Effect of planting method on productivity and economics of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid complex) varieties under waterlogged condition

A field experiment was conducted during 2013–14, 2014–15 and 2015–16 at Pusa, Bihar, to evaluate planting options (conventional and trench method) and sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid complex) varieties (‘BO 91’, ‘BO 137’, ‘BO 141’, ‘BO 154’ and ‘CoP 2061’) for higher growth, yield and quality of sugarcane under waterlogged conditions. Significantly higher germination (33.2%), plant population (179, 600/ha), plant height (294 cm), total dry-matter accumulation (28.9 t/ha) and leaf-area index (4.38) were observed with trench method of planting than conventional method of planting. However, significantly higher number of nodes having aerial roots (8.1) and cane lodging (48.5%) were observed with conventional method of planting. The maximum cane diameter (2.07 cm), millabe canes (107, 600/ha), cane yield (78.1 t/ha), gross returns (199, 100/ha), net returns (114, 000/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.34) were obtained with trench method of planting, being higher by 13.7, 18.9, 19.2, 19.2, 22.8 and 7.2%, respectively, over that of furrow planting respectively. Similarly, trench planted canes exhibited significantly higher brix (19.1%), pol (16.93%), commercial cane sugar (11.72%) and sugar yield (9.2 t/ha) than that of conventional method. Among the varieties, ‘CoP 2061’ showed better performance under waterlogged conditions with higher germination (37.8%), plant population (1, 87, 500/ha), plant height (296 cm), total dry matter accumulation (30.2 t/ha), LAI (4.60), cane diameter (2.06 cm) and millable canes (1, 09, 700/ha). Significantly higher cane yield (80.9 t/ha) and gross returns (2, 06, 300/ha) was obtained with the variety ‘CoP 2061’ which was statistically comparable to ‘BO 137’ (77.9 t/ha) and ‘BO 154’ (74.1 t/ha). Similarly, higher net returns (126, 700/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.59) were obtained with ‘CoP 2061’. However, higher brix content (19.1%) was noticed with ‘BO 154’. There were no significant varietal differences for pol and purity per cent juice. Thus, sugarcane should be planted with trench method and varieties ‘CoP 2061’ and ‘BO 137’ may be adopted to enhance productivity of sugarcane under waterlogged conditions.