Sugarcane
Sugar Cane Research Shahjahanpur

 U.P. COUNCIL OF SUGAR CANE RESEARCH,SHAHJAHANPUR (UTTAR PRADESH),INDIA.

INSTITUTIONAL CONTRIBUTION, SCOPE & FUTURE STRATEGY

INTRODUCTION

The State of Uttar Pradesh, being a leading sugarcane producing

state plays an important role in the agricultural economy of the country. Considering the importance of sugarcane crop in the industrial development of the state in general and welfare of cane growers in particular, a premier research station was set up at Shahjahanpur in 1912 which has been functioning as institute since 1977. Subsequently, a number of research station and seed multiplication farms where established realising the regional needs of Sugar Industry and Cane Development in the State which are presently working under the control of an autonomus body, the U.P. Council of Sugarcane Research which its Hq at Shahjahanpur since January,1977. 

Geographically,the Institute is situated at 27.53 N Latitude and 79.54 E longitude with an altitude of 154.53 meter. Different                research stations under U.P. Council of Sugarcane Research are given below.

 DIFFERENT SUGARCANE RESEARCH AND SEED MULTIPLICATION STATIONS

UNDER U.P. COUNCIL OF SUGARCANE RESEARCH

S.No.  RESEARCH/SEED MULTIPLICATION STATIONS YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT
1 Sugarcane Research Station,Shahjahanpur (Functioning as Institute since 1977).  1912
2 Sugarcane Research Station,Muzaffarnagar. 1934
3 * Sugarcane Research Station,Gorakhpur. 1939
4 Sugarcane Research Station,Gola (Kheri).  1961
5 Sugarcane Seed Multiplication Farm,Gola (Kheri). 1974
6 * Seed Multiplication Farm,Luxmipur (Deoria). 1968
7  Sugarcane Research and Seed Multiplication Centre, Kashipur (Nainital). 1974
8 Genda Singh Sugarcane Breeding and Research Station, Seorahi, Deoria (Functioning as  Institute since 1988).                                     1975
9  * Sugarcane Seed Multiplication Farm, Sadat (Gazipur).       1987
10 * Sugarcane Seed Multiplication Farm,Sultanpur.               1987

* Under the control of Genda Singh Sugarcane Breeding and   Research Institute, Seorahi (Deoria).

 The institute are engaged in fulfilling the major objectives of the organisation like conducting research on various aspects of sugarcane  in relation to breeding and productivity, evolving varieties for different agro climatic zones of the state, producing and multiplying the nucleus seeds of improved varieties for distribution to the farmers and disseminating the research findings through various communication media. Various disciplines engaged in research at the Institute are breeding, genetics, physiology, entomology, seed production, pesticide chemistry, soil microbiology, economics, extension  and statistics with well equipped laboratories.

CONTRIBUTION :

The organisation is known not only in this country but also abroad for its historical contribution on both basic and applied researches on sugarcane cultivation. Varieties and crop management technologies such as method and system of planting, cropping system, irrigational and manurial requirements, control of diseases and pests and weed control developed at this institute proved to be of great practical importance in improving the sugarcane productivity.

As regards varietal improvement, the organisation has so far evolved a total 173 varieties for general cultivation. However, presently 31 Varieties are under cultivation and many outstanding varieties are in pipeline. A number of varieties have also been evolved for adverse conditions such as drought, low and high temperature, salinity, waterlogging, low inputs and late planting conditions. These varieties have helped in steady improvement in yield of sugarcane in the State.

As a result of concerted efforts to evolve early maturing high sugar and high yielding varieties with adequate level of resistance to diseases, a number of outstanding varieties viz., CoS 88230,87216, 95255, 96258, 96268, CoSe 95436, 98231 in early group and CoS 88216, 90269, 92263, 91230, 91248, 93218, 93278, 94257, 94270, 95222, 97264 CoSe 96436, 95422, UP 39, 9529 and 9530 in mid-late and late group have been evolved and released for general cultivation during last five years.

Varieties such as CoS 767, 7918, 687, 8436 and 88230 and developed at this institute are also being adopted in other sub-tropical states of the country and CoS 767 in Nepal.

CROP MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY:

Crop management technologies developed by this organization proved vital in improving the sugarcane productivity of the State. Recently developed technologies are as follow :-  

1.) A New technique of Seed multiplication through spindle bud in polythene bags has developed at Shahjahanpur. It has good scope for multiplying the breeder seed material of newly developed genotypes. Some disease resistant high sugared and high yielding somaclones have also been developed through tissue-culture at Shahjahanpur. These may yield promising rich sugared, high yielding varieties with red-rot resistance in future.  

2.) Under late planting condition during spring, 60 cm spacing and application of 200 kg N/ha in two splits, half at planting and rest half in the month of May have been found effective in enhancing the cane yield significantly.

3.) In Intercropping of wheat with autumn sugarcane keeping 3 rows of wheat in between 2 rows of cane with 100 percent seed rate and fertilizer for wheat was found more profitable than cane alone. Intercropping of garlic in autumn planted cane improved the cane yield significantly over other spices and cane alone. Among vegetable intercrops potato produced significantly higher cane yield than other vegetables and cane alone. However, intercropping of spices and vegetables specially cole crops and turnip gave more economic return than cane alone. Surface planted sugarcane in standing paddy crop gave higher yield than sugarcane planting after paddy harvest. Through this new technique potato can be taken as an inter crop. It is developed specially for marginal and submarginal farmers.  

4.)   Spraying of Gibbrelic acid @ 100 ppm or cycocel @ 200 ppm after stubble shaving has been found effective in improving cane yield of ratoon raised from winter harvested plant crop.  

5.) The new approach of sugarcane planting by trans planting of poly  bag raised 30 days old plantlets in the last month of June intercropped with five rows of rice at the distance of 18 cm apart and thereafter the harvest of rice taking one row of potato as relay intercrop gave higher not return as compared to rice-potato-sugarcane cropping system.  

6.) Retaining water shoots and late tillers in late harvesting after April produced significantly higher ratoon yield as compared to total shoot harvest.

7.) Cane yield progressively improved with spindle bud technique as against conventional planting from February to May at monthly interval. Significantly higer cane yield from autumn, spring and late spring crops of sugarcane was obtained by harvesting them during January, March and April respectively.  

8.) Spraying of Pendymethelene @ 3.0 L/ha dissolved in 1125 L water before and after germination has been found more effective in controlling sugarcane weeds and producing higher cane yield as compared to other herbicidal sprays.  

9.) The varieties CoS 8436, 87216, 88230 and CoJ 64 in early group, CoS 8432, 88216, 90269, 91269 among mid-late group have been found promising for gur production. Harvesting of early, mid and late varieties during January, February and March respectively was found suitable for gur production. The gur of early maturing varieties was found to deteriorate earlier than that of mid-late varieties stored at 30 Degreee temperature and 80% humidity.  

10.) At Shahjahanpur 10 sugarcane factory zones were surveyed for analysing the soil samples and determining the soil fertility levels in these zones. After analysis of the soil samples thus collected the fertility maps and fertilizer recommendations were passed to the concerned sugar factories.  

11.) Application of 45 kg zinc sulphate/ha, sulphur @ 75 kg/ha in the form of zypsum have been found to improve cane yield. The application of sulphur also improved sucrose percent in juice. Foliar application of Multiplex @ 2 L/ha was found to improve cane yield. Application of Multi-x (micronutrient) @ 15 kg/ha at planting increased cane yield and quality of sugarcane.  

CROP PRORTECTION TECHNOLOGY:

In crop protection studies, salient findings of the work done. On incidence and management of diseases and insect pests is as follows :-

A.) DISEASES

1.) Survey carried out for incidence of diseases revealed that varieties Co 1148, CoS 770, 802, 837, BO 54 and CoJ 64 were affected with the red-rot in Saharanpur, Ghaziabad, Merrut, Muzaffarnagar, Dehradun, Bareilly, Sitapur Lakhimpur and Nainital districts. Smut was observed on CoS 8016, Co 1158, CoS 687, U.P. 5 in Lakhimpur, Pilibhit and Kanpur districts while wilt was observed on CoS 8315, 88230, 90265, 92254 and Colk 8102 in some districts. Grassy shoot and leaf scald have also been sporadically recorded on CoS 8315 and ColK 8102.

2.) Among the new collections of red-rot isolates, 4 isolates have been found highly virulent and these are being utilized for varietal testing against red-rot disease. Out of 114 sugarcane genotypes, 16 were found moderately resistent to red-rot. Out of these CoS 8436, 87216, 91269, 94257, 94270, 95255 and 96260 were recommended for cultivation.  

3.) At Seorahi, 4 isoletes of red-rot pathogen have been found highly virulent and the same are utilized for varietal testing against red-rot in eastern U.P.

4.) In a study on the effect of planting time on the incidence of smut it was observed that more smut incidence was recorded in spring planted crop than in Autumn and late spring planted cane.  

5.) At Seorahi, Maize, Dwarf Mosaic Virus- a member of sugarcane mosaic potty virus collected from eastern U.P. has been purified with a maximum yield of 20 ug/Kg of fresh tissue, and an antiserum against the virus has been raised which is capable of detecting the virus at 1: 5000 concentration by various serological tests.  

6.) The essential oil extrected from Cinnamomuin Zevlenicum proved strongly fungicidal against red-rot pathogen in vitro. Work on volatile treatment of cane setts with this oil is in progress. Similarly the essential oil of Callistemon Lanceolatan was found effective against pathogens of red-rot, Curvularis and pariconai leaf diseased of sugarcane.    

B.) INSECT PESTS

1.) The varieties CoS 90265, ,91269 were found tolerant to top borer which Cos 88230 and 88216 were found highly affected with stem borer. Cypermethrine @ 400 ml/ha, Hostathion 600 ml/h and Doltemethrine @ 600 ml/ha were found equivalent to Monocrotophos @ 0.750 kg a.i./ha in efficacy against stem borer. Indosulphan dust 4 per cent @ 25 kg/ha and Tataphen 4 per cent dust @  25 kg/ha have been found effective for controlling termities. It was also observed that by dipping setts in 0.15 per cent solution of N.T.N. and Sumicidin termite may be controlled. Lindane 6 % granule capsulated and impregnated @ 20 kg/ha have been found equally effective against termite and shoot borers. Autumn planted crop was found more affected with termites as compared to spring and late spring planted crops. Similarly spring planted cane was found more affected with termites as compared to late spring crop. Shoot borer incidence was relatively more in spring and late spring planted crop as compared to Autumn Cane. More top borer incidence at harvest has been observed in spring planted crop than Autumn and late spring crops. Stem borer incidence in autumn planted cane is found more spring and late spring crops.  

2.) At Seorahi in integrated pest management approach collection of egg masses of Ist and IInd broods and Carbofuren application-cum releasse of Trichogramma egg parasite reduced the incidence of top borer by 16.3, 5.6 and 8.2 % respectively. The application of phorate 100 and release of egg parasite Trichogremma reduced the incidence of shoot borer by 6.5 and 3.9 respectively. They also reduced the incidence of top borer by 10.2, 5.2 and 6.9 % during Ist, IInd and IIIrd broods respectively. A parasite Uplectus sp was recorded on current insect (Leotia bicolor) in eastern U.P. .

Sugar producing areas in latitude 16-20 North and South enjoy inherent advantage of superior sucrose content with peak at 18 North and South Latitude over their neighbours at higher and lower latitude. Thus, Maharashtra and Karnataka fall under high recovery area. We find a wide variation in sugar recovery in different regions and years which could be attributed mainly to the number of working days and quality of cane as well as juice which in turn seems to vary due to so many factors as  variety cultural practices, manurial application, time lag between harvest and crushing, incidence of diseases and pests, weather prevailing during growth and maturation period.

This organisation is actively engaged in providing consultancy services to the sugar factories for improving sugar recovery,cane yield, control of diseases and insect pests, varietal scheduling, agronomic practices and pre and post harvest technology. Soil samples received from the farmers are analysed and recommendations are given for proper use of fertilizer.

This institute also offers the training programmes to the extension and cane development personnel on the sugarcane crop management practices. In the recent past a number of  subject matter training workshop-cum-seminars on sugarcane production technology have been organised at this institute to acquaint the subject matter specialists of North India States with the latest technologoical changes in the field of sugarcane production and to develop professionalism.

The state average yield that lingered around 46 tonnes in mid 80s progressively increased to around 60 tons in 1996-97 and this can be enhanced to the level of 70 tonnes near the assumed potential yield of 82.3 tonnes by the end of this decade, if available improved technologies generated at this organisation are adopted properly.  

Although varieties and crop management technologies developed at this institute reached the farmers and improved the sugarcane productivity for sustaining sugar industry at its present levels, there is still a considerable gap in existing knowledge and the adoption by masses.

While comparing the cane yield between the states of sub tropics, Punjab recorded the higher yield followed by U.P and Haryana and it was least in Bihar. But environmental potential for maximum yield is much higher in U.P.,especially in eastern tract and Bihar when compared with other states of sub-tropics. This is evident from the record yield of 335.42 tonnes/ha in all India competition fields for Eastern U.P. in 1969-70. The main reasons for low productivity in this region are poor crop management and application of low inputs. Thus, there is need to improve the awareness of improved technology of cane cultivation and also socio-economic condition of the cane growers in this area.  

The cane yield of southern states is higher when compared with northern states where sugarcane is known to grow over a wide range of environmental conditions and therefore, it is exposed more to both biotic(insect pests, diseases and weeds) and abiotic (drought, salinity, alkalinity waterlogging and low and high temperatures) stressess and to nutritional defficiency or excess when compared with tropical belt. However, thin region has greater potentially for higher sugarcane production. Thus, there is ample scope to improve productivity of sugarcane in sub-tropics through adoption of high yielding varieties with higher juice quality coupled with suitable management practices for different conditions. Considering the same duration of the crop in both the regions, the yield in sub-tropics can easlily be brought on par with tropics, if available technologies are followed properly, especially in ratoon crops which constitute more than 50% of sugarcane area with low productivity.

FUTURE STRATEGY :

In order to improve the technology for increasing productivity, the future stress on research programme needs to be given on rapid multiplication and supply of high quality nucleus seed of improved varieties, rapid dissemination of knowledge on improved sugarcane production technology, development of early rich sugar and high yielding varieties possessing a fair degree of resistance to major diseases and posts as well as for specific requirement like drought, waterlogging, low and high temperature, low inputs, development of suitable technology for late planting after harvest of wheat crop, quality jaggery production, change in cropping system and to check the quality deterioration in late harvest as well as during post harvest period and also to find out the regional differences in terms of environmental potential for maximum productivity.Therefore, major emphasis is being given to in the research programme in order to improve the productivity. Production and distribution of disease and insect pest free healthy nucleus seed cane of promising varieties in adequate quantity for increasing the productivity of sugarcane and sugar.