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Background: Under current scenario of High cost of Production of Sugarcane crop, it is need of time to decide specific seed rate for individual varieties. Sugarcane seed contributes to 10-20% of cost of production and farmers invests about Rs. 20000/- per acre on planting material. The costs of seed can be curtailed by optimizing seed rate. Similarly, seed rate varies with different varieties. In this view, a field experiment was carried out to optimize the seed rate of promising sugarcane clones. Methods: A field experiment was carried using randomized complete block design with factorial arrangements having three replications at Sugarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad during 2016-17 and 2017-18. Result: The results revealed that maximum cane diameter was recorded for S2008-AUS-133 at seed rate of 25000 and 50000 triple budded setts/ha. However; maximum number of canes/ha were recorded for S2008-AUS-133 at seed rate of 75000 setts/ha followed by HSF-240 at 75000 setts/ha. Maximum cane yield was noted for HSF-240 at seed rate of 75000 followed by S2008-AUS-133 at seed rate of 50000 and lowest can yield was recorded in S2003-US-127 at seed rate of 25000 triple budded setts/ha. Genotypic and phenotypic variances were higher for plant height (381.63, 133.91 cm) and cane yield (406.50, 330.65 kg/plot). Genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variances were moderate for number of tillers (11.6%, 15.44%) and higher for cane yield (20.24%, 22.44%). It means that variability in 4 genotypes for cane yield was higher. Thus variety S2008-AUS-133 showed better performance at seed rate 75000 while during selection, number of tillers and height should be considered for further breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Weeds are one of major threats to crop yield and quality. Weeds compete with cane crop and reduce the yield significantly in a very short period. Planned use of all available farm resources leads to integrated control strategy. The current study aimed to study the use of inter row rotary weeder for integrated weeds management to control population dynamics of weeds in sugarcane crop. The objective of experiment is to find out economical, feasible and easy to use approach to minimize the weed density below the threshold level in sugarcane crop and to minimize the use of chemicals for weeds control to promote organic farming. Methods: In this research experiment, at Sugarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad during 2017 and 2018, the treatment includes viz. Application od Click (atrazine and acetochlor) @ 3.75 Liter per hectare as Pre-emergence, Ametryn + Atrazine 80 W.P @ 2.50 kg per hectare as post-emergence, Machanical Inter-culture with Rotary weeder and cultivator plough and earthing up. These treatments in different combinations were compared with control. Result: The application of Pre-emergence weedicide Click (atrazine and acetochlor) @ 3.75 Liter per hectare + Inter culture with Rotary weeder 50 days after planting (DAP) + Inter culture with cultivator plough before earthing up (100 DAP) produced significantly higher cane yield of 105 t. ha-1 and highest net benefits per hectare of Rs. 156250/-. The lowest cane yield of 70 t. ha-1 was noted from the experimental units with Weedy check / control. If farmers use this approach, the use of post emergence weedicides will be minimized and will encourage organic farming with safe and healthy environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variety identification assists the imperative goals such as alleviating legal claims and indorsing intellectual property rights and maintenance of genetic purity. The study was undertaken to appraise sugarcane clones for morphological physical characteristics for their use in breeding program, selection, identification and seed production. Experiment consisting of nine clones was sown at experimental area, Sugarcane Research Institute, AARI, Faisalabad during 2017 and 2018. The trial was replicated thrice. Data were documented on morphological features at ten months’ age of crop. There were important differences among the clones for stalk height, cane diameter, leaf blade width and leaf length. The growth habit of S-2008-FD-25 was erect and others were semi erect. Maximum height of 455 cm was seen in S-2009-SA-8. Maximum number of leaves per plant was observed in S-2008-AUS-133. Leaf colour of all clones was green and semi erect attitude. Spines were present on sheath of S-2008-AUS-134 only. The shape of dewlap of all clones were deltoid. Splits were present in S-2005-US-54, S-2011-FD-18 and M-2238-89. Bud grooves on internodes were present on S-2011-SL-62 and PSR-97-41. The internodes were of cylindrical shape. Flowering was absent in all the clones. The morphological descriptors presented for identification of the nine sugarcane clones are twenty-eight, that are distinctive and can be used for proof of identity, variety selection breeding and commercial seed production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing greenhouse gas emission and global warming during climate change result in sudden and extreme weather occasions. Climate change is affecting sugarcane production in the world, especially in the developing countries because of poor forecasting systems and mitigating strategies, sudden occurrence of pests and diseases. Varieties play an important role for sustainable sugarcane production. Varieties either lose their potential after few years release in field or become susceptible to pests and diseases under day by day changing climatic scenario. To combat climate changes and replace of exiting sugarcane varieties, different field experiments were planned at Sugarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad, Sugarcane Research Station, Khanpur and zonal testing of Sugarcane clone in adaptability trials at Progressive Sugarcane growers from 2002 to 2019 . All experiments were designed in randomized complete block design in three replications. Sugarcane clone S2003-US-127 were used in all experiments along with standards varieties HSF-240, CPF-249, SPF-234 and CPF-246. It is concluded from the study that sugarcane clone S2003-US-127 fetched higher cane yield (111.3 t/ha), sugar yield (14.1 t/ha), sugar recovery (12.72%) and higher economic Index than HSF-240, CPF-249, SPF-234 and CPF-246HSF. It is fast growing and matures earlier in 240-270 days. It has CPF 250 is resistant to red rot and smut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium-nutrition is a subject of great consideration, as research has revealed its importance in increasing sugar recovery in sugarcane. While it cannot achieve its genetic expression of yield without proper planting technology. Therefore, the present study was conducted to optimize the planting method and K level to improve the yield and sugar recovery of sugarcane at University of Agriculture Faisalabad in 2014-2016. Treatments comprised of four planting methods viz. i) 90 cm spaced pits with a diameter of 90 cm, ii) 90 cm spaced pits with a diameter of 90 cm in diagonal fashion, iii) 90 cm spaced double row strips and iv) 120 cm spaced trench planting in combination with four K nutrition levels i.e., 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg/ha K2O. Results revealed that K application improved the growth, cane yield and sugar recovery irrespective of planting method. However, maximum number of tillers were recorded in sugarcane sown in diagonal pit planting at 90 cm with 100 kg/ha K2O. Likewise, Leaf area index and net assimilation rate were substantially improved with K application in all planting methods. More cane weight (15%) was obtained at sugarcane sown in 120 cm spaced trenches with 200 kg/ha K2O during both the years. Stripped cane yield was maximum in diagonal pit planting at 90 cm with 100 kg/ha K2O (113.7 t/ha) during the plant crop year and diagonal pit plantation + 200 kg/ha K2O (98.22 t/ha) during the ratoon crop year. Likewise, maximum potassium use efficiency (KUE) i.e. 99.5 and 88.2 kg /kg were recorded in planting of sugarcane in diagonal pits at 90 cm with 100 kg/ha K2O during plant crop year and 120 cm trenches +100 kg/ha K2O during the ratoon crop year, respectively. Sugar recovery was also enhanced by all the K nutrition levels over control. The cultivation of sugarcane in 90 cm spaced pits with the supplementation of potash at 100 kg/ha gave the maximum sugar yield of 15.8 t/ha in plant crop year and 13.2 t/ha in the ratoon crop year. The combined economic analysis over two years (plant + ratoon year) revealed that sugarcane planting was more beneficial at 120 cm spaced trenches, with 100 kg potash/ha (3678$); which was followed by 90 cm diagonal pit plantation +100 kg/ha K2O which gave the combined benefits of 3611$. Sugar cane may be planted in 90 cm diagonal pits and 120 cm spaced trenches with 100 kg/ha potash to improve the cane yield and sugar recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study was conducted at Surgarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2018-19 to evaluate twelve (12) exotic sugarcane clones imported from Philippines for biometric traits and diseases resistance in local climatic conditions. These clones were put in preliminary yield trials (4th stage) of varietal development program to evaluate their performance in comparison with local check varieties HSF 240 and CPF 249. The exotic genotypes along with local checks were subjected to randomized complete block design (RCBD) by keeping three replications during crop season 2018-19. Six biometric traits like germination%, tillers per plant, no. of canes, cane weight, cane yield and sugar contents along with resistance to two major diseases viz. red rot and smut of sugarcane were studied. Two-sided Dunnett’s multiple test was used for comprehensive comparison among bimetric traits. The results of this study indicated that all the clones differed significantly for their agronomic traits. Although some varieties of Philippines showed better performance for cane yield (PSR 01-46, 184.7 t/ha) as compared to check varieties but they could not surpass them for sugar contents (11.54%) and also found susceptible to red rot and smut diseases. Only three exotic clones viz. PSR 01-28, PSR 98-11 and PSR 99-182 were promoted to next selection stage of varietal development program on the basis of higher or comparable cane yield (120.7, 141.7 and 105.3 t/ha, respectively) than check varieties and diseases reaction. However, the sugar contents of these exotic clones were found at par with check varieties and thus further testing and evaluation is required to improve adaptability and stability for consistent performance under local agro-ecological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane is one of the most important cash crops grown in Pakistan which accounts for 3.4% share in agriculture value addition and 0.7% in gross domestic products (GDP). It is a tropical and perennial grass sensitive to the soil type, climate change, irrigation, insects, fertilizers, varieties and the harvest period. Pakistan annually produces 81.1 million metric tons (MMT) of sugarcane but unfortunately, about 30% sugarcane crop is lost at harvesting stage particularly due to deficiency of mechanized harvesting approaches. This study has been carried out to fabricate and performance evaluate a tractor propelled sugarcane harvester to reduce sugarcane losses during harvesting in Pakistan. The major components of indigenously developed sugarcane harvester include hydraulically operated bottom cutter, top cutter, blower and conveyor and all of them are fixed on a movable iron frame. For optimization, the sugarcane harvester was operated at three different gears (G1, G2 and G3) and engine speeds (N1=1800, N2=1900 and N3=2000 rpm) of tractor and working widths (Kw1=0.85, Kw1=0.92 and Kw3=1.02 m) of harvester for sugarcane variety CP-77400 to determine the maximum field efficiency and material capacity. The results showed that maximum field efficiency was found to be 75.10% and material capacity was 12.87 ton/hr at G3, N3 and Kw3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]