Improvement of stubble sprouting in winter initiated ratoon of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) under south-eastern Rajasthan condition

A field experiment was conducted during 2007 to 2011 involving three cycles of sugarcane plant-ratoon at Agricultural Research Station, Kota to enhance the stubble bud sprouting under low temperature conditions by winter management techniques on growth yield and quality of the sugarcane. Results revealed that the highest mother shoots (98.09f10³/ha), shoots (281.05f10³/ha), cane length (225 cm) and ratoon cane yield (54.8 t/ha) as well as sugar yield (7.76 t/ha) were recorded with application of 60 kg K₂O/ha+25 kg ZnSO₄/ha before 30 days of ratooning along with irrigation water. This was closely followed by application of 60 kg K₂O/ha before 30 days of ratooning. The physical properties of the soil like bulk density, infiltration rate and organic carbon were improved by the application of 20 t/ha fresh sulphitation pressmud at ratooning which was closely at par with the application of 25 kg ZnSO₄+SPMC (fresh) @ 10 t/ha at ratooning. The highest N and P uptake occurred in the T₃ treatment followed by T₈, whereas K uptake was found to be higher in T₇. The treatment consisting of application of 60 kg K₂O+25 kg ZnSO₄ before 30 days of ratooning along with irrigation water fetched the highest net profit of Rs. 119.17 × 10³/ha. Results suggested an improvement in stubble bud sprouting and subsequent re-growth of stubble in winter initiated ratoon by nutrient application, which may help in enhancing ratoon productivity.