Assessment of Establishing Plant’s Crop Cane Portions and Setts Placement Methods on the Attributes of Sugarcane

The response of planting sources i.e. standing (fresh canes-frost exposed) trenched (stored canes-frost protected), cane portions and setts placement methods on the attributes of sugarcanewere assessed at Sugar Crops Research Institute, Mardan-Pakistan. The experiment was conducted in RCB Design with split plot arrangement, over years (2012-13 and 2013-14). Planting sources i.e. standing (fresh canes frost exposed) trenched (stored canes frost protected) and canes portions top, middle, bottom and mixed 33 % each were assigned to main plots, while setts placement methods i.e. single, one and a half, double and triple setts 40 cm in length were allotted to sub-plots. Recommended dose of fertilizer i.e. N: 150. P2O5: 100. K2O: 100 were applied and standard management practices (inter-culturing, earthing up, and irrigation) were performed. The objectives were to find best planting source, cane portions, setts placement methods and interaction for maximum emergence, visible crop stand leading to yield and yield components. Significant differences were observed among cane portions and setts placement methods for all the traits except emergence %. Planting sources exhibited significant differences for emergence percentage. The interaction of cane portions and setts placement methods were significant except for emergence percentage. Millable canes showed significant interaction for planting sources and setts placement methods. Maximum cane yield was recorded for top portion and triple setts. Millable canes excelled when top portion from standing source was planted at triple setts. Stripped cane length and yield excelled when top cane portions were planted as triple setts. Over all it was concluded that planting fresh cane top portions with double and triple setts placement methods were found better than trenched planting for cane yield and yield attributing traits.