Cash Crops

The Complete Guide to Sugarcane

Expert advice for maximizing sugar content and cane weight in 'Cheruku'.

Sugarcane Harvest

Introduction to Sugarcane

Sugarcane, or Cheruku, is a long-duration crop (10-12 months) that is the primary source of sugar and jaggery. It is a heavy feeder of both nutrients and water. In Andhra Pradesh, it is a stable income source but requires intensive field management.

Heavy Consumer

Being a long-duration crop, Sugarcane requires consistent soil moisture and multiple split doses of fertilizer to ensure continuous growth of the stalks.

Step 1: Set Treatment

Using healthy, physiologically active 'sets' is the foundation of a high-tonnage sugarcane crop.

Detailed Process:

  1. Set Selection: Use 8-10 month old cane for sets; the top 1/3 provides better germination due to active buds.
  2. Hot Water Treatment: If possible, treat sets with hot water (52°C for 30 min) to eradicate smut and grassy shoot diseases.
  3. Fungicidal Dip: Alternatively, soak sets in a carbendazim solution for 15-20 minutes to prevent Red Rot.
  4. Bud Health: Ensure each set has 2-3 healthy, intact buds to guarantee a uniform plant stand.

Step 2: Trench Sowing

The trench method facilitates easier nutrient management, moisture retention, and mechanical support.

Detailed Process:

  1. Trench Layout: Dig furrows 25-30 cm deep with 90-120 cm spacing between centers.
  2. Basal Loading: Apply a thick layer of FYM or press mud at the bottom of the trench before planting.
  3. Set Placement: Lay the sets end-to-end in the furrows with buds facing the sides (horizontal planting).
  4. Initial Covering: Cover the sets with just 5 cm of soil to allow for quick and easy sprouting.

Step 3: Earthing Up & Propping

Intensive manual care after the first 3-4 months is critical to support the heavy mature cane.

Detailed Process:

  1. Partial Earthing: Perform light soil movement at 2 months to suppress early weeds.
  2. Final Earthing Up: At 4 months (before the grand growth phase), move soil from the ridges to the trenches around the canes.
  3. Propping Strategy: Tie or prop the canes together in 'tent' shapes to prevent lodging during wind/rain.
  4. Trash Mulching: Use the dried bottom leaves (trash) as a thick mulch layer to conserve water.

Step 4: Maturity Testing & Harvest

Harvesting at peak sucrose concentration ensures the highest recovery rate for sugar or jaggery.

Detailed Process:

  1. The Brix Test: Use a hand refractometer to check for a Brix reading of 18-20% at the middle of the cane.
  2. Visual Clues: Harvest when the cane becomes brittle, the buds start to swell, and the skin looks waxy.
  3. Ground-Level Cut: Harvest the cane as close to the soil surface as possible; the bottom 3-4 internodes are the richest in sugar.
  4. Cane Cleaning: Remove all green tops and leaves (trash) immediately before transporting to the mill.
  5. Freshness Factor: ensure the cane reaches the crushing mill within 24 hours to prevent 'stale cane' sugar loss.

Pro Tip: Earthing Up

Perform 'Earthing Up' (moving soil around the base of the plants) 3-4 months after planting. This provides mechanical support to the heavy stalks, prevents lodging (falling over), and suppresses weed growth effectively.