Sugarcane

Scientific name : Saccharum officinarum

Family : Gramineae, a perennial grass, 2n = 80

Sugarcane (akh) a tall tropical perennial plant of the genus Saccharum, a member of the
grass family Gramineae. Although there are three species (S. barberi, S. sinensis, S.
robustum) of the genus that are cultivated for commercial production of sugar, S.
officinarum is the most widely used species, and has probably been cultivated in Asia
from prehistoric times.

Sugarcane supplies about 70 percent of the world’s sugar. In many areas where
production and labour cost are low, sugarcane provides sugar at a lower cost than the
sugar provided from sugar beets.

Growing area in the world

Sugarcane is grown in tropical regions around the world. The main production areas are
the warm, humid, tropical lowland regions of North, Central and South America, the
Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Oceania, including Australia. At present, sugarcane is
cultivated in about 100 countries. The principal sugarcane growing countries are India,
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Barbados, China, Cuba, Mexico, Egypt, Jamaica, Peru,
South Africa, and Hawaii, Florida, and Louisiana of the United States of America. In
Bangladesh sugarcane is grown in about 0.43 million acres of land. The annual
production of cane is about 7.3 million m tons (Table). It is one of the most important
cash crops of the country.

Growing area in Bangladesh:

Although sugarcane is grown in almost all the districts of the country, the principal
growing areas are Chittagong, Comilla, Sylhet, Dhaka, Faridpur, Jamalpur, Kishoreganj,
Tangail, Jessore, Kushtia, Bogra, Dinajpur, Pabna, Rajshahi, and Rangpur.

Importance
1. It is the top most starch producing crop in Bangladesh and also the second cash
crop.
2. Among the sugar producing crops, sugarcane ranks first.
3. Though it is a long duration (12-14 months) crop, but inter cropping is possible
in between two rows of sugarcane.
4. Ratoon crop is possible from sugarcane.
5. All the parts of sugarcane can be used.
6. Bagasse is used for making pulp, fibreboard, plastic & furfural.
7. It is also popular as chewing food materials.
Product: Sugar juice is used for making white sugar, brown sugar, and jaggery (gur),
main byproducts of the sugarcane industry are bagasse and molasses. Bagasse is mainly
used as a fuel. It is also used for the production of compressed fibre board, paper, plastics
and furfural. Molasses is used in distilleries for the manufacture of ethyl alcohol, butyl
alcohol, citric acid, etc. spirit, press mud (byproduct of sugar mill) is used as manure,
fodder, fuel, house building material.

Origin: Sugarcane probably originated in India, where it has been grown since ancient
times. Columbus introduced the crop to the West Indies.

Origin: S. officinarum (thick cane)- New Guinea

S. barberi & S. sinensis (Thin cane)– India

Climate:
It is a tropical crop but it can also be cultivated in subtropical region. It favours hot and
humid climate.
- For proper germination- 18-250 C temperature is optimum (below 100 C is not
desirable).
- For growth-25-300 C (below 150 C is not desirable) temperature is optimum.
- For maturity 18-22 0 C temperature is optimum.
- If prevails low temperature maturity will be delayed.
- High humidity is favourable.
- Sugarcane can be grown with the range of annual rainfall of 125-200 cm.
Irrigation is not necessary if the annual rainfall is 1250-1500 mm. But, 140-150
cm annual rainfall is optimum.
Juice content in cane will be higher if rainfall is higher. High humidity during the
growing period and dry weather at maturation lead to satisfactory production.

Soil: Sugarcane can be grown any type of soil except sandy soil. Sandy loam to clay loam
soil suitable but well-drained loamy soil is the best. A soil pH between 6 and 7.5 has been
found suitable for plant growth. High to medium high land free from water logging is
suitable for sugarcane cultivation.
Variety
In the past Coimbatore varieties of sugarcane were widely cultivated in Bangladesh. The
Sugarcane Research and Training Institute, Ishurdi has released nearly 30 sugarcane
varieties which cover about 95 percent of the total sugarcane land of sugar mills zones
and 25 percent of non-mill zones. The notable varieties are Isd 1/53, Isd 2/54, Isd 16, Isd
17, Isd 18, Isd 19, Isd 20, Isd 25, Isd 28, LJC (Latari-Java-C) etc. Most of these varieties
produce 110-120 m tons of sugarcane per ha having sugar content of 12-13%. Among
local varieties Mishrimala and Gendari are mostly grown for chewing.

Isd-1/53, Isd-2/54, Isd-5/55, Isd-9/57, Isd-3/54, Isd-4/55, Isd-6/56, Isd-7/57, Isd-8/57

Isd-16, Isd-17, Isd-18, Ids-19, Isd-20, Isd-21, Isd-22, Isd-23, Isd-24, Isd-25, Isd-26,
Isd-27, Isd-28, Isd-29, Latari-Java-C
Local variety: Mishrimala, Gendari.
For high land-Isd-16
For lowland- Isd-2/54, Latarizaba-C, Isd-20, Isd-21
For Gud- Isd-16, Latari-Java-C
Ratooning- Latari-Java-C, Isd-2/54.

Problems of sugarcane cultivation in Bangladesh

1. Lack of suitable varieties for flood prone areas.
2. Lack of suitable varieties for drought prone areas.
3. Lack of no. of millable cane acre -1 (i) low germination and (ii)no. of cane hill-1 .
4. Lack of certified seed.
5. Insect pest and disease infestation.
6. Lack of cane crusher.
7. Lack of loan.
8. Lack of extension activities.
9. Seed treatment problem.
10. Lack of early varieties.
Cultivation techniques/ production techniques
Land preparation:
About 4-5 times ploughing and cross ploughing followed by laddering are necessary for
good preparation of land for the crop. Sugarcane requires deep ploughing for easy and
good growth of its roots. One deep ploughing (with tractor drawn plough) and 2-3
harrowing and cross ploughing is sufficient to keep down weed, to provide better
aeration, to provide moisture, to incorporate and help in decomposing organic matter into
the soil, etc. the heavy soil requires more number of ploughing than light soil.
Fertilizer dose
Fertilizer Amount Time of application
(kg/ha) Basal Ist split at 3-4 tiller 2nd top dressing at the end
application formation (After 3 to 4 of tillering stage(After 5 to
(kg/ha) month) 6 month)
Urea 375 1/3 1/3 1/3
TSP 280 full
MP 280 1/3 1/3 1/3
Gypsum 175 full
ZnSO4 30 full

Planting time
August – October -------Early
November – Mid December -- Late
Method of planting
a) Flat method: 5-6 cm shallow plough by country plough.
Make trench 5-6 cm shallow ploughing with country plough and covered with soil
by 5-6 cm which look like flat.
b) Furrow method: 15 cm deep furrow by spade. (15 cm deep furrow covered with
soil by 8-10 cm.)
c) Trench method
d) Rayungun method
e) STP (Spaced transplanting) method.
Trench method
In this method, trenches are dug at a distance of 1- 1.20 m (100-120 cm) from centre of
one trench to the centre of another. The trenches are dug making 30-35 cm deep and 30-
35 cm wide at the top portion and 25-30 cm wide at the bottom. The length of the
trenches may be 30-60 m or more or even according to the length of the land. These
trenches are dug by using heavy spade or trencher. About 5-7 cm of soil at the bottom of
the trenches are to be loosened and fertilizers are mixed with this soil. After that the setts
may be placed in trenches by different methods. After planting the setss should be
covered with soil.
Methods of sett placement in trenches
Setts may be placed by the following methods

1. Single row method

a) End to end method without gap
b) End to end method with gap (15 cm)

Advantages:
a) Lesser amount of setts are needed.
b) Healthy plants are obtained.
c) Yield becomes higher if germination percentage is satisfactory.
Disadvantages
a) Enough distance is maintained between the seedlings in case of lower germination
percentage.
b) In case of lower germination percentage yield is drastically reduced.

2. Double row method: In this method setts are planted in two rows.

Advantages
a) Desired number of plants can be obtained.
Disadvantages:
a) Number of setts required is higher.
b) Cost is higher.
 3. One and half method / Half over lapping method / Dera method

Advantage
a) Desired number of plants can be obtained.
Disadvantages
a) Seed rate is high
b) Cost is higher.
4. Zig-zag method : Setts are planted in a zigzag way
Advantages
a) Desired number of population can be obtained.
b) Termite infestation can be prevented.
Disadvantage
a) Seed rate is higher.
Sett selection
1. The main crop / Mother crop should be 8-12 months old but in case of ratoon
crop it should be 6-8 months old.
2. The upper one third of the plant should be selected for setts because this
contains less amount of sucrose, which enhances germination.
3. Mother crop/ main plant should be free from disease and insect infestation
4. Sprouted and rotted stem/sett should be avoided.
5. Each sett should contain three eyes
6. The sett should be cut with slanting ends and there should be sharp cut not
any kind of splitting.
7. Cut should be made in between nodes.

Preparation of sett
Each sett having 2 to 3 buds should be cut by a sharp knife. If any cutting rubbed should
be discarded. Thirty five to forty thousand setts are needed to plant one hectare of land.
Sett treatment
Organo mercurial compounds are most commonly used. Fungicides e.g., Aretan/Agallol
@ 200 g/20 l water. Setts are first given hot water treatment (520 C for 20 minutes) and
then treated with fungicide. Setts are dipped into 0.5% solution of Agallol (0.5 kg mixed
with 100 kg water) or 0.25% solution of Aretan 6 (0.25 kg mixed with 100 kg water).
This treatment does not only control diseases but also increases the germination
percentage of setts by about 6-12% and induces vigour in the sprouted buds.

Advantages of trench method:

1. Crop/Plant gets basal anchorage, which prevents the plants from lodging
in early stages of growth.
2. Maximum amount of moisture can be retained in the soil, which helps in
better germination.
3. Localized placement of fertilizers is possible.
4. Application of water, fertilizer, spraying of chemicals and drained out of
excess water become easier.
5. No root damage occurs during intercultural operations
6. The yield and quality of the crop improves due to absence of lodging and
better absorption of nutrients by plant.
7. It gives higher yield from ratoon crop.
8. Stem borer attack is 50% less.
9. Sugar percentage of the cane become higher because in this system canes
stay in erect condition
10. Intercultural operations like earthing up, weeding, irrigation and drainage
can be done properly.
11. Fertilizer and water can easily be reached in the root zone of the plants,
which in turn enhance growth and increased yield.
12. Potato, pulses, vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and mustard can easily
be grown as intercrop with sugarcane.
Disadvantages of trench methods
1. Trench making is a laborious job so it is a labourious method as compared to the
flat and farm method.
2. It is very costly method.
3. Plenty of labour is needed (About 100 labour is required only for preparing the
trench of 1 ha).
4. Heavy manuring is needed.
5. Want of trencher or heavy spade for making trench.

STP (Spaced Transplanting) Method

Spaced transplanting of Sugarcane is an improved method of sugarcane cultivation. This
is a new technology recommended by BSRI, Ishurdi, Pabna. In this method, instead of
direct planting of sugarcane setts, seedlings are raised in small poly bags. The seedlings
are then transplanted in the main field with a view to have desired number of sugarcane
plants for a particular area. The method is described below:
------- Seedling raising in STP
In this method seedlings are mainly raised in the poly bags.
Selection of poly bags :
Size : 12.5 cm  10 cm
Thickness : 0.02 mm
----- Filling up of poly bags with soil
2/3rds volume of the polybags are filled up with fertile soil (mixture of sandy loam soil)
and cowdung/compost). Before fillingg up the soil mixture may be treated with
heptachlor.
-------- Preparation of setts
One eyed setts are prepared from healthy plants of certified recommended variety.
Fig:

------- Placing of setts into the polybags

The setts are placed horizontally into the soil of the polybags. Before placing into the
polybags the setts are treated with 0.1% Aretan solution for 10 minutes. Setts are placed
in such a way so that the eyes of the setts remain just above the surface of the soil.

Fig: Poly bag with one eyed sett.

After placing the setts the poly bags are kept in lines at a suitable place where the bags
get adequate sunshine. The bags are then covered lightly with straw or dried cane leaves
to maintain proper soil moisture and better germination.
-------- Care of seedlings in the poly bags
If moisture content decreases in the poly bags water may be added frequently by watering
can.
After 3 to 4 weeks seedlings are emerged from the eyes of the setts. Then with in one
month 5-6 leaves are seen in each seedlings and the seedlings are ready for transplanting
in the main field.
------ Transplanting
seedlings at the age of 1-2 months are the best for transplantation. these seedlings are
transplanted in the main field. During transplantation of seedlings to the main field care
should be taken so that the seedlings can not loose by separation from soil.
Spacing
Aug- October: 100 cm  60 cm
Mid Oct – Mid December: 90 cm  45 cm
Mid Jan- Feb: 75 cm  45 cm
April- Mid May: 60 cm  30 cm
Seed rate : 1.5 – 2 t/ha.

Advantages of STP
1. Savings of nearly 4 tonnes of seed cane per hectare.
2. Seedlings can be transplanted maintaining a certain distance and that’s why no gaps
remain in the field and gap filling is not required.
3. Early planting is possible when the main field is occupied by wheat or other winter
crops.
4. Healthy seedlings can be transplanted and that’s why 20-25% more yield may be
obtained than other local methods.
5. The seedlings can be transplanted directly in the field without disturbing the contents
of polybag and as a result normal growth and development of seedlings continues
immediately after transplantation.
6. Since the setts are transplanted in optimum condition, germination percentage is
higher.
7. Higher stalk population exceeding 1.2 lakh canes per hectare.
8. Uniform crop stand.
9. Lower incidence of pests and diseases.
10. Reduced lodging of cane.
11. The average yield is much higher than conventional technique.

Traditional methods require 6-7 tons setts/ha and give yield 43-45 t/ha, whereas in STP
1.5 – 3 t/ha setts are required and yield is 100-150 t/ha.
 Difference between trench and STP method
Trench method STP method
1. Each sett has 3 nodes 1. Each sett has 1 or 2 nodes.
2. Setts are planted directly 2. Seedlings are raised in bed or Polly bag and
then transplanted
3. High amount of setts are required 3. Less amount of setts are required.
4. Germination percentage is lower 4. Germination percentage is higher.
5. Early planting is not possible 5. Early planting is possible when main field is
occupied by other crop.
6. Yield is low 6. Yield is high
7. Plants may not be grown equally all over the 7. Plants may be grown equally all over the field.
field.
Intercultural operations of sugarcane
Gap filling: Sometimes satisfactory germination may not occur after planting of
sugarcane. If in between two feet, there is no plant then there must planting should
be ensured as early as possible. Again seedlings may damage due to various reasons.
So the gap should be filled with new seedlings immediately.
Hoeing: For proper rooting and available moisture, sugarcane needs well-aerated
and loose soil. After heavy rainfall and irrigation the upper crust of soil become
hard and air cannot enter into the soil. So, root growth stopped. For this reason
hoeing is necessary during seedling stage after heavy rainfall and irrigation.
Weeding: A large number of weeds may be grown in the field of sugarcane. Weeds
may grow inside the furrow or trench and in between the trenches such as durba,
mutha, bathua etc. So 2-3 weedings may be necessary.
Earthing up: When seedlings become 60-90 cm long, earthing up is to be done. Soils
in between furrows or trenches are used for earthing up. Earthing up is done for the
following purposes:
- To enhance tillering and rooting
- To protect the plant from lodging
- To facilitate irrigation and drainage.
Two times earthing up may be necessary- first at 7-8 weeks and second at 12-14
weeks of transplanting.
Irrigation: Adequate irrigation increases the yield of sugarcane. 2-3 times irrigation
is necessary for the growth of the crop. Lack of appropriate soil moisture may result
in reduced internode length and also reduced the length of cane.
Disease and pest control: Thirty-eight diseases of sugarcane have so far been
identified in Bangladesh. The most important diseases are:
Red rot, White leaf, Smut, Wilt, Mosaic, Grassy shoot, Leaf scald, Ratoon stunting,
Red stripe and Pineapple disease.
The major insect pests of sugarcane are:
Top shoot borer, Pink borer, Root stock borer, White grubs, Thrips, White fly, Red
mite, Early shoot borer, Stem borer, Termites, Scale insects, Mealy bug and White
mite.
Trashing: Trashing is the removal of old dried leaves to provide maximum sunlight
for better utilization of light in food manufacture. Generally dried leaves are
dropped down from their own plant. But in case of sugarcane dried leaves remain
attached to the mother plant. Therefore, trashing is a necessity. It has the following
objectives:
-To avoid disease and pest harbour
-To avoid sprouting of buds which may occur due to accumulation of water between
leaf sheath and nodes.
-To facilitate the air movement within the crop field.
Wrapping/Tying: When sugarcane becomes 5 months old, 3-4 clumps are wrapped
together. Leaves are usually used for this purpose. 3-4 times wrapping may be
necessary. Wrapping is a laborious as well as very expensive operation as it
performed with the following objectives:
-It prevents lodging
-It protects the canes from the attack of jackal and wild pig
-It prevents splitting of inter nodes due to scorching sunlight
-To facilitate the movement inside the field.
Propping: The areas where storm occurs with high speed, crop like sugarcane may
lodge. So the canes are to be propped with the help of bamboo. It is not necessary in
our country because storm occurs usually in the month of May and September-
October when the sugarcane plants remain small in size (May) and become ready
for harvesting in the month of October.
Harvesting: Sugarcane should be harvested after attaining proper maturity because
both yield and sugar percentage depends on proper maturity. Maturity symptoms of
sugarcane may be determined by Refractometer. With this machine, % brix (solid
portion) is determined. The %brix of mature cane is 20-22 % and out of it 80-95%
is sucrose.
Besides maturity symptoms may be determined by following ways:
a) Upper leaves start drying and droopy
b) On the basis of time- plants become ready for harvest after 10-12 months of
planting.
c) Growth of the plants is stopped and top internodes become shorter
d) Stripping with knife, it produces metallic sound.
e) Leaves become shorter and yellowish.
f) Stem becomes slightly yellow
g) Plants become ready for harvest before the formation of inflorescence
h) Adventitious roots develop from the lower nodes
i) Buds will be prominent.
Harvesting time
October -March
Yield: Average yield of sugarcane in Banngladesh is 45-55 t ha-1 .

Lateral Shoot Technique:

Lateral shoot technique is a new technique of sugarcane seedling production. To produce
lateral shoot, the cane stalk is de-topped in early August or when the plants attain 8-10
internodes. Thus side shoot is developed. The first germination side shoot is again cut at
the base at 3-5 leaf stage or 4-6 weeks age to induce more shooting at the base from the
small eye buds. The new shoot is called second generation lateral shoot and this process
is repeated until 4-5 generations shoot production on the mother canes stalk. Finally, the
bunch of lateral shoots of 4-5 weeks old is separated with stalk from the mother cane.
These lateral shoots are used as planting material. A single node can give more than one
(5-25) settlings (lateral shoot), which is not possible from the existing ones. So,
application of lateral shoot technique in farmer’s fields will save a huge amount of seed
cane more sugar can be produced the saved sugarcane .

Mixed Cropping:
Potato, lentil, onion, garlic, cauliflower, cabbage, tomato, groundnut, tobacco, radish
Ratooning in Sugarcane:
Sugarcane is sometimes allowed to ratoon i. e. after harvesting the main crop, the
stubbles are allowed to grow, and thus a second and sometimes a third crop is raised from
this stubbles, this is known as ratoon crop. Ratoon crop is not usually allowed to grow
more than 2 times. Because if it is grown more than two times, disease and insect pest
attack will be increased
The following points should be taken under consideration for successful ratooning in
sugarcane-
1. For successful ratooning, the crop should be harvested from the soil level or
somewhat below the soil level and all the dried leaves and debrises should be
burnt to avoid insect harbour, besides the ash adds K to the soil.
2. After a light shower or giving a light irrigation, the soil in between the rows
should be dug with the help of spade. Ploughing may also be done in between the
lines.
3. Then cowdung at the rate of 8-10 ton per hectare should be mixed with the soil.
4. Then the gaps where tillers/seedlings failed to grow should be filled with
previously grown seedlings.
5. 50 % of the recommended dose of urea and MP, and full dose of TSP should be
applied during land preparation. The rest amount of urea and MP should be top
dressed when tillering starts.
6. Other intercultural operations are same as the main crop.
Advantages of ratooning of sugarcane
1. Setts are not required; therefore, cost of production is largely reduced.
2. Preparatory tillage is not needed.
3. Earthing up is not usually required.
4. Labour cost is lower
5. Irrigation requirement is minimum.
6. Attains maturity 1-2 months earlier than main crop