Sugarcane belongs to the “Gramineae” family and is a widely grown crop in India. It provides employment to more than one million people, directly or indirectly, apart from contributing to the national exchequer. The world’s sugarcane-producing countries extend from tropical to subtropical regions between latitudes 36.7°N and 31.0°S of the equator. Sugarcane originated in New Guinea, where it’s well- known for thousands of years. These plants spread along human migration routes to Asia and the Indian subcontinent. You can get complete information about sugarcane cultivation in India
Process of Sugarcane Cultivation
You need to know the crucial factor to help in profitable commercial sugarcane farming when you start a plant to plant. We can provide relevant information related to more reliable tractors in sugarcane farming. If you cannot buy the new tractor, you can use the old tractor, which aids in the whole process of sugarcane cultivation. Therefore, you can choose the best tractor tyre for your tractors, such as Birla tractor tyres and any other best brand tyre. Here we are describing information about starting and operating successful sugarcane farming.
Agro-Climatic Condition
Sugarcane is a tropical plant and it can withstand all seasons such as winter, rainy and summer during its life cycle. The sugarcane plant thrives best in hot sunny tropical areas. The “ideal” climate for maximum sugar production from sugarcane cultivation is characterised by:
In a long, hot growing season with a high incidence of solar radiation and ample moisture (rainfall) – the plant uses 148 to 300 grams of water to produce 1.0 grams of dry matter.
The moisture percentage drops sharply throughout the life of the sugarcane plant, from 83% in young cane to 71% in mature cane.
Suitable Soil for Sugarcane Plants
Soil testing before planting is desirable when establishing sugarcane cultivation as it helps determine the optimum amount of macro and micronutrients. In addition, chemical constraints in soil, such as acidity and low fertility, are relatively easy to fix or control. In sugarcane cultivation, the optimum soil pH is around 6.5, but sugarcane can tolerate soil acidity and alkalinity. Therefore, you can grow it in soils with pH in the range of 5 to 8.5. If the pH is less than 5.0, or if the pH is more significant than 9.5, it is necessary to use gypsum. Very sandy soil is prone to nematode infestation.
Land Preparation for Sugarcane Cultivation in India
Every time farmers cultivate the new crop, it is essential to till the soil properly for proper germination of sets and emergence and root development of the field. Tillage is soil manipulation with suitable equipment to loosen the surface soil layer. Creating a seedbed that allows optimum soil water air relations and good physical condition for early root penetration and propagation. The tillage operation is ideal and uses tractor-operated equipment. For initial tillage, use either a moldboard plough or a disc plough. You should use the mouldboard plough in sugarcane cultivation whenever you turn the soil.
Growth & Harvest for Sugarcane Cultivation in India
Planting for Sugarcane
Sugarcane is propagated clonally or vegetatively. Planting is generally considered the most expensive process. Stalk segments, also called billets, sets or seed pieces containing one or more buds, are usually planted in late summer, root in the winter season and develop into a stand. At this time, rooted plants are more vulnerable to predation and rot; Therefore, we suggest to farmers to spray the plants with insecticides and fungicides before placing them in the seedbeds.
Seed Treatment
Using good quality sugarcane seed from a nursery crop of 10-11 months; is important for better germination and growth. Seed treatment may contain 2.5% urea, 2.5% KCI, 1% Hadron and 0.05% Bavistin. Farmers can use two bud sets by treating the seeds using the chemicals mentioned above. Hot water treatment can also be done to prevent seed-borne diseases.
Growing
It may take nine to twenty-four months for sugarcane to reach a stage where it can be harvested; It mainly depends on its climatic conditions. Farmers harvest the primary crop only once and then re-growth three to four times. In areas with less than 1500 mm annual rainfall, the crop requires drip irrigation.
Ripening
It can take about three months to ripen; During this time, the stalk dries out, which accelerates the synthesis and storage of sugar. Cool and dry weather prefer for ripening and during ripening, simple sugars like fructose are usually converting to sucrose.
Harvest
Farmers harvest the sugarcane by mechanical harvesters that remove the leafy tops of the cane along the rows of canes and cut the stalks into small pieces or “billets”. The billets are loaded into bins which are carried along with the harvester.
Need the Equipment in the Sugarcane Cultivation
When you want to get information about sugarcane farming, you should also know the tools that will help in increasing the yield. Rotavators, cultivators, tillers and tractors are essential in every farming. So when you use your old tractor and need to replace your front tyre, you can choose the MRF tractor front tyre for better yield while farming.
For further information regarding any farming guidelines and equipment for farming, stay tuned with us.
