Sugarcane

Soil Preparation

Deep plough the field 2–3 times to a depth of 10–12 inches.

Apply well-rotted FYM (Farm Yard Manure): 8–10 tons/acre before final ploughing.

Ensure well-drained, fertile loam soil with pH between 6.0–8.0.

Prepare ridges and furrows (2.5–3 ft apart) for planting.

Planting Time

Region Planting Season Duration
Punjab & Sindh Autumn September – October
Punjab, Sindh, KPK Spring February – March

Autumn planting gives higher yield and better sugar recovery.

Seed Rate and Seed Preparation

Seed rate: 8–10 maunds (320–400 kg) per acre.

Setts: Use 2–3 budded healthy canes, free from pests and diseases.

Seed treatment:

Dip setts for 10–15 minutes in a seed-treatment fungicide such as Raxil before planting, to hold back the red rot and smut that enter through the sett. Motect 48%EC is chlorpyrifos, an insecticide — it does nothing to a fungus and belongs with the termite treatment below.

Treat with Wriar 40%EC (2.5 ml/L water) to protect from soil pests like termites.

Planting Method

Use Furrow planting method — place canes in 8–10 inch deep furrows.

Row spacing: 3 ft (90 cm).

Maintain soil moisture during germination.

Cover canes lightly with moist soil after placement.

Fertilizer Recommendation (per acre)

Fertilizer Quantity Application Time
DAP (18:46:0) 2 bags (100 kg) At planting
Urea (46% N) 3–4 bags (150–200 kg) ½ at planting, ½ after 60–70 days
SOP (Sulphate of Potash) 1 bag (50 kg) Tillering stage
FYM 8–10 tons Before last ploughing
Zinc 10% (Agritas) 10 kg Once at early growth stage

Irrigation Management

First irrigation immediately after planting.

Then irrigate every 10–15 days during early growth.

Increase frequency to every 7–10 days during summer.

Avoid waterlogging, especially during early growth.

Weed Management

Weed Damage Control Product
Purple Nutsedge (Deela) Comes up through the ridge from planting until the canopy closes and takes water and nitrogen while the cane is tillering. Both hoeings — at 30–40 and again at 60–70 days after planting; it comes again from the tubers in between, so the second pass is not optional
Johnson Grass (Baru) Stands as tall as the cane and shades it, and it carries into the ratoon thicker than it was before. Rogue out the clumps with their rhizomes, and do not ratoon a badly infested field
Khabbal Grass (Bermuda Grass) Mats over the ridge and chokes the young shoots before the cane has made its tillers. Clear it before planting — rake the rhizomes out at each of the land-preparation ploughings and carry them off the field; do not leave the broken pieces lying in moist soil. Hoeing standing cane only cuts the runners into pieces and spreads it further, so in standing cane lift the mats out by hand with their runners
Horse Purslane (Itsit) Covers the open ground between the wide cane rows in the monsoon and drinks the irrigation meant for the crop. Trash mulch spread in the furrows after planting
Field Bindweed (Lehli) Twines over the young cane in the tillering months, taking its water and its light, and the stick stays thin. Pull the vines off the cane at each hoeing, before they seed

First hoeing: 30–40 days after planting.

Second hoeing: 60–70 days after planting.

Chemical control:

Tovate™ @ 400 ml/acre, sprayed when the weeds are 3–4 inches tall. It is registered on sugarcane. Spray onto moist, settled soil — on dry ground it sits on the surface and does nothing.

Important if wheat or another sensitive crop follows the cane: Tovate™ contains atrazine, which persists in the soil. Follow the label interval before sowing that crop, and do not use it on a field going into wheat soon after.

Major Insect Pests and Control

Pest Damage Recommended Agritas Product
Early Shoot Borer Bore into young shoots Veento 1.9%EC
Pyrilla Sucks leaf sap D-Pest 25%WP
White Grubs Feed on roots Wriar 40%EC (soil treatment)
Termites Damage setts & roots Wriar 40%EC (2.5 ml/L water at planting)

Major Diseases and Control

Disease Symptoms Recommended Agritas Product
Red Rot Leaves dry from tip downwards Use resistant varieties, destroy infected canes
Smut Whip-like black growth Remove and burn infected plants
Rust Orange pustules on leaves Vesant 80% (Sulphur) spray
Wilt Wilting of canes Proper drainage & crop rotation

Harvesting

Crop matures in 10–12 months (spring) and 12–14 months (autumn).

Harvest when lower leaves dry and juice becomes sweet.

Avoid harvesting immature cane.

Transport to mills within 24 hours for better sugar recovery.

For Product Support & Agronomic Advice:

Agritas Enterprises
Helpline: +92 336 1111 130

Pests & diseases of Sugarcane

Mitesmedium Stem Borerhigh Termitehigh Early Shoot Borerhigh Pyrillamedium White Grubsmedium Field Bindweed (Lehli)medium Purple Nutsedge (Deela)high Horse Purslane (Itsit)medium Yellow Rusthigh Brown Rustmedium Loose Smutmedium Red Rothigh Fusarium Wilthigh Smuthigh Wilthigh Rustmedium Zinc Deficiency (Khaira)medium Boron Deficiencymedium Nitrogen Deficiencymedium Iron Chlorosismedium Salinity and Sodicityhigh Phosphorus Deficiencymedium Potassium Deficiencymedium Micronutrient Deficiencymedium