Twin-row planting practice in village sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) plantations during first ratoon under rainfed conditions in northern Côte d’Ivoire

This study aimed to determine an appropriate planting density for twin-row sugarcane cultivation during the immature phase under rainfed conditions, with the goal of improving agronomic performance. A randomized complete block design was employed, consisting of six treatments and three replications. The evaluated planting densities included twin rows spaced at 0.4 m and 0.5 m, combined with inter-row distances of 1.1 m, 1.3 m, 1.4 m, and 1.5 m. Observations focused primarily on growth parameters, weed infestation, and ground cover. Results indicated that planting density had no statistically significant effect on growth parameters across treatments. However, treatments T3 (twin-row spacing of 0.4 m; inter-row spacing of 1.4 m; middle inter-row spacing of 1.8 m) and T6 (twin-row spacing of 0.5 m; inter-row spacing of 1.3 m; middle inter-row spacing of 1.8 m) enhanced several agronomic traits, including the number of stalks, stools, and ratoons, as well as the soil ground cover.