Influence of planting rows and intercropping on quality parameters of sugarcane under sustainable sugarcane initiative

A field experiment was conducted at Sugarcane Research Station, Sirugamani, Tamil Nadu during the three seasons in 2016–17 and 2017–18 to study the influence of planting rows and intercropping on quality parameters of sugarcane under sustainable sugarcane initiative (SSI). Higher juice weight was observed under 180 cm double row planting (M₄) during first plant crop, 150 cm single row panting during the ratoon crop and 150 cm double row planting in second plant crop. The juice extraction was significantly higher under 150 cm double row planting. With regard to intercropping systems sugarcane with sunhemp recorded higher juice extraction followed by sugarcane with black gram during all the growing seasons. In case of intercropping systems sugarcane with sunhemp (S₄) recorded higher brix followed sugarcane with black gram during all the seasons. The planting of sugarcane at 150 cm in double rows with intercropping of sunhemp (M₂S₄) produced higher juice weight, juice extraction percentage and brix.