Maximizing sugarcane yield through efficient planting methods and nutrient management practices

Field experiment were conducted in Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu, India to study the effect of plant geometry, planting method, along with intercropping and nutrient management practices in sugarcane var. Co 86032. The experiment was conducted in spilt plot design and replicated thrice. The main plot consists of eight treatments of different spacing, setts placement, intercropping and their combinations. The sub plot treatments consist of four different nutrient management practices namely, recommended dose of fertilizer (100 %) alone and in combination with Acetobacter and micronutrient mixture (1 %) foliar spray. In main plots, 120 cm row spacing with cross planting method + successive intercropping with blackgram followed by in situ incorporation of sunnhemp recorded higher single cane weight of 1.50 kg, cane yield of 148.90 t ha-1 and sugar yield of 17.28 t ha −1 . The least cane yield was recorded in 80 cm row spacing with cross planting method. The sub plot treatment with recommended dose of fertilizer along with Acetobacter @ 10 kg ha −1 and foliar spraying of 1 % micronutrient mixture at 45 and 75 DAP recorded higher single cane weight (1.41kg), cane yield (141.97 t ha −1 ) and sugar yield (16.62 t ha −1 ). The least cane yield was recorded in recommended dose of fertilizer alone.