Author(s):

MMV Srinivasa Rao, D Nagarjuna and KV Ramana Murthy

Abstract: Sugarcane productivity at the farm level has been stagnant in India, at around 54-72 t ha⁻¹. One of the main reasons for this low productivity is the yield gap between ratoon and plant cane yield. To improve the ratoon yield and bridge the yield gap, a field experiment was conducted for two seasons with different tillage systems and trash management practices. The experiment was laid with two treatments vise., T₁- Improved practices (Chisel plough at 1m interval fb MB plough, Lime water dipping, mulching and spraying of urea and MOP in post monsoon season, Water harvesting through farm pond and providing supplemental irrigation) and T₂- Farmers practice. In improved rainfed sugarcane method (Chisel plough at 1m interval followed by MB plough, Lime water dipping of setts before planting, mulching and spraying of urea and MOP in post monsoon season, Water harvesting through farm pond and providing supplemental irrigation), the germination count at 35^th DAP(Days after Planting), shoot population recorded at 60DAP, 90DAP and 120DAP, moisture content of the soil at 60DAP, 120DAP, 240DAP and Harvest were found significantly higher in improved practice when compared to farmers practice. The NMC (64386 No. of Millable canes ha^-1), Length of the cane (224.5cm), Girth of the cane (2.3cm) were recorded significantly 13.80, 7.11 and 4.56% higher in improved practice in comparison with farmers practice. Root volume (171 cc), Root weight (51.36gm) were also found significant in improved method of cultivation. Cane yield (56.43t ha^-1) found significant in improved rainfed sugarcane method and 11.83% increase in yield was observed when comparison to farmer practice (50.46 t ha^-1). The results suggest that the tillage with adoption of trash management practices assisted in improving the profitability by way of higher sugarcane ratoon productivity.

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