Assessing Ratooning Potential of Various Sugarcane Cultivars under Climatic Conditions of South Punjab

Abstract

Sugarcane ratooning is very common is Pakistan and subjected for many years due to high input cost. However, the selection of suitable strains for ratoon crop is essential. Due to low yielding of ratoon crop, it is difficult for farmers to meet input costs. Ratoon crop is early to mature, reduced input cost and high field brix (%). A field study was planned under Agro-climatic conditions of South Punjab during 2022-23 to investigate the ratooning potential of nine sugarcane varieties viz S2016SL-284, S2012SL-426, CP00-1101, S2008AUS-133, S2009SA-111, VMC-87/599, PSR 07-45, CPF-237 and CPF-253. Significant variations among ratooning performance of sugarcane genotypes were observed.  The findings of study indicated that, the strain S2016SL-284 achieved maximum cane yield of 125.39 tones per hectare and 2.32 sprouts per plant. Furthermore, the strain also demonstrated excellent quality of field brix 22.57% which is closely followed with 22.33 and 21.87 of S2008-AUS-133 and S2012Sl-426.The Sugarcane strain S2016SL-284 produced 11.10 tons per hectare more cane yield than check variety CPF-253.Therefore, on the basis of above given results of this experiment it is recommended that, genotype S2016SL-284 has excellent ratooning ability and should be cultivated in climatic conditions of Southern Punjab as ratoon crop.