Pit Method of Planting in Sugarcane Under Drip Irrigated Sugarcane on Vertisols of South Gujarat

For optimizing pit size and to standardize the spacing between two pits, one experiment was taken up for three consecutive years (2011–12 to 2013–14) at SWMRU farm, NAU, Navsari. Three levels each of pit diameter (D₁: 45 cm, D₂: 60 cm and D₃: 75 cm) and pit spacing (S₁: 1.5 x 1.5 m, S₂: 1.75 x 1.75 m and S₃: 2.1 x 2.1 m) along with one control i.e. drip with paired row planting (0.6 x 1.8 m) were tested using large plot technique and the analysis was done as per FCRD. The results revealed that, growth parameters viz., full cane height and single cane weight were significantly affected due to pit diameter (D). Among the diameter tested, D₃ was found superior over D₁, but was at par with D₂. While in case of pit spacing(S), its effect was significant only on internodes length and number of internodes/cane. The significantly higher value of internodes length was recorded with treatment S₃ and the value that of number of internodes/cane was higher with treatment S₁ as compared to remaining spacing. The S x D effect was not significant on all the parameters except full cane length. The control was not superior in any of the parameter. Significantly higher cane yield was recorded in S₁ and S₂ treatments as compared to treatment S₃. The magnitude of increase in cane yield with S₂ and S₁ over paired row planted crops (control) was around 6–7 per cent and that over S3 was about 25 percent. While the effect of diameter of pit as well as S x D interaction failed to produce significant effect on cane yield. The different between treatment and control was also nonsignificant. Irrespective of treatment, the WUE was ranging from 104.8 kg/ha mm with S₃ to 134.6 kg/ha mm with S₁ treatment. In plant crops, control i.e. paired row planting realized higher net income which was followed by S₂.