What are some of the planting methods of sugarcane in India?
Ridge and Furrow Method
Ridges and furrows are created by using a ridge and a distance of 120 cm is kept between furrows (heavy loam soil) and 105 cm (light soil). Planting is generally done by 2 methods:
- Wet method - Planting is done by pressing sugarcane shoots 2.5 cm to 5 cm inside the soil manually (by hands or feet). All stem sets are placed end-to-end facing buds on sides.
- Dry method - Stem sets are placed end to end facing eye buds on the sides and then covered with a layer of soil on top. No hard pressing is done and this method is applied on farms with heavy soils.
Flat Bed Method
The land is properly plowed, harrowed, and leveled. After that, flatbeds are prepared. Cane stem sets are laid and sowed end to end, in rows in the beds. A distance of 60 to 90 cm is kept between rows and pressed to a depth of 2.5 to 5 cm deep in the soil manually. The Earthing process is carried out in the rainy season.
Rayungan Method
Rayungan method is followed for adsali sugarcane planting at river side’s field in heavy rainfall areas of Kolhapur district. In this area usually, cane fields get flooded during the rainy season which affects germination. In such cases set cannot be planted directly in the main field. Single bud sets are planted vertically in nurseries which are prepared high lying areas of the farm in the month of June and July. After six weeks the sprouted sets are transplanted in the main field when the danger of flooding is over.
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