EFFECT OF BUD NUMBER PER SEED SETT ON CROP STAND, CANE YIELD AND SUGAR RECOVERY OF SUGARCANE VARIETY THATTA-10

Abstract

The study was carried out to examine the effect of number of buds per seed sett on crop stand, cane yield and recovery of sugarcane variety Thatta during the year 2011 at Sugarcane Section, Agriculture Research Institute, Tandojam. The seed setts sown in this experiment contained 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8-buds. The experiment was conducted in a three replicated Randomized Complete Block Design. It was noted that with the exception of germination and sugar recovery, the values for all the cane yield contributing traits were higher in crop sown with 4- budded seed setts, closely followed by 5-budded seed setts. The crop sown with 4- budded seed setts resulted 175 cm cane length, 2.90 cm cane girth, 6.40 tillers stool-1 , 23.25 internodes cane-1 and cane yield of 104.975 tons ha-1 ; while the crop sown with 5-budded seed setts resulted in 170.70 cm cane length, 2.2.81 cm cane girth, 5.80 tillers stool-1 , 22.50 internodes cane-1 and cane yield of 100.678 tons ha-1 ; whereas, germination showed a different trend and with increasing number of buds, the germination was decreased simultaneously; while sugar recovery show an inconsistent trend and was unpredictable. However, the overall performance of the crop was markedly better when sown with 4-budded seed setts as compared to control i.e. generally 2- budded seed setts. Hence, it is suggested that 4-budded or 5-budded seed setts may be used for sowing of sugarcane for achieving the higher cane yields and reducing the labour cost in seed preparation.