EFFECT OF MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON THE GERMINATION AND CROP ESTABLISHMENT OF SUGARCANE UNDER AGRO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF JHANG

Abstract

Six field studies consisting of each one independent management practice such as varietal response to sugarcane germination, effect of sowing dates, seed age, irrigation interval, position of bud placement and sett length were carried out to test their effect on sugarcane germination at Basti Ghazi Shah Farm of Shakarganj Sugar Research Institute during spring plantation 2008. Results obtained showed that variety CPF-237 resulted statistically higher (76%) germination followed by variety HoSG-529 (60%) and HS-12 (58%). April 23rd sown setts resulted germination of (59%) than May (6th and 17th May) sown which resulted in decreased germination percentage due to desiccation with the increase in temperature. Age of cane seed showed that 1- year old seed resulted better germination percentage than 1 x ½ year old seed. Irrigation interval (6-days) resulted higher germination percentage i.e. (45%) than 2-days (35%) and 4-days (26%) after control. It was observed that irrigation intervals have irreversible relation to germination percentage. The upward placement of bud resulted higher germination percentage than downward and side placement of the buds. Seed length observations showed that 3-budded seed resulted highest (68%) germination than 6-budded and full length cane seed. It was concluded that length of sett, irrigation interval, placement of bud, sowing date, varietal selection and age of the seed are very important management strategies for germination and establishment of sugarcane which subsequently lead towards the higher tonnage of crop.