Sugarcane production
Cultivation
Family name: Graminiae
Botanical name: Saccaraum officinarum L.
Sugarcane is presently grown under a wide
range of conditions in tropical and sub-tropical regions of
the world, from 35oN in Spain to 35oS in South Africa. In
Thailand it grows best in deep, well drained soils of medium
fertility with loamy to loamy-sand soil textures, a pH range
between 6.1-7.7 and an organic matter content of at least
1.5 percent. Clay-textured soils are unfavorable to sugarcane
growth. Optimal temperatures are between 20 and 35 degrees
Celsius. Under rain-fed conditions, good distribution of rainfall
is required. The water requirement is 1.2-1.6 m/year.
Planting seasons
In the central region, planting takes place during February-April
under irrigated conditions, and April-May under rain-fed conditions.
In the north and northeast, where cane is mainly grown under
rain-fed conditions, the planting time is October-November.
The remaining moisture in the soil at the end of the rainy
season, together with fog and dew, helps in the germination
of cane and its survival through the dry season.
Land preparation
Deep ploughing to at least 30 cm is recommended for conditions
in Thailand, with subsoiling where hard pans have formed.
In rain-fed conditions, a second ploughing should be practiced
to further break soil down into a fine tilth, so that it can
maintain its moisture for a longer time, this being especially
so when sugarcane is planted towards the end of the rainy
season. Early results from recent experimental trials testing
minimum-tillage and no-tillage systems are showing good yield
returns.
Planting method
Cane is normally planted either as two- or three-budded setts
in furrows, or as whole stalks cut into 30 cm lengths and
covered with soil. Most cane is planted manually, but machine
planting is also practiced. Row and plant spacings are 1.0-1.3
m x 0.5 m for manual planting. The row spacing is 1.4-1.6
m for machine planting. In the case of double row planting,
there is 30 cm spacing between double rows and 1.3 m (1.00-1.40
m) between rows. It is recommended that a variety with high
tillering should be planted at the wider row spacing and vice
versa.
After planting, farmers should take
care of their crops by watering and fertilizing gradually.
Watering of plants during the first 11 months is essential.
Every single sett can produce up to seven crops.
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