Sugarcane is a tropical grass grown for its stalks which are processed to produce sugar. It is an important cash crop in Pakistan, accounting for 3.4% of agricultural value addition and 0.7% of GDP. Common causes of low sugarcane yields include improper land preparation, lack of proper seed propagation, inadequate fertilizer use, and weed and pest infestations. Proper production techniques include deep plowing and ridging of land, planting approved varieties at the correct seed rate and time, applying balanced fertilizers, and controlling weeds, insects and diseases through integrated pest management.

1. Sugar Cane
 English Name: Sugarcane
 Common Names: Kamaad
 Scientific Name: Saccharum officinarum
 Family: Poaceae
Sugarcane is a tropical, perennial grass that forms lateral shoots at the base to produce multiple stems, typically three to four
meters high and about five cm in diameter. The stems grow into cane stalk, w hich w hen mature constitutes approximately
75% of the entire plant. A mature stalk is typically composed of 11–16% fiber, 12–16% soluble sugars, 2–3% non-sugars, and
63–73% w ater. A sugarcane crop is sensitive to the climate, soil type, irrigation, fertilizers, insects, disease control, varieties,
and the harvest period. Sugarcane is an important and high value cash crop of Pakistan. Sugarcane accounts for 3.4 % in
Agriculture values addition and 0.7% in GDP. During July-March 2013-14, sugar export earned foreign exchange of US$ 236.8
million. Sugarcane w as sow n on an area of 2932.5 thousand acres show ing an increase of 3.9 %. The production of sugarcane
for the year 2013-14 stood at 66.5 million tonnes, 2.3 % more production against targets.
Causes of Low Cane Yield
 Improper land preparation.
 Lack of seed propagation facilities
 Use of low seed rate
 Planting time
 Planting method
 Inadequate and imbalanced fertilizer use
 Scarcity of irrigation w ater
 Weed infestation
 Plant protection
 Sow ing of unapproved varieties
Production Technology
Land Preparation
To get maximum production from sugarcane crop, rich fertile land w ith good w ater holding capacity is suitable. Sugarcane
crop also cultivated after rice and cotton crops. After harvesting these crops mix the stubbles in soil w ith rotavator or dis c
harrow . To make 10-12 inches deep ridges, use cross chisel cultivator tw o times. If there is need to make more deep ridges
i.e. up to 18 inches then use sub-soiler, and level the land. To make soil more soft, use cultivator 3-4 times. For better soil
preparation use sub-soiler once after every three years.
Sowing method
Sugarcane sowing in deep & wide ridges
After deep plow ing, level the land w ith land leveler. Make 10-12 inches deep and 4 feet w ide ridges w ith Ridger. Mix the
phosphorus and potash fertilizers and then make tw o lines of sugarcane sets in the ridges by joining sets length-w ise w ith
each others. To protect the sugarcane sets from termites and root borer attack, apply Refree (Danedar) or Rector (Danedar)
@ 8kg / acre by pouring over the sets, after that cover these sets w ith little layer of soil carefully, and irrigate the field. For
covering sets w ith soil, avoid using land leveler.
Benefits of sowing sugarcane in deep & wide ridges
To get good production the distance betw een tw o ridges should be 4 feet. In w ide ridges, plants can get sunlight, air and
nutrients in abundant quantity. Moreover farmers can perform hoeing or earthing up easily. This sow ing method is cost and
time saving also. Farmer can also adjust Irrigation plan for crop, by providing irrigation to alternate ridges.
Seed Rate

2. For timely sow ing, the sugarcane sets having four buds should be 13-15 thousands per acre or the sugarcane sets containing
three buds should be 17-20 thousand per acre. This quantity of sugarcane sets can be obtained from 100-120 Mounds
sugarcane. If sow ing is late or land is not properly prepared the seed rate should be increased 10-15%. Except from this, the
sugarcane sets can also be obtained from 12-16 Marlas of standing crop of sugarcane, but remember in case of 12 Marlas,
the crop w eight should not be less than 9 Mounds/Marla & in case of 16 Marlas, the crop w eight should not be less than 7
Mounds/Marla.
Sugarcane varieties
1.Early maturing varieties
CPF-243, HSF-240, HSF-242, CP-400 – 77, CPF-237
2.Medium Maturing Varieties
SPF-245, SPF-234, SPF-213, CPF-246, CPF-247
Note; SPF-234 is fit for only Rajan Pur, Bahaw alpur and R.Y. Khan Districts
3.Late Maturing Varieties
COJ-84
Prohibited varieties
COL-54, TRITON, CO-1148 (INDIAN), COL-29, COL-44, BL-4, L-116, L-118, SPF-238, BF-162
Irrigation Requirement
Sugarcane February sow ing requires 64 acre inch of w ater and September sow ing requires 80 acre inch of w ater. Keeping in
view this scenario, sugarcane crop requires 16-20 irrigations.
Month wise Water Requirement Table for February Sowing Crop of Sugarcane
(Keeping In view the weather condition)
Month
Number of Irrigations
(Approximately)
Gap between Irrigations
(Days)
March – April 2 – 3 20 – 30
May – June 5 – 6 10 – 12
July – August 3 – 4 15 – 20
September – October 2 – 3 20 – 30
November – February 4 30
Total Irrigations 16-20
Fertilizers Requirement

3. Soil Fertility
Nutrient Requirement /
Acre (Kgs)
Fertilizer Dose / Acre (In Bags)
N
P
(p2o5)
K
(K20)
WEAK SOIL
Organic matter=
up to 0.86%
P=up to 7 ppm
K= up to 80 ppm
120 69 50
4 Bag Urea + 3 Bag DAP + 2 Bag Potassium
Sulphate OR
5.25 Bag Urea + 3 Bag TSP + 2 Bag Potassium
Sulphate OR
5.25 Bag Urea + 8 Bag SSP(18%) + 2 Bag
Potassium Sulphate OR
6.5 Bag NP + 4 Bag CAN + 2 Bag Potassium
Sulphate
MEDIUM SOIL
Organic matter=
0.86 – 1.29%
P= 7-14 ppm
K= 80-180 ppm
92 46 50
3.25 Bag Urea + 2 Bag DAP + 2 Bag Potassium
Sulphate OR
4 Bag Urea + 2 Bag TSP + 2 Bag Potassium
Sulphate OR
4 Bag Urea + 5 Bag SSP(18%) + 2 Bag
Potassium Sulphate OR

4. 4.5 Bag NP + 3.5 Bag CAN + 2 Bag Potassium
Sulphate
RICH SOIL
Organic matter=
More than 1.29%
P= More than 14 ppm
K= More than 180
ppm
69 23 25
2.5 Bag Urea + 1 Bag DAP + 1 Bag Potassium
Sulphate OR
3 Bag Urea + 1 Bag TSP + 1 Bag Potassium
Sulphate OR
3 Bag Urea + 2.5 Bag SSP(18%) + 1 Bag
Potassium Sulphate OR
2.5 Bag NP + 3 Bag CAN + 1 Bag Potassium
Sulphate
Pest Management
Click on below links for Insects, Weeds and Diseases
INSECTS DISEASES WEEDS
Insects
Common Name
Technical Name
Solution
Sugarcane top borer
Scirpophaga nivella
Refree 0.3G

5. Sugarcane stem borer
Chilo infuscatellus snellen
Refree 0.3G
Sugarcane root borer
Emmalocera depressella swin
Refree 0.3G
The Gurdaspur borer
Bissetia steniellus Hampson
Refree 0.3G
Sugarcane white-flyr
Aeurolobus barodensis Maskell
Priority
Sugarcane black bug
Cavelerius excavatus Distant
Refree 5Sc
Sugarcane mites
Oligonychus indicus Hirst
Unique-M
By: AHMAD ALI KHAN
Agronomist
Contact:03349214155