Exploring sugarcane (Saccharum spp. Hybrids) based potential cropping system using crop diversification approach for enhanced productivity of cane and sugar in rice (Oryza sativa L.) growing and low lying areas of Indian subtropics

The on-farm trials were conducted for two consecutive seasons of 2008–10 and 2009–11 on cultivators' fields at Dhanuwansand village in Lucknow district of Central Uttar Pradesh to explore the possibility of enhancing productivity of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) and sugar through diversification of existing rice (Oryza sativa L.) based cropping system prevailing in North-West Plain zone of India. Experimental results indicated that rice (skipped row method) + autumn sugarcane (relay intercropped in Late September) + potato after rice harvest (T5) being statistically at par with rice (skipped row method) + sugarcane (relay intercropped in Mid October) + potato after rice harvest, produced significantly higher values of growth attributes (germination %, no. of shoots, dry matter accumulation in plants and leaves, leaf area index, net assimilation rate and leaf area ratio), yield contributing characters (no. of millable canes and cane length, weight and girth) and yield of cane as compared to other crop sequences in the study. The cane yield obtained under Ts crop sequence (94.66 t/ha) was higher to the tune of 41.34%, 27.18%, 15.15%, 24.18% and 17.58%, respectively than that of T1 (rice-wheatlate cane), T2 (rice-mustard-spring cane), T3 (ricepotato-spring cane), T4 (rice-toria-springcane) and T7 (rice-sugarcane + potato) crop sequences. Commercial cane sugar percent and°Brix did not alter significantly due to different crop sequence treatments. Thus, in rice growing areas of NorthWest Plain zone of India, an alternative strategy of planting autumn sugarcane as a relay intercrop with skipped row planted rice in Late September or up to Mid October taking potato as intercrop after harvest of rice can suitably be initiated for reaping higher yield ofcaneand sugar as well.