Effect of Planting Sources, Cane Portions and Setts Placement Methods on Sugarcane Yield Attributing Traits

This experiment was performed to find out the best sugarcane plantation source between trenched and fresh stocks, efficient method of setts placement, selection of paramount cane portions and the interaction of yield and yield components. The effect of planting sources (i.e. sugarcane fresh seed and the one obtained from stock buried underground), cane portions and setts placement methods on sugarcane yield attributing traits were examined at Sugar Crops Research Institute (SCRI), Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. The experiment was conducted in RCB Design with split plot arrangements, in 3 replications for two years (2012- 14). Different planting material i.e., trenched (sugarcane buried in soil to avoid frost damage) and fresh cane (directly obtained after harvesting of standing crop) stalk segments i.e. upper, middle, lower and 33 % (having upper + middle + lower cane portions in uniform proportion of 33) each mixed portions of cane were allotted to the main plots, whereas sub plots were given to methods of setts placement (single, one and half, double and three setts (sugarcane stem portion with three buds) each 40 cm. Fertilizer was applied as N: 150 P2O5: 100 K2O: 100 at sowing and earthing up from Urea, DAP and SOP sources. Uniform management practices were performed. All traits showed significant (p≤ 0.05) differences for planting sources, cane portions and setts placement methods. Interaction of cane portions and setts placement methods were significant for emerged shoots, tillers, plant height and biological yield. Results revealed higher (p≤ 0.05) emerged shoots and tillers in canes planted from standing source (sugarcane standing crop) top portion with triple setts. This was also found that tallest plants with maximum biological yield were recorded in canes top portion with triple setts placement methods. Minimum results were observed for all the traits when bottom portion from trenched planting source was planted at single setts. Study suggests that planting fresh cane top portions with double and triple setts placement methods are better than trenched planting for cane yield and yield attributing traits.