Drought management in sugarcane during pre-monsoon period

Abstract

A Field experiment was conducted during spring season of 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08 to work out the agronomic practice for drought management of sugarcane during pre monsoon period. The treatments consisted of four methods of planting i.e. 60cm row spacing, 90 cm row spacing, trench planting at 120 cm distance and pit planting and four drought management practices, viz., T₁- Control (Recommended practices of the region), T₂- soaking of setts in saturated lime water+ KCl and urea foliar spray each at 90,105 and 120 days after planting (DAP)+ trash mulching after 60DAP+ addition of FYM@ 10t/ha in furrows before planting, T₃–T₂+ additional potassium @ 60 kg K₂O at first irrigation and T₄–T₂+ additional potassium @ 60 kg K₂O/ha at 150–180 days after planting. Highest cane and sugar yield was recorded under pit planting on pooled basis followed by 60cm, trench and 90cm spacing. There was no significant difference in shoot population, millable canes and cane yield of drought management practices plots (T₂, T₃, T₄) and normal irrigated plots (T₁). Combination of different technologies, viz., soaking of setts in saturated lime water, application of FYM and foliar spray of KCl and Urea proved effective in managing the sugarcane under drought conditions. Highest gross returns, variable cost, net return and B: C ratio were recorded in pit planting followed by 60cm row spacing