When is the best time to plant sugarcane?

Sugarcane, a tropical and subtropical crop, is the key raw material for producing sugar. In addition to being used to make sugar, sugarcane can also be used to produce ethanol, a renewable energy alternative. Sugarcane cultivation is very common in many areas of our country. So when is the best time to plant sugarcane?

When is the best time to plant sugarcane?

The typical planting period for sugarcane is usually concentrated from February to April, but there are also sugarcane varieties planted in spring and autumn. For sugarcane sown in autumn, it is generally carried out from August to September, while sugarcane sown in spring is mostly between February and April.

Sugarcane Planting Methods

1. Site selection

You should choose land with flat terrain, deep and fertile soil. The slope of a single plot of sugar cane base should be less than 10°, the width should exceed 50 meters, the length should exceed 200 meters, and there should be no obstacles such as tree roots and stones in the land. At the same time, it is necessary to avoid setting up facilities such as electric poles and concrete piers within the plot to ensure convenient surrounding transportation and facilitate mechanical operations. During mechanized planting and harvesting, the larger the plot of land, the more conducive it is to mechanical operation, saving time and improving planting efficiency.

2. Seed selection

When selecting seeds, you must choose good varieties that adapt to the local environment, are easy to peel leaves, resist lodging, have good perennial roots, and have high yields and high sugar levels. Common high-quality varieties include Guitang 46, Guitang 42, Liucheng 05/136, Xintaitang No. 22, etc. These varieties have high sugar content, large yield, and high production and economic value. At the same time, when selecting seeds, insect-infested sugarcane buds should be removed to ensure seed quality.

3. Seed saving

During the sugarcane planting process, seeds need to be saved and operating standards need to be followed. Normally, 700 to 800 kilograms of seeds are required per hectare, and the sowing area is 4,000 to 5,000 square meters.

4. Sugarcane seed processing

Soak the seeds in clean water or 2% lime water , and then disinfect them with medicine. You can choose 50% wettable carbendazim for disinfection according to the instructions to reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests and increase the emergence rate.

5. Deep ploughing and deep loosening

When preparing the land, deep plowing and loosening should be carried out to a depth of more than 30 cm, using a tractor of about 120 horsepower. Deep tillage should be carried out every 6 to 9 years, with a depth of between 40 and 60 cm.

6. Base fertilizer

Applying basal fertilizer is the key link, and sufficient basal fertilizer must be applied. Generally, 1,000 to 2,000 kilograms of farmyard manure, 100 kilograms of calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer, and 100 kilograms of compound fertilizer are applied per 667 square meters, and underground pest control drugs are applied at the same time to enhance soil nutrition and prevent diseases and pests.

7. Planting and soil preparation

To adapt to mechanized planting and harvesting, a wide row planting method with a row spacing of 120 cm is usually adopted. The trenching depth is between 30 and 50 cm, the planting depth needs to reach 25 to 30 cm, and the soil height should be kept consistent, generally controlled at around 10 cm, in a turtle-back shape. Reasonable density of planting, 5000 to 6000 basic seedlings per 667 square meters.

8. Weed control and film covering technology

Cover the soil with film after planting, covering the soil and spraying herbicides . During the implementation process, the soil moisture must meet the standard requirements. Note that the soil and the film must be in close contact, and fine soil should be used to cover both sides of the film to seal the soil. Ensure the integrity of technical application points and structures to enhance sugarcane planting results and increase quality and yield.

In general, the timing of sugarcane planting is very critical. It should not be too early or too late. Choosing the right sowing time is crucial to the growth of sugarcane.