Sugarcane breeding institute discovers high yielding variety

Coimbatore, Jun 18: Researchers at the sugarcane breeding institute here have developed a high yielding sugarcane variety "CO 94008", which is suitable for early planting between October and December in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Disclosing this to UNI here the institute's director Dr N Vijayan Nair said scientists who discovered this variety have also found out that cultivation of green manure crops such as Daincha or Sesbania would help obtain a good yield from this new variety of sugarcan.

In the absence of green manure about 25 tonnes per hectare of farmyard manure or compost can be applied in the field during final ploughing, he said and added that this should be followed by forming ridges and furrows with a row spacing of about 90 cm and planting of 75,000 two budded sugarcane sets per hectare accommodating two budded sets for every 30 cms furrow length.

Dr.Nair said for dry planting -in light soils- during rain-free season, the buds should be planted facing the sides and covered lightly with soil for wet planting -in heavy soils. During rainy season, the furrows must be irrigated and the sets should be pressed into the soil.

Senior scientist and head for extension section at the institute, Dr.R Thiagarajan said before planting, the sets should be soaked for about ten minutes in a solution of 125 gram of Bavistin and 2.5 Kg Urea dissolved in 250 litres of water.

He said a basal fertilizer application of about 30 kg Nitrogen per hectare(63 kg of Urea/HA)and the entire dosage of 63 kg of Phosphorus (394 kg super Phosphate/ HA)should be applied in the furrows and must be mixed with the soil.

Mr Vijayan said on the third and fourth days after planting, about two kg of Atrazine has to sprayed to control weeds, followed by hand weeding on the 45th and 90th day. He said the fields should be irrigated once in a week and this may be adjusted based on available soil moisture, soil type, receipt of rainfall and crop stage.

Dr Thiagarajan said the new variety 'CO94008' was moderately resistant to red rot, smut, drought and tolerant to salinity. The harvesting should be done at 12 months for plant crop and 11 months for ratoon crop. Close harvesting-2.3 cm below ground level, using a hand axe was ideal. The cane should be crushed within 24 hrs either for sugar mill or Jaggery making.

He said with the proper cultivation, a cane yield of 126- one two six tonnes per hectare can be obtained from the 'CO 94008' variety. Within a week of harvest, ratooning operations such as stubble shaving and off-barring may be carried out to obtain good ratoons. Gap filling at 25-30 days after planting and early manuring will also help maximizing the rationing ability. he added.

UNI