Sugar Crops

How many varieties have been developed by PARC and which are the varieties recommended for general cultivation?
Ans. The following 25 sugarcane varieties have been developed and released for commercial cultivation in Pakistan through National Coordinated Research Program of PARC:

Variety	Year of Release	Maturity	Cane Yield (t ha^-1)	Sugar Recovery (%)
For Punjab
SPSG-26	1996	Early	98	10.5
CP-43-33	1996	Early	80	11.7
CP-72-2086	1996	Early	85	12.4
CP-77-400	1996	Early	90	11.9
CPF-237	2000	Early	95	12.5
SPF-213	2000	Mid	100	11.0
HSF-240	2002	Early	95	11.7
SPF-234	2002	Early	100	11.6
SPF-245	2004	Early	100	11.0
HSF-242	2006	Early	108	12.4
For Sindh
Ghulabi-95	1995	Early	150	11.0
NIA-98	1998	Mid	180	10.5
Thatta- 10	2004	Early	180	11.0
NIA-2004	2004	Early	150	10.0
LRK-2001	2005	Early	200	11.0
For NWFP
CPM-13	1989	Early	70	12.5
CO-1321	1989	Early	70	12.0
Mardan-92	1992	Mid	100	12.0
Mardan -93	1993	Early	100	12.5
CP-77-400	1996	Early	80	12.7
Jn.88/1	1996	Early	70	12.7
Abid-96	1996	Early	70	12.5
SN-98	1998	Early	72	12.2
MCP-421	2003	Mid	80	12.5
Mardan-2005	2005	Early	90	12.2

Which are the recommended fertilizers and their doze per acre?

Ans.

70-90 Kg N + 46 Kg P₂O₅ + 50 Kg K₂O acre^-1
3-4 bags Urea + 2 bags DAP + 2 bags SOP acre^-1
2 Bags DAP & 2 bags SOP at planting, 1.5 bags Urea at completion of germination and 1.5 bags
Urea at completion of tillering.

Which are the sources of seed availability?

Ans. Nearest sugar mills, research institutes/stations

Which are the major diseases and how these can be controlled?

Ans. Red rot, whip smut, sugarcane mosaic virus, red strip of sugarcane, sugarcane rust and pokka boeng are the major diseases of sugarcane in Pakistan and can cause sever losses in sugarcane yield and production and reduce cane quality.

Approaches for control of these diseases must be collective and integrated. The following measures can help farmers to keep their sugarcane crop free from epidemics:

· Use of resistant varieties

· Regular rouging of diseased causes and burning of diseased plant parts or debris.

· Hot water treatment at 50-55^oC for 25-30 minutes.

· Seed Chemical treatment before sowing with fungicides (Vitavex, Diaathane-M35)

What are the major recommendations for farmers to improve sugarcane/ sugarbeet production?

Ans. Salient feature of Sugarcane Production Technology:


Ø Land preparation	a) Mould board ploughing (1) or disc harrowing (2) b) Rotavator (1) c) Tine cultivation with planking (2-3) *Note:* a) Use sub-soiler after 3-4 years b) Precise land leveling
Ø Planting time	a) Autumn (September) b) Spring (February – March)
Ø Planting method	a) Dry planting b) “Wattar” planting c) Trench Planting i. Height of ridges (7-8 inches) ii. Row spacing (120 cm)
Ø Cane seed rate	a) 30 thousand two budded sets acre^-1, b) 80-100 maunds cane setts acre^-1 (thin variety) c) 100-120 maunds cane setts acre^-1 (thick variety)
Ø Cane variety	• For Punjab: SPSG-26, CP-43-33, CP-72-2086, CP-77-400, CPF- 237, SPF-213, HSF-240, SPF-234, SPF-245, HSF-242 • For Sindh: Ghulabi-95, NIA-98, Thatta-10, NIA-2004, LRK-2001 • For NWFP: Mardan-92, Mardan -93, CP-77-400, Jn.88/1, Abid-96, SN-98, MCP-421, SPSG-394, Mardan-2005
Ø Earthing up	2-3 times (April-June)
Ø Fertilization
Ø NPK Ø Bags	70-90 Kg N + 46 Kg P₂O₅ + 50 Kg K₂O acre^-1 3-4 bags Urea + 2 bags DAP + 2 bags SOP acre^-1
Ø Application method	a) 2 Bags DAP & 2 bags SOP at planting b) 1.5 bags Urea at completion of germination and 1.5 bags Urea at completion of tillering.
Ø Irrigation	16-20 irrigation (64-80 acre inches):
	a) March-April = 12-14 days (4 irrigations) b) May-June = 8-10 days (6 irrigations) c) July-August= 12-14 days (4 irrigations) d) Sep-October= 15-20 days (3 irrigations) e) Nov.-Dec. = 25-30 days (2 irrigations)
Ø Weed control
	a) Hoeing, earthing up b) Use of herbicides
Ø Insect-pests control
	a) Use of granular insecticide b) Trichograma, (for Borer) c) Epipyropes (for Pyrilla)
Ø Diseases anagement
	a) Cultivation of resistant varieties b) Use healthy and disease free seed c) Uproot affected plants d) Cane setts treatment with hot water e) Cane setts treatment with fungicides f) Avoid movement of water from diseased crop to healthy crop.
Ø Harvesting	a) November-April b) Stop irrigation 30 days before harvesting

Salient Feature of Sugarbeet Production Technology

Ø Land preparation	Deep ploughing (25 cm), discoining, levelling, planking and ridges formation
Height of ridges	10-12M
Row spacing	50-60 cm (2 ft)
Ø Sowing
Time of sowing	15^th Sept. to 30^th Oct. up to Nov. (Ideal 15 Oct.)
Method of sowing	Dibbling manually on top of ridges
Seed rate	5Kg ha^-1 (2 kg acre^-1)
Seed/kg	35-40housand seeds/kg
Seed/ ball	2 seed/ball
Plant to plant distance	20-25m (3/4^th ft)
Depth of sowing	4-5 cm
Ø Thinning
Time	At 4-6 leaf stage
Plant population	80-100 thousand plants per hectare 35-40 thousand plants per acre
Ø Fertilization
Amount (NPK)	100-12020 kg ha^-1, 46+46 kg acre^-1
Bags	2 bags DAP + 1bag Urea Acre^-1 or
	4 bags Nitrophos acre-1
Method of Fertilization	Apply all P at planting. Split application of N i.e.1/3^rd at sowing, 1/3^rd after thinning and 1/3^rd after earthing- up upto January or 2/3^rd before ridges formation and 1/3 rd after thinning or early February
Ø Irrigation	6-7 irrigation, (20 acre inches) varies with climatic conditions, frequent and light irrigation 1^st irrigation just after sowing, irrigation interval is 15-20 days
Ø Weed control	Weeds cause 10-15 % loss: control Dual Gold @ 2.0 L ha^-1 Goltix @ 4.5 kg ha^-1 Hand hoeing and inter culturing by labor and bullocks
Ø Insect-pests	Cutworm, army worm, field cricket, gross hopper.
Attack	Beet roots and leaves in Spring
Control	Methyl Parathion, Larvin, Lannate
Ø Diseases	Seedling diseases: seed decay, pre and post emergence damping off, root infection Foliar diseases: Cercospora leaf spot Root diseases: Sclerotium root rot Bacterial and viral disease: Beet yellows, beet yellow stunt, beet yellow net, beet leaf curl, curly top.
Control	Crop rotation, resistant varieties, seed treatment with Dithne M @6g/ kg seed
Ø Harvesting Ready Removal of leaves Soil Earlier planted crop Dumping	Within 5-6 months (end April - May) 4-6 older leaves before harvest – no bad effect on yield and recovery Proper moisture condition Harvest first Beet roots should be dumped in a shady place and covered with leaves.

Ø Land preparation

Ø Earthing up

Ø Fertilization

Ø Irrigation

Ø Weed control

Ø Insect-pests control

Ø Diseases anagement

Ø Harvesting

Salient Feature of Sugarbeet Production Technology

Ø Land preparation

Ø Sowing

Ø Thinning

Ø Fertilization

Ø Irrigation

Ø Weed control

Ø Insect-pests

Ø Diseases

Ø Harvesting