Recent advances for higher sugarcane productivity in India

Abstract

Sugarcane is a crop of global importance and is used for manufacturing sugar, jaggery, biofuel, and several other co–products. It requires a significant amount of inputs to achieve the maximum production level. Fulfilment of the requirements of ever–increasing population under limited resources has become a major challenge in changing climatic scenarios. Advancement in sugarcane–production techniques is related to ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem. To produce more from the same input has become the major thrust of researchers. We can achieve this through integration of various technologies available for different situations. In this paper, important recent advancements in sugarcane–production technologies have been discussed. Intercropping of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj.], French bean (Phaseolus radiates L.), garlic (Allium sativum L.), maize (Zea mays L.) etc. with autumn–planted sugarcane, is a viable option to increase land–use efficiency besides improving farmers’ profitability and sustainability of the production system. Integrated weed–management in ratoon through trash mulching, one hoeing and a single application of atrazine @ 2 kg ai/ha during ratoon initiation minimizes crop–weed competition during the tillering phase. Adoption of skip furrow/ alternate furrow techniques affected water saving up to 35–40% without yield reduction. Planting of sugarcane and component crops in the furrow– irrigated raised–bed system (FIRB.) improves the sugarcane yield besides improving water–use efficiency (WUE) and nutrient–use efficiency (NUE). Organic bio–fertilizers reduce the number of chemical fertilizers and improve the NUE and crop response to nutrients. Besides, increased water–holding capacity and nutrients availability provide sustainability to the sugarcane–based system. Owing to the adoption of some of these technologies, sugarcane productivity at the national level reached > 80 tonnes/ha. However, there is a huge scope of increasing sugarcane productivity, keeping the achievable potential in view. Thus, sugarcane yield to the level of 100 tonnes/ha by 2030 at the national level could be achieved by adopting available technologies.