugarNew29.pdf

Maharashtra and other tropical temporally and spatially, which 30 and 60 days after planting gave
regions spacing may be increased up improves water economy, growth and 25% saving in nitrogenous fertilizers.
to 150 cm. Trench planting avoids ultimately crop yield. The uniformity Sulphur (S) may be applied @ 40-60
lodging of cane particularly in ratoon of water application in drip irrigation kg/ha in sugarcane plant crop in
crop. Paired row planting is the best would be as high as 95%, if the sulphur deficient soils. Micro-
practice for surface drip irrigation system is properly planned, designed nutrients fertilizers may be mixed
system and involving maximum and operated. with well decomposed dung manure
resource use efficiency and cane Integrated nutrient management: or compost and applied as basal dose.
productivity. In sub-tropical India, 25 Sugarcane crop is perennial in nature Integrated weed management:
to 30% cane yield could be increased. and exhausts higher level of nutrients Being perennial nature of sugarcane,
However, the planting method is from the soil. Sugarcane yielding 100 the crop is affected by weeds in all
suitable for multi-ratooning system. tonne/ha removes 208 kg of N, 53 kg three seasons. So for the economic
Irrigation water management: of P, 280 kg K, 30 kg of S, 3.4 kg of management of weeds in sugarcane,
Sugarcane is an irrigated crop and Fe 1.2 kg of Mn and 0.6 kg of Cu three hoeings during tillering stage at
requires 1,400-2,300 mm water in from the soil. Hence, soil has to be 45, 90 and 120 days of the planting
sub-tropical region and 2,000 to replenished to sustain the are recommended. However, under
3,500 mm in the tropical region to productivity of sugarcane with the limitations of manpower-availability
achieve better growth and said quantities of nutrients and and labour cost etc., pre-emergence
development. Generally, to complete maintain availability of micro- application of either of atrazine @
a crop cycle, 6 to 36 irrigations may nutrients in soil before there critical 2.0 kg a.i./ha or metribuzin @ 1.0 kg
be required depending upon the limit like Fe (non-calcareous soil) 4.2 a.i./ha(800- 1000 litre water/ha)
regions, soil type, planting seasons ppm, Fe (calcareous soil) 6.3 ppm, followed by either of 2,4 D Na salt
etc. Irrigation water should be Zn (Loamy soils) 1.2 ppm, Zn (Clay @ 1.0 kg/ ha(600-800 litres water/
applied at depth of 7 to 8 cm. soils) 2.0 ppm, Mn 2.0 ppm, Cu 1.2 ha) or hoeing at 45 days after
Irrigation water requirement is varied ppm and Hot water soluble-B 0.44 ratooning can be successfully
with age and growth stage of the ppm. In northern India, the N practised. Further, trash mulching in
crop. In subtropical region, 6 to 8 requirement of sugarcane is about rows after ratoon initiation is also a
irrigations are required to complete 150 to 180 kg N/ha, whereas in good option to control the weed
its life-cycle in a year. However, in southern India, it is 250 to 350 kg/ growth.
tropical region, up to 36 irrigations ha. If soil test values are not available, Crop diversification (Intercropping):
may be required. Keeping the apply 60 to 80 kg P2O5 and 60 kg Sugarcane is a cash crop which gives
scarcity and importance of water, drip K2O/ha in north India and 100 kg income after a year. However, there is
irrigation method is being adopted in P 2 O 5 /ha in southern parts of the need to diversify the cropping system
different parts of the country. In drip country. Application of well by introducing other economic and
irrigation, water is supplied directly decomposed farmyard manure/ short duration crops either in a
to the root zone using a network of compost @ 10-15 tonne/ha or sequence or as intercropping.
tubes and dippers/emitters nozzles composted press mud @ 5 tonne/ha Intercropping generates mid-season
placed along the water-delivery line. is also recommended. Soil application income for sugarcane farmers to meet
This involves precise control and of Azotobactor/Azospirillum @ 10 kg/ the expenses for sugarcane cultivation
manipulation of soil moisture ha cfu 107 -109in two equal splits at and also fulfils the household

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Management practices for economically important sugarcane diseases and insect-pest as discussed here.
Sugarcane Management practices
disease
Red rot Red rot is a fungal disease caused by the fungus Colletotrichum falcatum. The management practices - For planting use
seed from absolutely disease free seed plot. Do not plant sugarcane in the disease affected fields for one year. Grow
varieties fairly resistant to red rot. Crush the affected crop early and plough up the fields soon after harvesting the crop.
Collect and burn the stubbles. Rogue out and bury or burn the diseased canes. Uproot the entire clumps and not merely
the affected stalks. Do not ratoon the diseased crop.
Wilt This disease is caused by Cephalosporium sacchari (earlier Fusarium moniliforme). The affected stalks become light and
hollow. The control measures against this disease are the same as those of red rot. As the causal fungus persists in the
soil over long period, the affected field should not be put under sugarcane at least three years.
Smut Smut is caused by Sporisorium scitamineum (earlier Ustilago scitaminea). This disease is prevalent throughout the year
but is severe from May to July, and again in October-November. Its incidence increases in the ratoon crop. Use only smut
free canes for seed purpose. Reject even the healthy looking canes in the diseased stools or those growing in the vicinity
of the smut infected clumps. Remove the smut whips gently (without shaking) after putting them inside a closely woven
drill bag. Then uproot the entire diseased clumps and burn or bury them deep. Immerse the bag used for collecting the
smut whips in boiling water for 5 min after every roguing of the crop. Do not ratoon the smut infected crop.
Ratoon A coryneform bacterium (Clavibacter xyli) has been found to be associated with the disease. The affected crop remains
stunting stunted with thin canes. The leaves are comparatively pale and the roots are poorly developed. The management practices
are recommended for this disease are - do not use the diseased crop for planting, select the cane-seed from a vigorously
growing and healthy crop, moist hot air treatment of seed canes at 54oC for 4 hr is effective in destroying the causal
organism and do not ratoon the diseased crop.
Grassy shoot The disease is caused by mycoplasma like bodies. The affected plants give rise to numerous thin tillers, the leaves become
disease reduced in size, thin and narrow and usually turn chlorotic. If the attack is light, one or two weak canes may be formed.
Uproot and destroy the affected clumps immediately after appearance. The moist hot air treatment of the seed-canes at
54ºC for 4 hr inactivates the causal organisms of this disease. Its incidence increases in the ratoon crop, therefore, do
not ratoon the diseased crop.
Red stripe Red stripe is a bacterial disease caused by Pseudomonas rubrilineans. It appears during June-August. The affected leaves
show bright red streaks which are long, narrow and run longitudinally on the leaf-blade, causing the rotting of tops in severe
cases. Rogue out the affected canes and burn or bury them.
Pokkah boeng This disease is caused by Fusarium moniliforme. It appears during rainy season from July to September. The young leaves
in the top portion of the plant become chlorotic at the base and get distorted and shortened. They turn dark red and fall
off gradually. In severe cases, the rotting of the top portion of the cane occurs. Remove the affected clumps and bury them.
Stinking rot This rot is caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The disease appears during the rainy season from July to September.
The cane tops dry with the rotting of upper portion or the whole of the stalk. A diseased cane emits a foul smell. Rogue
out and burn the severely attacked canes.
Yellow leaf This disease is caused by a Virus. It is new emerging disease mainly in tropical region of the country. Only tolerant/
disease resistant varieties are recommended for its management.

Insect-pest Management practices

Termite The termite appears from April to June and again in October. It destroys the germinating buds and causes the drying up
of shoots after germination. To avoid its attack, apply only well-rotten farmyard manure and remove the stubbles and debris
of previous crop from the field.
Early This pest appears from April to June and causes dry dead-hearts which can be easily pulled out. The management
shoot-borer practices are: plant the crop early, i.e. before the middle of March and can apply 10 kg granules of Regent/Mortel/Rippen
0.3 G (fipronil) before the setts are covered with soil by planking.
Top-borer This pest appears from March to October and causes severe damage between July and August. The central leaf of the
cane top dries up and turns dark. The other typical symptoms are the shot-holes in the leaf, white or red streaks on the
upper side of the leaf midrib and bunchy tops from July onwards. The management practices are - collect and destroy
its moths and egg-clusters, cut the attacked shoots at the ground level from April to June, use Tricho-card having 20,000
eggs of Corcyra cephalonica parasitized (seven days old) by Tricogramma japopnicum per acre at 10 days old interval
from mid-April to end-June.
Stalk borer It is also known as Tarai borer: This pest is active throughout the year. The larvae overwinter in the stubble and water-
shoots. The attack remains low during April-June and increases in July. Its incidence is highest during October-November.
There are no outward symptoms of the attack of this pest. Entrance or exit holes on the attacked canes can be seen only
after stripping. A larva sometimes damages up to 3 nodes and the cane may be attacked at several places. The
management practices are: do not use the cane-seed from the infested field. Staple 40 Tricho-cards (5 cm x 2.5 cm) hard
paper piece glued with 7 days old eggs of laboratory host, Corcyra cephalonica parasitized by Trichogramma chilonis to
the under-sides of sugarcane leaves from July to October at 10 days interval. Each card should have approximately 500
parasitized eggs and be spread uniformally at 40 spots per acre. Normally 10-12 releases are required. Do not ratoon a
heavily infested crop. Plough the affected fields, collect the stumps and destroy.
Whitefly The damaged crop looks pale during August-October. The leaves turn black owing to the development of a fungus. The
underside of the leaves is full of nymphs and pupae which suck the sap from the leaves. Spray the crop with 40 ml Confidor
200 SL (imidacloprid) in 150 litres of water per acre is recommended.
Black bug The attacked crop looks pale. The black adults and pink young nymphs suck the sap from the leaf-sheaths. This pest is
active from April to June. Spray the crop with 350 ml of 20 EC (chlorpyriphos) in 400 litres of water per acre with manually
operated sprayer is recommended.
Pyrilla Pyrilla reduces cane yield and sugar recovery heavily. When the attack is severe it becomes difficult to make gur. This
pest appears in April-May and again in August-September. The leaves of the damaged crop turn yellow. Later on owing
to the development of a fungus, the crop turns black and the tops become unfit for feeding to cattle. The incidence of this
pest is particularly high in a luxuriant crop and in the interior of field. Effective management practices are not available
to this insect-pest.
Sugarcane The mite appears from April to June and feeds on the lower side of the leaves under a fine web. The leaves turn red and
mite later appear to be burnt. The growth of the affected crop is retarded during the pre-monsoon period. Baru (Sorghum
halepens) is the alternative host plant from which this mite spreads to the sugarcane crop. So destroy the weed, if growing
near the sugarcane fields.

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Table 3. Crop diversification for additional income generation in the country of resources like, seeds and sugarcane
Locations Crops planting cost and labourers.
Autumn planted sugarcane
Sugarcane ratoon crop saves cost on
Shahjahanpur Wheat, lahi, pea, potato preparatory tillage and planting
Lucknow Wheat, toria, sugar beet, berseem, onion, lentil, garlic, material. It gets benefit of residual
kalaunzee, coriander, pea manure and moisture. It matures
Pantnagar Wheat, sugar beet, lentil, lahi earlier and gives more or less same
Muzaffarnagar Pea, gram, sugarbeet
Gorakhpur Berseem, potato, wheat
yield as cane. Generally, only one
Jalandhar Sugarbeet, wheat, rayatoria, potato, maize ratoon crop is recommended for
Sriganganagar Sugarbeet adoption because of incidence of
Pusa (Bihar) Lentil, coriander insect - pests and diseases increases
Spring planted sugarcane and deterioration of soil takes place.
Lucknow Cowpea, chari, moong
But in some parts of sugarcane
Pantnagar Onion, moong, urd, soybean, cowpea
Muzaffarnagar Onion growing areas in the country two to
Pusa (Bihar) Moong three ratoon are common.
Hisar Moong
Coimbatore Moong Management practices
Anakapalle Urd, moong, soybean, cowpea To get higher income from ratoon
Parbhani Guar, cowpea crop, following management
Sameerwadi Moong, onion, ground nut
practices recommended.
Padegaon Onion, Lucerne, berseem
Akola Groundnut
Trash management: Most of the
farmer burn trash in field which can
be conserved. As we know that trash
requirement of food, fibre and Integrated insect-pests and disease adds nutrients to the soil after their
oilseeds (Table 3). The inclusion of management: Sugarcane is an annual decomposition. Remove the trashes
short duration, high value crops in crop and attacked by number of and keep it near bunds till stubble
sugarcane-based production system as insect-pests and diseases. They can shaving and off-barring operations
inter-and/or sequential crops holds cause economic and qualitative are over and then spread it in the
great promise in increasing the land damage to the crop. Management of field. Trash mulching conserves soil
utilization efficiency, reducing the insect-pests and diseases of sugarcane moisture. Mulched trash can be
production cost, economizing the use crop is promising and selection of incorporated into the soil at the
of market purchased costly inputs and effective management strategy is earthing up.
making the system sustainable. equally important. First of all regular Stubble shaving: This is an
Furrow irrigated raised bed monitoring of crop is required. If indispensable operation to raise good
technique for planting of wheat with crop is infected at negligible level, ratoon crop. The stubble protruding
sugarcane: This technique is agronomical/cultural/mechanical above ground level are cut close to
recommended for western parts of practices should be adopted. If crop the ground using a spade. It may
Uttar Pradesh where sugarcane- is grown in insect pests and disease induce underground buds to sprout
ratoon-wheat rotation is predominant prevalence area, prior management and establish deeper root system.
and planting of sugarcane is delayed strategy is required like selection of Apply chlorpyriphos 20 EC (1 kg ai/
(up to first week of May) due to resistant varieties, sett treatment with ha) in 800-1,000 litre water) after
harvesting of wheat crop. Late bio-control agents or agro-chemicals stubble shaving to minimize insect-
planting of sugarcane gives poor yield to minimize population of infection pests in the field.
of plant crop because of reduced causing agents. In standing crop, Off-baring or root pruning or
tillering period. In furrow irrigated management of insect pests and shoulder breaking: Cutting sides of the
raised bed (FIRB) system, 2/3 rows diseases is difficult. However, some ridges, loosening soils between ridges
of wheat are sown on the raised beds agro-chemicals are recommended for are the other important operations in
in November-December and furrows their management. So agro-chemicals ratoon crop. It may reduce soil
are kept vacant for sugarcane should be procured from registered compaction. It can be done manually
planting. Sugarcane is planted at 60- agency or government organizations or using plough or tractor mounted
65 cm/80-85 cm apart from furrows and methods should be understood ratoon management device (RMD).
during February-March in standing properly. The RMD can do harrowing,
wheat crop. Sugarcane gives about Ratoon management: Sugarcane is weeding, dispensing farmyard
30% higher yield than wheat- vegetative propagated crop and also manure, pesticide, fungicide,
sugarcane sequential system without used as ratoon crop. Ratooning is a fertilizers and earthing up in a single
reduction in wheat yield. In this practice of growing a crop from the pass. About 1 ha ratoon field can be
system irrigation is only applied in stubbles of previous crop. The worked in 4 to 5 hr.
furrows. Thus, this technique purpose of adopting this practice is Harvesting of the cane crop:
requires less volume of water and to achieve maximum benefits from a Harvesting of plant crop is done as
20% water saving can be made. planted crop with limited application per varietal schedule. In north India,

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January 2018
early varieties are harvested after 15 after ratoon initiation. Thus plant crop. The duration between the
December. However, mid-late integrated weed control measures as two irrigations are reduced in ratoon
varieties take 11 to 12 months recommended in plant crop may also crop as compared to plant crop.
maturity time and should be be applied in ratoon crop to However, after adoption of trash
harvested after 15 February to obtain minimize the incidence of weeds. In mulching, soil moisture is conserved
higher sugar recovery and cane yield. ratoon crop, trash mulching also and made available for longer period.
Autumn planted crop in north India reduces weed infestation. However, Nutrient management: Nitrogen
is harvested after 15 months in after trash mulching, spraying of requirement of sugarcane ratoon
December-January. In tropical region, chemicals on sugarcane rows also should be increased by 25% because
planting of crop influences the controls the intra-row weeds. In such of superficial roots in ratoon as
harvesting of crop. December planted cases, post-emergence application of compared to plant crop. Thus
crop is harvested in next December 2-4,D @ 1 kg ai/ha controls the nutrient use efficiency of ratoon crop
whereas February planted crop is broadleaved weeds. is poor. Other nutrients are
harvested in next February in Tamil Water management in ratoon crop: recommended as given in plant crop.
Nadu and Maharashtra. Adsali crop is Sugarcane crop is perennial in nature
harvested after 15 to 18 months of and requires more water. First 1
Project Coordinator, All India Coordinated
Research Project on Sugarcane, IISR,
planting in Maharashtra. irrigation is recommended at 5 to 6
Lucknow 2Scientist, Plant Pathology 3Director,
Weed management of ratoon crop: weeks after the harvesting of main / IISR, Lucknow 4Senior Scientist (Agronomy) .
Critical period of crop weed previous crop and then regular Corresponding author's e mail:
competition in ratoon crop is 90 days schedule of irrigation is followed as sudhirshukla151@gmail.com

Success story
A salt –tolerant variety ‘KRL 210 wheat’ produces good yield
The Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal during 2013 to get advisory on soil sodicity, and produce quality
seed of ‘KRL-210 wheat’ in farmers’ participatory mode and enhancing his livelihood by developing his own seed network (farmer
to farmer market). Shri Surjeet Singh, a farmer known for his grassroots innovations, and producing quality seed lives in village
Baras, Karnal, has been sowing the CSSRI bred salt tolerant variety ‘KRL-210 wheat’ since 2013 with remarkable yield (64.55
to 70.75 q/ha) on soils characterized as slightly alkali (pH range of 8.45±0.15). He used to sow the seed of ‘KRL-210 wheat’ in
salt affected soils between first to second week of November with zero or reduced tillage using seed-cum-fertilizer drill. To harvest
bold grains of KRL-210 (for seed purpose) with enhanced number of tillers, he calibrated his seed-drill to sow KRL-210 variety
with lower seed rate of 55 kg/ha at 18 cm row spacing as against the recommended seed rate of 100 kg/ha with 22 cm row spacing.
Shri Singh reduced the nitrogen fertilizer by 10% (135-140 kg N/ha), but maintained 15% higher P (58-60 kg P 2O5/ha) application.
Although he has been applying 1-2 irrigation normally since past 15 years in any of the wheat variety, for example during 2016-
17 he irrigated KRL-210 only once after 30 days of seed sowing after experiencing weather pattern. No subsequent irrigations
were applied as moisture requirement was fulfilled with intermittent rainfall received with 6 rainy days (total 96.3 mm rainfall)
between January and March 2017, and optimum moisture remained in the field till harvest of the crop. The crop was harvested
on 4 April, 2017 and yield data was recorded. With variability of 3.63%, the average yield of KRL-210, in past five years (2013-
2017), was observed to be 67.47q/ha
Adaptation practices of Shri Surjit Singh compared with other farmers’ practices and maximum yield of 70.75 q/ha
during 2016-17. This could be possible
Adaptation components Sh. Surjit Singh’s Practices followed owing to creative farmers’
practice by other farmers management practices, relatively
Variety KRL 210 HD 2967 more number of effective tillers in KRL-
Seed rate (kg/ha) 55 100 210 (452-476/m2) and higher grain
Method of sowing Zero till Rotavator/Zero till weight [(46.2-48.1 g/1000-grains)
Spacing (cm) 18 20-22 (during 2016-17)]. Performance of
Surjit Singh’s adaptations with KRL-
Fertilizer application
210 resulted in almost 25-30.0 %
Nitrogen (kg N/ha) 135-140 165-195
saving of resources with better
Phosphorus (kg P2O5/ha) 58-60 kg 50
monitory returns (B:C) with MSP of
Irrigation (No.) 1-2 3-4 wheat along with conserving natural
Yield (q/ha) 70.75 60 resources and enhancing
Cost of cultivation (`/ha)* 12,986 18,855-19,238 environmental sustainability. Other
Gross returns @ ` 1,625/q 114,970 97,500 than routine sell on MSP, he has been
Benefit : Cost ratio1 8.85 5.07-5.46 selling KRL-210 as seed on an
*Other input costs being considered common while calculating cost of cultivation under average 70-90 quintals every year with
both the practices. price ` 3,000/q, and could earn ` 195,
1 This exclude the income generated from KRL-210 as seed sell for which this variety 000/ha from seed through farmers’
was adopted by Shri Surjit Singh network.It is to highlight that other
than using KRL-210 since 2013, Shri.
Surjit Singh has been continuing his
informal agronomic experimentations with less seed and water since last about one and half decades to cope-up with climate
variability. Such informal agronomic experimentation led by him in association (2013-2017) with CSSRI for assessing sodicity,
providing salt-tolerant wheat KRL-210, and farmer networking support, provide an example of co-production of adaptive
knowledge for adapting abiotic stresses and enhancing livelihood resilience.

64
Indian Farming
January 2018