This article will be focusing on all factors on how to grow sugarcane.
Sugarcane like other perennial grass is a tall plant. That has its origins in parts of Southeast Asia as well as the South Pacific. A member of the genus Saccharum, sugarcane has the ability to grow in warm tropical or temperate climates. The plant’s stalk is rich in the sugar sucrose. With the innate ability to grow to heights of up to 6 metres high.
Mostly popular for being one of the raw materials in the manufacture of sugar. Sugarcane has gained importance and it is a special plant. That time and time again has proven it usefulness in many homes across the world.
Since sugarcane is such an important plant. Many people do not know how it is grown as they are only interested in the end product. That comes from the plant.
Conditions for Planting Sugarcane
Climate
Sugarcane are known to do exceptionally well in tropical climates in terms of productivity. It is also worth noting that it is possible to cultivate sugarcane in temperate zones. For a bumper harvest season, the ideal conditions for planting sugarcane include the following;
- Long, hot and sunny weather; this should range from 32-38 degree Celsius (90-100 oF).
- The level of rainfall should be moderate to high, about 1100-1500mm of total rainfall.
- Dry and cool harvest season, and the temperatures range from 12-14 degree Celsius (54-57 oF)
Climate conditions during the different phases of sugarcane growth. Play a huge role in determining the amount of sugar build up in the dry weight at harvest. Which is highly inconsistent.
Soil
Sugarcane has the ability to grow in various types of soils; be it loamy, sandy or clay soil. This also goes for the acidity as well as the alkalinity of the soil. Which usually has a pH range of roughly 5-8.5.
The most ideal type of soil for planting sugarcane is loam soil. That is well-drained and has a pH value of about 6. However, mechanical factors such as soil compaction have a huge impact to the success of sugarcane growing. Compared to pH and soil composition.
The land should be thoroughly ploughed so as to get rid of obstacles as well as plant debris. Land preparation is done during the dry spell which helps in avoiding the development of ‘hard pans’ which heavily affects soil drainage as well as root penetration.
Secondary cultivation should also be done so as to break the soil clods (lumps of soil), removal of trash as well as laying out the field. As a prospective sugarcane farmer, learning how to grow sugarcane depends on these factors.
Growing Sugarcane
Growing of sugarcane can be divided into three processes, these are;
The Planting Process
The process of sugarcane planting employs vegetative propagation, which is done to ensure reliable cultivar features. What this means is that since sugarcane plants are multi-species, planting using seeds will result to plants that are not same as the mother plant.
The stalk sections which are referred to as “seed pieces,” “billets,” or “setts,” have one or more buds. These are the ones that are planted to the main seed bed and the buds, raised in a nursery, spaced 15cm by 10cm before they are transplanted to the main field, which then undergo rooting and finally developing into a stand.
Application of fertilizer is required and is applied in the planting furrows before planting which is important for the roots that are developing and growing. This in turn enhances rapid growth of the crop. Top dressing with fertilizer is done roughly 34 days after planting as this is a crucial stage of the sugarcane plants and they require nitrogen which is needed for canopy development.
The plants are most vulnerable during rooting and easily rot and attacked by insects. Therefore, regular spraying with fungicide and insecticides is a requirement prior to being placed in the seedbed.
The Growing Process
Depending on the climate, the growing to harvest period for sugarcane roughly takes 9-24 months. Planting should be done during the beginningof rain and the plant spacing should be approximately 1m by 1.2m by 0.5m, all this depending on the soil fertility plus the cane variety.
One harvest is done for the primary crop followed by 3-4 harvests of the regrowth (ratoon) which happens after the first year of harvest and the beginning of the second round of stalks in areas that are receiving rainfall of less than 1500mm of annual rainfall, drip irrigation is a requirement.
After each harvest, the sugarcane fields are burned off until decline in levels of production is witnessed. During that time, ploughing of the field is conducted under and preparation of the ground is also done for beginning a new phase of growing sugarcane.
The Ripening Process
It takes about three months for sugarcane to ripen, during which, the stalk dries out and speeds up the synthesis and storage of sugar. During the process of ripening, simple sugars like fructose are converted into sucrose. For weed control, mechanical weeding should be employed as much as possible.
Alternatively, selective herbicides can be used where mechanical weeding is inapplicable which means the sugarcane field should be kept free from weeds throughout the growing period.
Conclusion
Sugarcane is such an important plant; many people do not know how it is grown as they are only interested in the end product that comes from the plant. Focusing on all factors on how to grow sugarcane, from understanding the required conditions to the process of growing the sugarcane, aspiring sugarcane farmers now have the necessary knowledge on how to venture in farming. Whether you choose to go large scale or you choose to grow sugarcane in your homestead, you now have the necessary knowledge to begin and experience as your plants grow majestically. Now you know how the raw material to the most precious commodity in our everyday lives starts from billets to mature plants.
Check my other post on sustainable backyard farm and farm hacks.
