Planting techniques in sugarcane as influenced by growth, yield and water productivity in western agro climatic zones of Tamil Nadu

Field experiments were conducted at Western Agro Climatic Zone of Tamil Nadu during 2012 to 2014 in main and ratoon crops of sugarcane with an objective to increase the yield and productivity. The experiments comprised of 10 demonstrations in factory zone following two different methods of cultivation viz., Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative methods (SSI) and Conventional System (CV).Each demonstration was conducted in large sized plots (0.40 ha) with sub surface drip irrigation. The results indicated higher plant height at harvest stage under SSI method (299 cm) compared to CV planting (262 cm). Other yield attributing characters viz., number of inter nodes/plant, number of millable canes/clump, girth, individual cane weight (kg/cane) and cane yield were also higher under SSI method with increased gross income, net return and B: C ratio both in main crop and ratoon crop. It was further observed that the water consumption was less (1820 mm) and water productivity was more (7.61 kg m-­3) in SSI method compared to conventional planting (1927 mm and 5.82 kg m­3 water consumption and water productivity, respectively)