PERFORMANCE OF BUD-CHIP METHOD FOR YIELD AND QUALITY OF SUGARCANE UNDER DIFFERENT PLANT SPACING

Abstract

Bud-chip is a cost-effective sowing method in sugarcane and more than 90 percent cost on seed can be saved. In this method, nursery is developed by obtaining only bud-chip from the cane and planted in polyethylene bags. After obtaining bud-chip the remaining entire cane is marketable. This experiment was conducted during autumn 2021-22 period at Sindh agriculture university Tandojam. The nursery of sugarcane variety CPF-246 was transplanted in rows 75 cm apart at 30 cm, 45 cm and 60 cm inter-row spacing in RCBD with three replicates having plot size of 3 m × 8.5 m (25.5 m²). Significant variations were observed among studied inter row plant spacing of sugarcane. Notably, the maximum cane yield of 123.55 tons per hectare, germination count 87.14 (%) and cane stand 110.29 (000 hectare) with 45 cm iner- row spacing while lowest cane yield 91.25 tones per hectare with 30cm row space. Similarly, the excellent number of sprouts 1.70 per plant, cane length 268.33 cm, plant girth 3.94 cm was found with 60cm iner-row space closely followed by 45cm row spacing. Although the crop planted at 60 cm inter-row spacing showed highest field brix 23.18 % and crop growth rate (CGR) 9.98 g m-2d-1 as compared to 30cm and 45cm.Therefore, it is recommended for the sugarcane growers to save 90 percent of the seed cost by using the bud-chip method by following nursery transplant at 45 cm plant spacing.