Identification of Suitable Plant Geometry for Different Ages of Single-node Seedlings in Eksali Sugarcane

Plant geometry plays a significant role for optimization of rice yield due to efficient utilisation of solar radiation as well as nutrients in sugarcane. The plant geometry and spatial configuration exploit the initial vigor of the genotypes with enhanced soil aeration, creating congenial conditions for better establishment. A planting density that can bring down the seed requirement without sacrificing productivity would go a long way in popularising sugarcane cultivation. A field experiment was conducted at the Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station, Rudrur, during 2019-2022 to study the identification of suitable plant geometry for different ages of single-node seedlings in eksali sugarcane. The experiment was planted in split plot design with four row to row spacing of 90 x 30, 120 x 30, 150 x 30 and 180 x 30 cms as main plots and 30, 45 and 60 days old single-node seedlings as subplots. Sugarcane planting with 30-day-old seedlings at 150 × 30 cm spacing was found to be optimum for recording higher cane yield (154.2 t/ha) and commercial cane sugar (CCS% of 13.75), which was 13.2 % and 6 % more, respectively over 45-day-old seedlings. 60 days old seedling recorded the lowest cane yield (90.5 t/ha) and commercial cane sugar (9.97%) in all spacing. The 30-day-old seedlings planted at 150 × 30 cm spacing gave higher net returns of ₹. 1,81,151/ha over 45 days aged seedlings planted at 150 × 30 cm spacing (₹.1,65,018/ha) and 60 days old seedlings (₹.74,718/ha).