Ratoon Management: Present Status and Future Prospects for Increasing Sugarcane Productivity in Subtropical India

Ratoon is an integral component of sugarcane farming. In most sugarcane-growing countries, more than 4-5 ratoons are very common; however, only 1-2 ratoons are practised in India. Sugarcane is a tropical plant; however, it has been successfully grown in subtropical conditions. Recent improvements in sugarcane productivity and sugar recovery (>80 t/ha and >11.6 %, respectively) are outcomes of sugarcane technological development and their adoption by the state machinery, sugar mills and farm level. In Uttar Pradesh, distinct variations between eastern and western parts are visible in constraints, technological adoption, and approaches adopted by sugar mills and farmers. The constraints in ratooning have been identified as winter initiation of ratoon, piecemeal harvesting, soil compaction, poor sprouting in the latest released varieties, higher tiller mortality, allelopathy, poor vigour, insect pest disease incidence, etc. These identified constraints of various regions are required to be addressed through a selection of varieties for higher ratoonability, strengthening breeder seed cane production program, suitable planting methods (preferably trench planting), maintenance of optimum plant population, trash mulching, integrated weed management approach, balanced fertilisation, suitable irrigation techniques for water economy, biological pest control etc. The present status paper discusses various issues and strategies to be adopted by the research, development, and policy planners for better sugarcane ratoon yield, farm profit, extending sugar mill duration and sugar recovery, etc.