Factors Affecting Sugarcane Cultivation

Sugarcane agricultural practices are influenced by many factors, including climate, soil composition and structure, irrigation and drainage requirements, varieties, pests and diseases, management, and availability of skilled labor and harvesting methods. Growers need to carefully consider such factors as variety, quality of the seed cane, row spacing, planting depth, fertilizer placement, sett treatment with fungicides and insecticides, planting time, and availability of water either from rainfall or irrigation. The main requirements for a high-yielding sugarcane crop are water, heat, sunlight, and adequate nutrition. The performance of a variety depends on its genetic potential, the quality and cleanliness of the planting material (pest- and disease-free), climate suitability for growth, time of milling, and, most important, the level of management provided. Varieties must be selected on the basis of proven performance (whether for sugar, fiber, or ethanol). Priority must be given to selecting the variety with the required agronomic and milling characteristics and with pest and disease resistance or tolerance. For the subtropics, where freezing temperatures occur, stalk freeze tolerance has to be taken into account. Sugarcane should be planted into well-drained and prepared soil corrected with lime as required. Cane should be planted when rains are reliable to conserve moisture for rain-fed cane; where irrigated, it should be planted only after irrigation has been installed.