Intercropping in Single Bud Vertical Planted Sugarcane

A field experiment was conducted at Ludhiana during 2005–06 and 2006–07 to find out the most promising intercropping system in autumn sugarcane. Sugarcane crop was raised using single bud cane setts placed vertically on both side of 75 cm wide beds formed alternately with 30 cm wide furrows. On an average, the single bud vertical planting recorded 74.4 per cent higher germination and 34.2 per cent higher cane yield as compared to conventional planting with three budded setts in furrows spaced at 90 cm. The sugarcane intercropped with garlic (Allium sativum L.) and metha (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) followed by onion (Allium cepa L.) as vegetable produced the highest cane yield. The intercropping system of sugarcane and radish (Raphanus sativus L) as vegetable followed by as seed crop recorded the highest net returns of Rs 1.25 lac/ha. It was immediately followed by sugarcane + garlic (Rs 1.23 lac/ha). The intercropping systems of sugarcane with turnip (Brassica rapa L.) as vegetable followed by seed crop, followed by radish metha and onion as vegetable recorded higher net returns as compared to standard. It is concluded that single bud vertical sett planting saved 25 per cent seed and gave higher autumn cane yield than conventional planting method. The autumn sugarcane planted by this method intercropped with garlic, turnip and radish both for vegetable followed by seed production and metha as vegetable followed by onion recorded the highest productivity and profitability.