# Multi-Ratoon Management Technology: A Boon for Enhancing Productivity of Sugarcane in Bihar

C.K. Jha, Ajeet Kumar

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C.K. Jha, Ajeet Kumar. Multi-Ratoon Management Technology: A Boon for Enhancing Productivity of Sugarcane in Bihar. 2021, pp.3 (6); 423-425. hal-05460170

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Submitted on 15 Jan 2026

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# Multi-Ratoon Management Technology: A Boon for Enhancing Productivity of Sugarcane in Bihar

Article ID: 11146

C. K. Jha<fnref n="1" />, Ajeet Kumar<fnref n="1" />

## Abstract

In Bihar, about 40 % cane area is covered with ratoon crop. The average productivity of cane is lower due to lower ratoon yield as compared to plant. This is mainly due to poor adoption of ratoon management technology by the farmers. The adoption of improved production technology by the farmers will be helpful in enhancing the ratoon yield and thus, 20-25% increase in average productivity. The ratoon I is common practice and ratoon II will further increase the yield and minimize the cost of sugarcane production system. The cost of cultivation of ratoon crop is about 30% lower than plant crop. There is a considerable scope to enhance the livelihood of small and marginal farmers engaged in sugarcane cultivation by adopting improved sugarcane production technology, introduction of inter crops and production of the quality jaggery. The introduction of intercropping in sugarcane-based ratoon crops generate mid-season income to the resource poor farmers of the state. Being ratoon crops matured early in the season with capacity to produce considerable amount of quality jaggery, which further generate employment and additional income.

## Introduction

Sugarcane is an important cash crop in Bihar. It is most efficient living convertor of solar energy, storing this energy in a huge quantity of biomass in the form of fibre and sugars. In India, it is cultivated in an area of about 5.0 million hectares with an average productivity of 74.4 tonnes per hectare. In Bihar, it is cultivated in an area of about 3.0 lakh hectares with an average productivity of 67.1 tonnes per hectare. Unpredictable climatic aberrations, poor germination, improper cultivation practices, water logging, poor ratoon management, poor seed quality, inadequate irrigation and drainage facility, negligence in plant protection measures, imbalance nutrient management and other practices like mono-cropping often resulted in low productivity of sugarcane in Bihar. The addition of organic amendments was found beneficial for improving the soil fertility and enhancing the cane and sugar yield in calcareous soil of Bihar (Priyadarshi et al. 2021). The poor yield of ratoon is the major reasons for low productivity of sugarcane in Bihar because about 40% area under sugarcane came out of ratoon only. Ratoon plays a very important role in economizing the cost of sugarcane production, through saving in the cost of preparatory cultivation, seed material and planting expenses. Planting once and harvesting thrice has been considered a profitable venture in sugarcane culture.

## Scope of Ratooning

Ratoon plays a very important role in economizing the cost of sugarcane production, through saving in the cost of preparatory cultivation, seed material and planting expenses. The cost of cultivation of ratoon crop is about 30% lower than plant crop. The sugar factory starts crushing of cane from beginning of November and continues up to availability of cane. The optimum time duration of harvesting plant crop for the purpose of ratooning has been found from 15th January to 15th March in Bihar conditions. This is not possible by majority of farmers due to receipt of harvest order on long intervals. The crop suffers due to early or late harvest as the sprouting of subterranean buds is solely depends upon atmospheric temperature, soil moisture condition and vigor of plant crop. During the coldest month of December and January the average maximum temperature varied between 23º-25ºC and that of average minimum temperature 9-10ºC. In summer months of April and May soil moisture condition deteriorates due to rise in temperature associated with westerly winds leading to poor sprouting of buds, tillering and number of

<footnote n="1">¹Assistant Professor-cum- Scientist; Department of Soil Science, Sugarcane Research Institute, DRPCAU, Pusa (Samastipur)-848125, Bihar, India.</footnote>
millabe canes and ultimately lower ratoon productivity. Beyond that the most important reason behind poor yield of ratoon in state is poor adoption of recommended package of practices by the farmers.

## Yield Gap

Agriculture is undergoing several transformative changes viz., growing population, changing lifestyles, expanding urbanization and climate changes, creating new challenges for agricultural research and development.

Sugarcane being a heavy feeder and long duration crop suffers from persistent nutrient unbalance due to gap between nutrient removal and application. The depleting soil health and crop productivity in the sugarcane cultivating area of sub-tropical states namely Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Bihar are a major concern because of reduced yields, clearly visualized from the static average productivity hovering close to 60 t ha⁻¹ in last five years compared to its potential yield of 150 t ha⁻¹ (Srivastava et al., 2014).

Several elite varieties of sugarcane have been developed from Sugarcane Research Institute, Pusa with a potential of producing cane yield of about 90-100 t ha⁻¹. The poor yield of sugarcane in state is mainly due to lack of application of organic nutrient sources, unbalanced use of chemical fertilizer and poor ratoon management.

## Need

1. Multi ratoon technology need to be demonstrated and popularized in the farmer's field.

2. Popularization of soil health card, INM, IPM and IDM for sustaining sugarcane production and sustaining soil health.

3. Adoption of inter cropping to improve livelihood of farmers by generating short term income and additional income by quality jaggery production.

## Technology Interventions

There is urgent need for adoption of proper ratoon management practices like selection of variety, method and time of harvesting, stubble shaving, off baring, gap filling, fertilizer application, water management, mulching etc. and also taking intercrops for enhancing ratoon yield and mid-season income.

## Sugarcane Production Technology

Popularization of Ratoon Management Device, Introduction of minor field implements for stubble shaving, Adoption of INM technology with emphasis on organic manure and bio-fertilizer, Adoption of suitable intercrops in project areas in plant and ratoon crop, Gap filling by poly bag/bud chip raised settlements. Adoption of soil health card for nutrient management, Popularization of low cost vermicompost unit, Popularization of bio-fertilizer, Adoption of IPM with emphasis on pheromone traps and tricho cards, Adoption of IDM techniques with emphasis on seed treatment, bio-control agent and disease resistant variety.

## Quality Jaggery Production

The ratoon crop is suitable for early production of quality jaggery and value added different jaggery products such as Chunks, Chocolate and Bricks shaped Jaggery for improving livelihood of sugarcane growers.

## Quality Jaggery Products

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Conclusion

Sugarcane is an important commercial cash crop of Bihar but its productivity is low in Bihar as compared to many other sugarcane growing states of India. Ratoon crop is an integral part of sugarcane cultivation and occupies about half of the total cane area in state. Improper management of ratoon crop is one of the major causes of lower cane productivity. Therefore, technology for multi ratooning system with intercrops need to be popularise at farmer's field to enhance of farmer's income by improving total cane productivity.

Reference

1. Srivastava, T. K., Singh, K.P. and Singh, Puspa. (2014). Organic sugarcane production system for enhanced soil health and crop productivity. Indian Journal of Sugarcane Technology, 29 (2): 41-50.

2. Priyadarshi, Rashmi., Thakur, S.K. and Jha, C.K. (2021) Influence of organic nutrient sources on soil fertility and performance of sugarcane in calcareous soil The Pharma Innovation Journal 10(3): 890-892.