# Advances in sugarcane planting methods for resource use efficiency and enhancing cane yield

A.K. Singh, Ajeet Kumar

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A.K. Singh, Ajeet Kumar. Advances in sugarcane planting methods for resource use efficiency and enhancing cane yield. In compendium Book of Winter School on "Recent Approaches for Doubling Farmers Income in Sugarcane Based Cropping System, ICAR-IISR Lucknow-226002, Dec 2022, ICAR-IISR Lucknow-226002, India. pp.120-127. hal-05460008

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# WINTER SCHOOL
on
# Recent Approaches for Doubling Farmers Income
in Sugarcane Based Cropping System

December 08-28, 2022

## COMPENDIUM

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

Edited by
Dr. Sudhir Kumar Shukla
Dr V.P. Jaiswal
Dr Lalan Sharma

Sponsored by
Indian Council of Agricultural Research
New Delhi
ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow
**WINTER SCHOOL**

*On*

**Recent Approaches for Doubling Farmers' Income in Sugarcane Based Cropping System**

**December 08-28, 2022**

**COMPENDIUM**

*Edited by*
Dr Sudhir Kumar Shukla
Dr V.P. Jaiswal
Dr Lalan Sharma

*Sponsored by*
Indian Council of Agricultural Research
New Delhi

ICAR-INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SUGARCANE RESEARCH, LUCKNOW
# CONTENTS

<table><thead><tr><th>Chapter No.</th><th>Theme and Topic</th><th>Page No.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td colspan="3"><strong>A. Sugarcane & Sugar Industry in General</strong></td></tr><tr><td>1.</td><td>Sustainability of Indian Sugar Industry: Product Diversification<br><i>S. Solomon</i></td><td>1-4</td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td>Varietal Degeneration in sugarcane in India and its management<br><i>R. Vishwanathan</i></td><td>5-14</td></tr><tr><td>3.</td><td>Sugarcane Research and Development in India<br><i>A.D. Pathak</i></td><td>15-22</td></tr><tr><td>4.</td><td>Green technologies for sugarcane based system<br><i>S K Shukla, Lalan Sharma and V P Jaiswal</i></td><td>23-30</td></tr><tr><td>5.</td><td>All India Coordinated Research Project in Sugarcane; impact on varietal development and improving sugar recovery<br><i>S.K. Yadav, S.K. Shukla and A.D. Pathak</i></td><td>31-36</td></tr><tr><td>6.</td><td>Recent Advancements in Jaggery Manufacturing Process and its Export Potential<br><i>R. D. Singh and S. I. Anwar</i></td><td>37-40</td></tr><tr><td>7.</td><td>Future prospects of artificial intelligence in sugarcane culture and in sugar industry<br><i>Rajesh U Modi</i></td><td>41-47</td></tr><tr><td>8.</td><td>Sugarcane Production and Ethanol Blending Programme: Future Prospects<br><i>Pushpa Singh, Anam, Nidhi Tripathi</i></td><td>48-54</td></tr><tr><td>9.</td><td>Energy saving techniques during jaggery making<br><i>S.I. Anwar</i></td><td>55-60</td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><strong>B. Crop Improvement (Varietal Development and Seed Cane Selection)</strong></td></tr><tr><td>10.</td><td>Varietal development approaches for high sugar varieties and improving sugar recovery<br><i>J Singh and Sanjeev Kumar</i></td><td>61-65</td></tr><tr><td>11.</td><td>Micropropagation for multiplication of disease-free and genetically uniform sugarcane plantlets<br><i>Sanjiv Gupta, Mamata Kumari, Alok Singh, Komal Yadav, Nandita Banerjee and Sanjeev Kumar</i></td><td>66-72</td></tr><tr><td>12.</td><td>Identification of different varieties of sugarcane<br><i>Sanjeev Kumar, J. Singh and Aalok Shiv</i></td><td>73-79</td></tr><tr><td>13.</td><td>Sugar beet Germplasm: Ex-Situ conservation, evaluation and utilisation in India<br><i>A.K. Mall, Varucha Misra, A.D. Pathak and Ankur Tripathi</i></td><td>80-84</td></tr><tr><td>14.</td><td>Sugarcane quality improvement through molecular approaches<br><i>Sangeeta Srivastava</i></td><td>85-91</td></tr><tr><td>15.</td><td>Pre-breeding for sugar content and other traits in sugarcane<br><i>Swapna, M.</i></td><td>92-97</td></tr><tr><td>16.</td><td>Genomic approaches for development of red rot resistant varieties in sugarcane<br><i>R. K. Singh</i></td><td>98-109</td></tr><tr><td>17.</td><td>Varietal planning and seed cane development programme<br><i>Sanjeev Kumar, J. Singh and Aalok Shiv</i></td><td>110-119</td></tr></tbody></table>
C. Crop Production Technologies and soil carbon management

<table>
  <tr>
    <td>18.</td>
    <td>Advances in sugarcane planting methods for resource use efficiency and enhancing cane yield<br><i>A.K. Singh and Ajeet Kumar</i></td>
    <td>120-127</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>19.</td>
    <td>Furrow irrigated raised bed system for enhancing resource use efficiency in wheat + sugarcane system<br><i>T. K. Srivastava</i></td>
    <td>128-130</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>20.</td>
    <td>Integrated nutrient management and optimizing fertilizer schedule in sugarcane<br><i>S.R. Singh</i></td>
    <td>131-142</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>21.</td>
    <td>Role of micronutrients in improving sugarcane yield and sugar recovery<br><i>Jagannath Pathak, Richa Raghuvanshi, Shivam Singh, Amar Singh Gaur &amp; Deepak Prajapati</i></td>
    <td>143-149</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>22.</td>
    <td>Integrated weed management in sugarcane<br><i>V P Singh</i></td>
    <td>150-156</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>23.</td>
    <td>Role of Nano fertilizer in sugarcane<br><i>K.K. Singh</i></td>
    <td>157-160</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>24.</td>
    <td>Micro irrigation techniques for improving water use efficiency and economizing water use<br><i>K.K. Singh</i></td>
    <td>161-165</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>25.</td>
    <td>Ratoon management in sugarcane for higher productivity and income<br><i>V.P. Jaiswal</i></td>
    <td>166-171</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>26.</td>
    <td>Soil testing for soil quality parameters<br><i>S.R. Singh</i></td>
    <td>172-178</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>27.</td>
    <td>Water management in sugarcane<br><i>M. K. Tripathi, V.K. Singh, A.P. Dwivedi, Shivam Tripathi and Ankur Tripathi</i></td>
    <td>179-186</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>28.</td>
    <td>Crop residue management (CRM) for soil carbon sequestration and sustaining crop yield<br><i>V.K. Singh, C. Gupta, M.K. Tripathi and Ankur Tripathi</i></td>
    <td>187-193</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>29.</td>
    <td>Organic farming for sustaining soil carbon and crop yield<br><i>A.P. Dwivedi, S.K. Shukla, L.P. Awasthi, Ankur Tripathi and Shivam Tripathi</i></td>
    <td>194-206</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>30.</td>
    <td>Bio-fertilizers in sugarcane: Present status and Opportunities in India<br><i>Lalan Sharma, S.K.Shukla, V.P. Jaiswal, Asha Gaur, A.D.Pathak and Ankur Tripathi</i></td>
    <td>207-211</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>31.</td>
    <td>Natural and biodynamic farming for sustaining sugarcane production system-Concept, practices and strategies<br><i>Sushil Kumar Shukla, CISH, Lucknow</i></td>
    <td>212-219</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>32.</td>
    <td>Role of conservation agriculture in sustaining soil fertility and crop yields<br><i>J.S. Mishra</i></td>
    <td>220-227</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>33.</td>
    <td>Organic sugarcane and jaggery production &amp; certification: scope and opportunities<br><i>T.K. Srivastava</i></td>
    <td>228-232</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>34.</td>
    <td>Carbon sequestration in sugarcane based system for sustaining soil health and crop productivity<br><i>Sudhir Kr Shukla</i></td>
    <td>233-235</td>
  </tr>
</table>
35. Weather parameters affecting sugarcane yield and sugar recovery and climate change mitigation strategies (Agrometeology)
Ram Ratan Verma

D. Crop and Product Diversification and Value Addition

36. Sugarcane intercropping systems as a potential tool for effective utilization of land and improving farmers' income
S. N. Singh, C. Gupta, V. K. Singh, M. K. Tripathi and A. P. Dwivedi

37. Strengthening of forage resources in sugarcane based system for enhancing productivity and farm income
Sunil Kumar Tiwari

38. Rejuvenation of Indian sugar industry through national biofuel policy and adoption of sustainable sugarcane production technologies
R.B. Doule

39. Inclusion of pulses in sugarcane for sustaining crop yield and farmers' income
A.K. Tripathi, S.K. Shukla and S.K. Dubey

40. Sugarcane based integrated farming system for sub-Tropical India
A.P. Dwivedi, S.K. Shukla, Ambuj Kumar Shukla, Rajendra Kumar, Ankur Tripathi, Shivam Tripathi

41. Value addition in sugarcane through quality jaggery production and other diversified products for enhancing farmers income
Dileep Kumar

E. Crop Protection Technologies

42. Identification of Insect-pests of sugarcane and their control measures
Arun Baitha, M.R.Singh and Sharmila Roy

43. Insect-pest management in sugarcane
Sharmila Roy

44. Integrated Pest Management for Increasing Crop Production
N.K. Bajpai

45. Red rot in Sugarcane; Present Status and Management in India
Lalan Sharma, Lalan Sharma, S.K.Shukla, V.P. Jaiswal, Asha Gaur and R. Vishwanathan

46. Integrated pest management in sugarcane
M.R. Singh

47. Sugarcane diseases: Present status and management
Dinesh Singh, Ajita Singh and Priyem Vandana

F. Central and State Schemes for Sugarcane Farmers & Sugar Sector

48. State sponsored schemes on improving income of sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh
V.K. Shukla

G. Mechanization in Sugarcane & other crops

49. Improved sugarcane planting and inter-cropping machines
A.K. Singh
50. Small farm tools in sugarcane culture
Sukhbir Singh And AK Singh
355-364

51. Recent development in sugarcane harvesting machinery
A.K. Singh
365-371

## H. Crop Physiology and Post Harvest Technologies

52. Nutrient deficiency symptoms and their ameliorative measures
S. P. Singh
372-378

53. Post harvest management to sustain sugar recovery
Radha Jain
379-384

54. Physiological approaches for enhancing germination, tillering and sugarcane yield
Pushpa Singh, Anam, Nidhi Tripathi
385-393

## I. ToT, Impact, Socioeconomic & IT

55. Impact of IISR Technology on Sugarcane field and farm Income
A K Sharma
394-405

56. Recent advances in Transfer of Technology (ToT)
Ajay Kumar Sah
406-411

57. Economic Analysis of Sugarcane, Sugar and Bioethanol Production in India
L.S. Gangwar
412-419

58. Use of ICT and AI tools / techniques in sugarcane agriculture and sugar industry
S S Hasan
420-424

59. Experimental layout, statistical designs and their effective applications in agricultural research
Rajesh Kumar
425-431

60. Role of KVK in disseminating technologies & implementation of ICAR programmes
A K Dubey and Deepak Rai
432-441

List of Participants of Winter School entitled "Recent Approaches for Doubling Farmers Income in Sugarcane Based Cropping System" held during December 08-28, 2022 at ICAR-IISR, Lucknow i - ii

List of Speakers of Winter School entitled "Recent Approaches for Doubling Farmers Income in Sugarcane Based Cropping System" held during December 08-28, 2022 at ICAR-IISR, Lucknow iii - vi

Glimpses of Winter School Lectures and Field Visits
# Chapter No. 18: Advances in sugarcane planting methods for resource use efficiency and enhancing cane yield

A.K. Singh and Ajeet Kumar

Sugarcane Research Institute

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur-848125, Bihar

Sugarcane is one of the important cash crops in India. It is grown in two distinct agro-climatic regions; tropical and sub-tropical. Over 45 million farmers are involved in sugarcane production and about 7.5% rural population is directly or indirectly dependent on the sugar industry. During 2020-21 the country produced 401.8 million tonnes of sugarcane from an area of 5.3 million hectares achieving productivity level of 76.0 tonnes/ha. However, there have been fluctuations in these parameters in last decade. The reasons are many but climate plays major role. Frequent droughts put heavy impact on sugarcane productivity in space and time. On the other hand, sugarcane crop requires considerable quantity of water being 1400-1500 mm in sub-tropical region and 2500-3000 mm in tropical region. Moreover, the irrigation efficiency at farmers' fields seldom exceeds 35-45%.

Sugarcane in its life cycle both in tropical and sub-tropical India faces extremely high temperature coupled with hot desiccating winds during April to June causes extreme soil moisture stress resembling with high degree of drought. The period also coincides with dwindling water resources from surface and ground water bodies. Drought is the single most important factor limiting sugarcane productivity. Drought (soil moisture stress) even of small magnitude can cause yield reduction, if it occurs at initial stage(s) of growth.

Sugarcane is one of the most productive plant known in terms of dry matter production as it potentially produces from 41 to 65 t of dry matter ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (Cheeroo-Nayamuth, et al, 2000). Physiologically, sugarcane being C₄ plant is one of the most efficient converters of solar energy into sugar and during the peak growth period it has the potentiality to produce around half a tonne of dry matter ha⁻¹ day⁻¹ (Yadav, 1991). However, such performance of the crop depends upon establishment methods and types of genotype as it is directly influenced by amount of harvestable solar radiation and crop stand. In recent years pit method of planting has been reported to produce higher proportion of thick and heavy primary shoot, contributing more to final population and the yield. Differential response of sugarcane to planting technique is attributed to soil moisture storage and its depletion rate advocated that planting method should provide enough opportunity to conserve soil moisture to facilitate settling establishment. Planting technique- genotype interaction is an important consideration for realising the potential of a genotype as the ultimate number of millable stalk which a genotype is able to carry depends upon a set of environment that a planting method provides. Keeping this in view the present manuscript has been prepared.

Under such situation, input-efficient planting techniques vis-à-vis water saving irrigation methods can mitigate the effect of soil moisture stress to a great extent. It is in this context that the present paper addresses these critical issues.

The critical agro-techniques for scientific management of sugarcane are as under:

* Sugarcane varieties
  Seed material

* Planting period

* Planting geometry

* Planting method

* Nutrient management

* Water Management

* Weed management
* Harvesting schedule

* Ratoon management

**Panting Methods:**

1. Flat method of planting

2. Trench method of planting

3. Partha method of planting

4. Deep trench planting

5. Rayungan method or Rajoeng method of planting

6. Seblong or sprouted bud method of planting

7. Distance planting method

8. Align method of planting

9. Tejblock method of planting

10. Modified trench system of planting

11. Contour system of planting

12. Single bud direct planting

13. Chip bud or bud chip technique of planting

14. Pit planting

15. Skip furrow planting

16. Paired row planting

17. IISR 8626 method of planting

18. Ring planting

19. Spaced transplanting technique (STP)

20. Polybag seedling transplanting method

21. Ridge and furrow method of planting (FIRB)

22. Cane node planting (CNP)

Before planting, the dry leaves of the cane stalks are removed by hand in order to avoid any possible damage to buds. Thereafter cane is cut into three budded setts usually 30 to 45 centimetre long. About 35000 to 40000 setts are needed to plant one hectare which can be obtained from about 60-80 quintals of cane depending upon planting season and methods. Some important planting methods are discussed below.

**Flat planting**

Flat method of planting is mainly followed in subtropical belt of India. The land is prepared by one or two deep ploughing with a soil turning plough or chisels to uproot the old stubble and break the land into clods followed by two or three harrowing and planking to break the clods and bring the soil to a fine tilth. High cost of production and acute shortage of labour led to a rethinking on the conventional practice of deep tillage for sugarcane. Conservation tillage with two to three ploughing and compacting by planking is enough to realize a high yield of cane. Repeated ploughing and compaction break the capillary pores and create a kind of soil mulch and thus helps in conserving soil moisture.

After placing the setts in furrows, these are covered immediately by soil and the soil is again compacted by heavy wooden plank to conserve soil moisture. Thus the setts are covered with about 3-5 cm soil layer. In this system of planting, the germination of planted buds is very low in north India and takes long time, particularly in autumn. The crop receives only 6-8 irrigations. 150 kg N + 60 kg P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> + 60 kg K<sub>2</sub>O per hectare is required to realize a good cane tonnage. This system is recommended for low or moderately fertile soils with scarce irrigation.

**Ridge and furrow planting**

Ridge and furrow is the most ideal easy system of planting under intensive irrigated sugarcane cultivation. This system is also followed in south India. The system facilitates easy irrigation, provides good soil aeration and adequate support to the plant when proper earthing up is done. In finely prepared field, ridges and furrows are formed using tractor drawn or bullock drawn ridger keeping a distance of 60-
135 cm from one furrow to another. The most common spacing is 90 cm. Closer spacing of 60-75 cm is desirable for short duration early and shy tillering varieties, low soil fertility, moisture stress or waterlogging and late (summer) planting conditions. Wider spacing is advisable under high fertility conditions with good irrigation facilities and for long duration and high tillering varieties. Spacing upto 150 cm, can be adopted to facilitate mechanized planting and harvesting operations.

## Trench planting

Trench system is practised mostly in coastal Andhra Pradesh in heavy clay soils, mainly in wet lands where clod formation is common. In this system, U shape furrows or trenches of 25-30 cm deep and 40-60 cm wide are made using spade and heaping clods manually. The distance between the centers of two adjacent trenches being 100 cm in case of *eksali* and 120 cm in case of *adsali* crop. Nearly 10 cm soil at the bottom of the trench is loosened and the soil is allowed to weather for about 3 weeks. About 50 cartloads of farmyard manure per hectare is applied in trenches prior to planting and left as such for about a month. This system is useful to prevent lodging which is quite common in the east coast region. In areas of high rainfall and clay soils prone to waterlogging, slant planting at an angle of 45° called *Partha* method is adopted. In this technique, three bud setts are planted 2-5 cm deep either on the top of the ridge or on the side of the ridge so that one bud is buried in the soil and two buds are exposed. The two exposed buds germinate. When monsoon recedes the setts are pressed horizontally so that one or two germinating shoots from each sett strike roots.

In Subtropical India, trench planting is adopted to economize on water. After land has been thoroughly prepared, trenches are made in October-November by keeping 90-100 cm distance from the center of one trench to another. Each trench is approximately 20 cm deep, 40 cm wide and separated by a ridge of 50-60 cm wide from the next trench. The ridges are formed by taking soil from the trenches. Cane setts are placed with last bud overlapping at the bottom in the centre of the furrow and then covered with the soil.

In this method of planting, the crop gets a good basal anchorage which prevents lodging at early stage of crop growth. A saving of about 15 per cent irrigation water and a yield increase of 5-10 t/ha can be anticipated over flat planting. The greatest disadvantage is that it is highly labour intensive. However, The deep trench maker developed at IISR, Lucknow is very useful for this method of sugarcane planting.

## IISR 8626 method of planting

The system involves basic concept of plant internal factor (i.e. auxin action) and edaphic factor (i.e. soil compaction). Auxins which emanate from growing points of sugarcane control the activity and growth of bud while soil compaction hinders root growth and its proliferation. These two factors along with another aspect – lengthening of growth period, have led to develop a new method of cane planting called IISR 8626 method of planting (Panjeet al. 1968). In this technique, efforts have been made to increase the use efficiency of inputs and to enhance the overall productivity of cane so that it could fully exploit the soil and sunshine resources within a given period of time. Finally, the technique is intended to exploit to the fullest extent the sub-soil moisture and native soil fertility. On these account, the technique is considered profitable one.

## Ring Pit Method of planting

Mother shoot technology or no tiller technology

* Pit diameter : 90 cm

* Depth : 45 cm

* Centre to centre : 120 cm

* No. of pits/ha : 6900

Ring-Pit method also suitable for drought prone areas, undulating topography, light textured soils, saline - sodic soils, multiple rationing, high yielding, tall and thick cane varieties

FIRB system of sugarcane planting with wheat
Wheat - sugarcane (plant) – ratoon - wheat is the prevalent sugarcane based cropping system in north-western zone of sub-tropical India. It is estimated that about 14% of the sugarcane areas in the country with more than 2/3rd in western U.P. are covered under this cropping system. Despite of low yield of sugarcane in this system, the farmers are not ready to sacrifice the production of wheat as it meets the requirements of their family and livestock. By induction of FIRB optimum yield of both the crops may be obtained.

<caption>**Table 1.: Effect of planting methods on cane yield and water productivity**</caption>

Yield components (millable cane, cane length, diameter of cane, cane weight and cane yield)

<table><caption>**Table 2: Quantity of irrigation water applied and water productivity**</caption><thead><tr><th>Treatments</th><th>Millable canes<br>(000 ha<sup>-1</sup>)</th><th>Cane length<br>(cm)</th><th>Diameter of cane<br>(cm)</th><th>Cane weight<br>(g)</th><th>Cane yield<br>(t ha<sup>-1</sup>)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>T<sub>1</sub></td><td>91.50</td><td>193.00</td><td>2.50</td><td>860.33</td><td>77.53</td></tr><tr><td>T<sub>2</sub></td><td>96.60</td><td>198.00</td><td>2.61</td><td>873.33</td><td>82.50</td></tr><tr><td>T<sub>3</sub></td><td>100.33</td><td>200.00</td><td>2.63</td><td>879.66</td><td>86.20</td></tr><tr><td>C.D. (P=0.05)</td><td>3.270</td><td>2.68</td><td>0.04</td><td>13.258</td><td>2.828</td></tr><tr><td>S.E. ±</td><td>0.811</td><td>0.66</td><td>0.01</td><td>3.289</td><td>0.701</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table><thead><tr><th>Treatments</th><th>Irrigation water applied (ha-cm)</th><th>Total water input (ha-cm)</th><th>Water productivity<br>(q ha-cm<sup>-1</sup>)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>T<sub>1</sub></td><td>277.83</td><td>359.78</td><td>2.82</td></tr><tr><td>T<sub>2</sub></td><td>245.49</td><td>327.44</td><td>3.37</td></tr><tr><td>T<sub>3</sub></td><td>229.11</td><td>311.06</td><td>3.79</td></tr><tr><td>C.D. (P=0.05)</td><td>NS</td><td>NS</td><td>NS</td></tr><tr><td>S.E. ±</td><td>18.688</td><td>18.688</td><td>0.239</td></tr></tbody></table>

NS=Non-significant

source: *Guru Prem et al 2017*

Three planting methods viz., T<sub>1</sub>- conventional planting (60 cm row spacing), T<sub>2</sub>-paired rowtrench plantation method (60:120 cm spacing) and T<sub>3</sub>- paired row ridge and furrow plantation method (100:120 cm spacing).

<table><caption>**Table 3: Effect of planting methods on productivity of sugarcane varieties**</caption><thead><tr><th>Treatment</th><th>Brix<br>value(%)<br>Single<br>cane<br>weight(kg)</th><th>Single cane<br>weight(kg)</th><th>Number of<br>millable<br>canes (000<br>ha-1)</th><th>Cane<br>yield (t<br>ha-1)</th><th>Days to<br>maturity<br>(Days)</th><th>Per day<br>productivity (kg<br>ha-1)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>M<sub>1</sub></td><td>19.79</td><td>1.27</td><td>102.5</td><td>141.5</td><td>337.2</td><td>419.1</td></tr><tr><td>M<sub>2</sub></td><td>19.54</td><td>1.14</td><td>118.9</td><td>149.5</td><td>336.6</td><td>443.0</td></tr><tr><td>M<sub>3</sub></td><td>19.79</td><td>1.27</td><td>97.7</td><td>136.1</td><td>338.2</td><td>402.7</td></tr><tr><td>M<sub>4</sub></td><td>19.50</td><td>1.37</td><td>83.3</td><td>128.7</td><td>340.2</td><td>378.5</td></tr><tr><td>SE(m)<sup>±</sup></td><td>0.235</td><td>0.029</td><td>1.45</td><td>1.62</td><td>0.20</td><td>4.84</td></tr><tr><td>CD(0.05)</td><td>NS</td><td>0.10</td><td>5.0</td><td>5.6</td><td>0.7</td><td>16.7</td></tr></tbody></table>

Source: *Gulati et al 2015*

Four treatments viz. M<sub>1</sub> - Mega pit (150cmx150cm, spacing, 30cm depth, 15 settling per pit), M<sub>2</sub> - Small pit (120cmx60cm spacing, 30cm depth with three settlements per pit), M<sub>3</sub> - Trench method (spacing-30cm width x 30cm depth, 12 settlements with paired systems of planting), M<sub>4</sub> - Conventional (spacing-15cm width x 15cm depth, 12 settlements with end to end planting).

<table><caption>**Table 4.: Effect of paired-row planting on cane yield (Autumn planting, CoLk 8001)**</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">Treatment</th><th colspan="2">Cane yield (t ha<sup>-1</sup>)</th><th rowspan="2">Mean</th></tr><tr><th>1989-91</th><th>1990-92</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1. Conventional planting single rows spaced 90 cm apart, 40,000 three-eye bud setts</td><td>69.3</td><td>75.3</td><td>72.3</td></tr><tr><td>2. Single rows spaced 90 cm apart, 80,000 three-eye bud setts</td><td>71.4</td><td>80.8</td><td>76.1</td></tr><tr><td>3. Paired rows (double) spaced 30 cm apart with the paired rows 60 cm apart, 80,000 three-eye bud setts</td><td>99.0</td><td>108.8</td><td>103.9</td></tr><tr><td>1sd 0.05</td><td>8.3</td><td>6.7</td><td>5.8</td></tr></tbody></table>

Source: *Yadavet.al. 1997*
<table><caption>Table 5.:Effect of different t planting methods on cane yield (Autumn planting, (CoLk 8001))</caption><thead><tr><td>Planting methods</td><td>Cane yield (t ha<sup>-1</sup>)</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1) Flatbed planting (conventional)</td><td>54.9</td></tr><tr><td>2) Ridges and furrows</td><td>67.8</td></tr><tr><td>3) Trench planting</td><td>87.9</td></tr></tbody></table>

Source: Srivastava and Seth, 1990

### Planting techniques to mitigate drought impact:

Following planting techniques of sugarcane have been developed and adopted to mitigate the impact of drought through conserving soil moisture, enhancing water use efficiency and effecting saving in irrigation water. These planting methods play crucial role in assured plant population by ensuring higher germination, optimizing shoot density and reducing tiller mortality. These inturn, govern the exploitation of plant morphological (structural) and plant physiological (functional) responses within soil- crop-atmosphere continuum and finally determine the productivity and quality of cane. Further, these improved planting techniques dictate other agro-techniques like, planting geometry and seed rate, fertilizer schedule, irrigation methods, inter-cultural and earthing -up operations.

### Ring pit method :

In this method, seed setts are adjusted in circular pits of 90 cm diameter and 45 cm depth and pits are arranged in square geometry in the field. The centre to centre distance is 120 cm and number of pits work out to be 6900 / ha. Further, modifications in pit specification have been made including 75 cm diameter, 45 cm depth, 105 cm centre to centre distance accommodating 9000 pits/ha. This method encourages more development of mother shoots rather than tillers and therefore, it is termed as Mother Shoot Technology or No Tiller Technology.

Ring-pit method of planting is advocated for maximizing cane yield on undulating light and saline-sodic soils. The dose of soil amendments is also reduced with this system of planting. Nutrient use efficiency is enhanced due to localized placement and provide greater efficiency of solar energy utilization because of the better interception of sun light.

Population density of 162 thousand millable canes/ha and yield of 184 t/ ha has been harvested in ring-pit planting system (Yadav, 2007). Since only mother shoots are allowed to grow, the millable canes are taller, thicker, heavier and of same age and give higher sugar recovery.

This is most drought proofing planting technique of sugarcane as the root zone is in lower surface which remains moist, hence the plants require less water. It requires less time and less water per irrigation. At the same time, only about 36% of area is covered, hence rest of the area is always available for cultural operations. Besides, it holds promise for high yielding tall and thick cane varieties as the crop does not lodge. The technique is also ideal for multiple ratooning on one hand and conservation farming on the other. The B.C. ratio is 1.8.

### Trench method :

Trench method of sugarcane planting is a modification of ring-pit method. In this system, U shaped trenches of 25-30 cm deep and 40-60 cm wide one made using spade and heaping clods manually. Now this operation is easily, performed by trench maker designed and developed by ICAR-IISR, Lucknow.Center to center distance between two adjacent trenches is kept 100-120 cm. Bottom 10 cm soil is loosened and mixed with FYM. Cane setts are placed 5-7 cm deep in double parallel rows and irrigated. Rides are leveled up gradually with subsequent hoeings.

Trench system is practiced mostly in coastal Andhra Pradesh in heavy clay soil, mainly in wet lands where clod formation is common. In subtropical India, trench planting is adopted to economise on water (MenhiLal and Singh, 2007) This method leads to better germination because of higher moisture content in trenches and thin soil layer over the setts. Trench method provides higher capacity to roots for nutrient uptake from deeper layers. The crop gets a good basal anchorage which prevents lodging of full grown crops. The trench system is suitable for drought conditions because of deeper penetration of root
mass. Moreover, a saving of about 15% in irrigation water and a yield increase of 5-10 t/ha can be anticipated over flat planting. Apart from enhancing water use efficiency and making the plants to with stand drought conditions more effectively, the method also ensures better ratoons and results in B:C ratio of 2.15.

**Furrow Irrigated Raised Bed System – FIRB System :**

**Problem:**

Wheat - sugarcane plant – ratoon is the most important cropping system, which has attracted the attention of the scientists and development workers in recent years. It is estimated that 0.3 million hectare of sugarcane area in India is under this system. The importance of the system lies in the fact that more than 60% of the sugarcane area in western U.P. and 10-14% in other states is covered by this system. A drastic reduction (30-50%) in sugarcane yield is very common if sugarcane is planted late (summer- April end to May end) after the harvest of wheat crop. High to very high temperature at planting and germination time, low humidity, over mature seed cane, little time for tillering, heavy in infestation of weeds and insect-pests are major factors responsible for poor cane yield.

**Concept:**

In order to enhance the productivity of sugarcane in wheat-sugarcane rotation innovative wheat + sugarcane intercropping system under Furrow Irrigated Raised Bed - FIRB has been developed at ICAR-IISR, Lucknow (Singh *et al*, 2004). The technology is most suited for sandy loam and loam soil.

**Approach I: Operations partially mechanized:**

In this system wheat is sown on raised beds in the month of November/December and irrigated upto 2/3rd height of furrow which creates congenial moisture environment and dynamics of solute movement in the modified bed configuration. Three rows of wheat are accommodated at 17 cm row spacing on each raised bed (48-50 cm top width) and sugarcane is planted manually in 80 cm spaced rows (30-32 cm top width and 20-22 cm depth) by wet planting method in the month of February, the optimum time of its planting. Thus under FIRB system, sugarcane plating is advanced by 60 days and gets optimum time span for tillering and grand growth phases.

**Approach II: Operation fully mechanized:**

With the development of Raised Bed Maker cum Seeder-Planter at ICAR-IISR, Lucknow, the seeding of wheat on Raised Beds and planting of sugarcane in furrows are done simultaneously in single pass in the month of November/December. On raised beds, pulses and/or oilseed crops can also be sown instead of wheat.

An increase of 35-40% in cane yield could be obtained with FIRB system as compared to wheat-sugarcane sequential system besides 25-30% saving of irrigation water and effective weed control. It is reported that system provides additional net profit of Rs. 25000/ha with higher B:C ratio of 2.24 in wheat + sugarcane intercropping under FIRB as against 1.88 in wheat - sugarcane sequential system under flat planting.

**Water use efficient technologies:**

Efficient water management using different technologies to cope-up with drought and improve agricultural productivity holds prime importance. Water saving technologies such as drip/fertigation are mostly practiced in horticulture, vegetables and sugarcane crops at present for up scaling water and nutrient use efficiency. The following agro-techniques are recommended in sugarcane.

**Skip furrow irrigation:**

Skip furrow method of irrigation to sugarcane is one of the low cost technologies to improve the productivity of water. In this technique 45 cm wide and 15 cm deep furrows are made in alternative inter-row spaces and the crop is irrigated through these furrows. The soil surface of alternate- inter- row spaces in which furrows are not made, remains almost dry. The evaporation losses are reduced to the extent of 35-40% resulting in saving of irrigation water. This results in less evapo-transpiration and improvement in water use efficiency by 60-65% Next irrigation could be done in alternate furrows to realize normal
yield and quality of sugarcane. There is 30% saving of water and the method is suited to drought prone areas under well irrigation (Shuklaet al, 2018).

### Trash mulching:

Sugarcane trash is a crop by product available after harvesting of the crop. It is estimated that the quantity of trash per hectare is almost equal to the seed cane planted (7-8 t/ha) depending upon the variety. This trash is spread in the alternate inter-row spaces in ratoon crop at the time of its initiation. As a result the evaporation loss of moisture is considerably reduced and the effectiveness of irrigation is increased. Since, the trash mulch keeps the soil moisture conserved at the higher level for a longer time as compared to uncovered soil surface, the water use efficiency and crop yield increase by 40 and 26% respectively. Increase in sugarcane yield due to trash mulch is attributed to favorable moisture conditions, increased microbial activities and addition of water soluble nutrients particularly K up to 30 kg/ha from trash which in turn governs the water balances in plant cells. In long run soil organic carbon content is also improved. This is why, it said that **cash the trash in sugarcane culture**.

### Extensive Irrigation:

This system of irrigation is advocated where such sugarcane varieties are available which can withstand drought (soil moisture stress) at certain stages (tolerant) of growth. It permits to schedule irrigation over large areas only at moisture sensitive (critical) stages of crop to realize maximum total production under limited water availability situation. Ensuring irrigation at critical period of water need of the crop and deferring the same at somewhat less critical period, improves irrigation water use efficiency and cane productivity. These critical stages for sugarcane are emergence, first order of tillering, second order of tillering and third order of tillering. Depending upon the availability of water, the crop is irrigated at these stages. If two irrigations are available, then the irrigations are provided at the second and third order of tillering. If three irrigations are available, then the irrigation are provided at all three orders of tillering. If four irrigations are available, then the irrigations are provided at all the four critical stages.

### Drip Irrigation/Fertigation

It is an advanced method of supplying required quantity of water to the root zone through network of tubing and drippers/emitters/nozzles placed along with water delivery. This conceptualizes precise application of water including fertilizers (fertigation) with great water economy. There is slow release of water in the root zone, almost at the rate at which plant can absorb the same. Under wide row planting, drip irrigation may be more advantageous since laterals will be placed at wide distances. The quantity of laterals required may also be less. If drip irrigation is followed, then heavy earthing-up may have to be avoided and alternative land configuration may be followed to facilitate placing the laterals.

#### Advantages of drip irrigation:

* Saving of irrigation water by 30-40%

* Yield increase by 30-50%

* Economy in fertilizer use

* Uniform water application

* Less weed growth

#### Sub-soiling:

Sub-soiling is done to loosen or break the hard pan formed by continuous ploughing at a particular depth and/or use of heavy machinery for farm operations. Since sub-soiling is energy intensive process development and use of sub-soiler has made the job easier. Sub-soiling at 2- 4 meters distance upto 25-30 cm depth, provides an opportunity to conserve rain and/or irrigation water in deeper layers for use by the crop in the event of drought. Further, cross sub-soiling increases the capacity of soil to retain considerable amount of water for crop use during unprecedented drought. In the process deep localized placement if fertilizers in root zone could also be done to enhance nutrient use efficiency. An equipment named as sub-soiler cum deep and differential rate fertilizer applicator, has been developed at Pantnagar. While in operation, it can place fertilizers at equal depths by three times or variable depth 15-20 cm by shallow leading tines and 30-45 cm by central main tine. The amount of fertilizers could be kept uniform
or variable in the ratio of 80% by shallow tines and 20% by main tine as per the density of roots. The placement of fertilizer is done while sub-soiling the field.

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