High yielding sugarcane variety for problem soils
By Our Agriculture Correspondent
The improved sugarcane variety has early vigour, profuse tillering and is ideal for power generation in sugar factories.
SCIENTISTS AT the Sugarcane Research Station (SRS), Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu, have developed a high yielding sugarcane variety, suited well for problem soils and drought conditions.
The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, has released this improved variety recently for commercial cultivation.
High fibre content
Christened COC (SC)22, the new sugarcane variety has medium thick, reddish pink cane without pithiness. It is a good ratooner, and it is particularly suited for making jaggery.
It has early vigour, profuse tillering, and it yields more number of millable canes. It is moderately resistant to red rot disease. With a high fibre content (13.24 per cent), this variety is ideal for power generation in the sugar factories.
High sugar content
A derivative of the open pollinated parent CO 8208 GC, this improved variety has a duration of 330 to 360 days, and it is well suited for planting in February-May (Mid late variety), according to the scientists. It has recorded an average yield of 135.90 tonnes per hectare, and a sugar yield of 16.47 tonnes per hectare. This variety is recommended for cultivation in all the sugarcane growing regions of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
This erect cane with medium thickness does not lodge, and it does not flower as well. It recorded higher yields of both cane and sugar in the advanced yield trials, and it proved its superiority in performance over other varieties tested in 151 trials.
It did extremely well both as a plant crop and as a ratoon in the various trials. The variety had higher sugar content and recovery percentage.
Disease resistant
COC (SC) 22 is moderately resistant to red rot disease. It is a suitable substitute for the exist ing mid late varieties, which are susceptible to this disease.
The higher cane yield, rich sugar potential, moderate resistance to the red rot disease and higher fibre content will make it more attractive for the sugarcane growers in the region. About 75,000 two-budded setts are recommended as the seed rate to cover a hectare. The setts are to be treated well before planting. The field should be manured adequately with liberal quantities of organic amendments and biofertilizers.
Fertilizer application
Azospirillum and Phosphobacterium should be applied at a rate of 10 kg each per hectare. They should be mixed with 500 kg compost and applied to the bars after the application of phosphate and potash prior to the planting.
The variety responds well to sound weed and water management. The nutrient application should be followed based on soil test results. Integrated pest management strategy using bio-control agents and eco-friendly insecticides will prove to be highly rewarding, according to the scientists. Once matured, the canes should be harvested at the ground level.
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