»RING PIT METHOD SUGARCANE CULTIVATION | Sugarcane Farming Guide«
Ring pit sugarcane cultivation method is cost effective and at the same time helps farmers to get a higher yield. Through this method of farming, localized application of fertilizer is done in pits.
Ring pit production method increase crop yield up to 180 tons per hectare. In each ring of pit, around 22 bundled sets are placed horizontally in a circular manner. The crop under ring planting consist mostly of mother shoots which are thicker and heavier. Under the conventional system, the stem cuttings or sections of sugarcane stalks usually having three buds used for planting sugarcane are developed in rows of 90 cm spacing and are arranged in a series without adequate spacing
Planting
In the ring pit method sugarcane setts are planted and raised in round pits at the spacing of 180 cm between rows and 150 cm between individual pits in a row. The pits are filled with top soil, 5 kg of farmyard manure, 100 grams of gyps and 125 grams super phosphate and are watered well.
Pit depth is kept to 1.25 ft to 1.75 ft. The ring pit method not only reduces water used but enhances nutrient use efficiency. No ploughing and logging are necessary which saves labor cost.
Requirements and care
Ring pit method is appropriate for drought prone areas, lightly textured soils, saline soils, multiple returning fall and thick cane varieties. Break the soil crust when soil moisture reaches to workable condition and fill the pits with the dug out soil up to 5-7 cm depth 50-55 days after planting.
Depending on the soil and weather conditions, give light irrigation at an interval of 20-25 days. Carry out weeding in peak season when necessary.
Fertilizer and care
Apply 16 grams urea per pit in the third week of June. In the last week of June to keep apply 33 kg of furidin, 3 grams per hectare to control top borers. Keep the gap of at least 3-4 days between the application of urea and furidin. Fill the pits with dug out soil by the last week of June before Monsoon.
Tie cane of each pit together with lower dry leaves in the first fortnight of August.
