Ex. No.

1 Identification of Sugar Crops, Fibre, Forage, Green Manure and

Date: Narcotics in the Crop Cafeteria

Crop classification is done to generalize similar crop plants as a class for attaining
better understanding of them. Field crops are classified as follows. According to
1. Range of cultivation
2. Place of origin
3. Botanical classification
4. Commercial classification
5. Economic / Agricultural / Agrarian classification
6. Seasonal classification
7. Classification based on ontogeny
8. Cultural requirement
9. Important use.
Among the classification, economic / agrarian / Agricultural classification is most
important classification as for as agronomy is concerned (Agronomic classification). This
classification is based on use of crop plants and their products.
Sugar crops
• Juice extracted from stem used for sugar or jaggery
• Number of by products like molasses, bagasse, pressmud
• Molasses used for alcohol and yeast formation
• Bagasse used for paper making and fuel
• Pressmud used as soil amendment
• Trash (green leaf + dry foliage) – used for cattle feed
• Sugar beet – Tuber for extraction of sugar
• Tubers and tops are used as a fodder
No Common name Botanical name
1. Sugarcane : Saccharum officinarum
2. Sugarbeet : Beta vulgaris

SUGARCANE - Saccharum officinarum - Noble cane Family - Poaceae

Duration Cane Yield CCS

Variety CCS % Remarks
(Month) (t/ha) (t/ha)
COC 671 10 123.5 14.20 17.50 Early
COC 771 10 140.0 13.10 18.30 Early
COC 772 10 143.3 14.00 20.00 Early
COC 773 10 97.5 13.20 12.60 Early
COC 800 (C66191) 10-11 102.9 13.20 13.50 Early
COC 774 11 159.8 11.90 17.90 Medium
COC 775 11 122.5 13.40 16.40 Medium
COC 776 11 112.3 14.00 15.50 Medium
COC 777 12 171.3 11.80 20.00 Medium
COC 778 12 165.5 11.00 18.10 Late
COC 779 12 204.6 11.80 24.00 Late
COC 419 12 112.5 10.50 11.80 Late
CO 6304 12 115.0 13.50 15.50 Medium
COC 8001 10-11 102.5 13.20 13.50 Early
COC 85061 10-11 128.5 12.90 16.60 early
COC 86062 10-11 133.5 12.60 16.80 Early
COC 86071 10-11 131.7 12.20 16.00 Early
COC 8021 10-11 137.7 11.00 14.60 Medium
 COC 90063 10-11 124.0 12.30 15.40 early
COC 91061 10-11 131.0 11.30 15.60 Medium
COC 92061 8-11 132.7 12.76 16.05 Early
CO 8362 11-12 124.3 12.40 15.40 Medium
COG 93076 11-12 132.0 13.20 17.40 Medium
CO 8208 11-13 141.5 11.07 15.28 Late
COG 90063 11 133.2 13.50 17.60 Early
COC 99061 12 130.33 11.94 15.59 Late
Jaggery
CO 85019 12 134.5 12.50 16.80 Late-
CO 8610 10-12 146.1 10.78 15.64 Medium
CO 86249 10-12 126.7 11.30 14.30 Medium
COG 94077 11 133.2 10.40 14.60 Early
COG 95071 10 152.0 12.90 21.00 Early
COG 95076 10-11 108.2 11.50 12.40 Medium
COSI 96071 10 145.0 11.90 17.30 Early
COC 98061 10-11 120.0 11.60 13.80 Medium
COSI 98071 12 144.7 12.30 17.70 Late

Variety Performance

Co 86032 Performs well in all soil types and extremely well in garden land condition. Good
quality cane with higher yield. Has multi ratooning capacity. Can be grown throughout the
year. Gives higher recovery. Self detrashing in nature. Amenable for wide row spacing.

CoV 92102 High quality variety with yield on par with Co 86032. Self stripping with good
field habit. Non flowering. Performs well in red, clay and alkaline soils. Ratoon performance
is satisfactory.
CoSi 95071 Performs well in December, January and February planting.
CoC 90063 Non lodging, high tillering, high yield and good quality. Drought and alkaline
tolerant variety and good ratooner.
Co 86027 Suitable for mid late planting. Moderate yielder with high sugar. Non lodging and
non flowering.
CoV 94101 Good ratooner. Non lodging. Suitable for early planting. Thick cane with good
tillering.
Co 85019 Drought tolerant variety. Resistant to red rot.
Co 86249 Red rot resistant, Drought tolerant, high yielding
CoV 94102 Yield is on par with Co 86032 and quality is lower than Co 86032
Co Si(Sc)6 High yielder and high quality. Drought tolerant moderately resistant to red rot.
Co G (Sc)5 High yielder suitable for jaggary making and tannery effluent soils
Co C (Sc)22 High yielder and high quality drought tolerant moderately resistant to red rot.
CoC (SC) 23 High yielder and high quality, moderately resistant to red rot.
CoC (SC) 24 High yielder and high quality, drought and saline tolerant and moderately
resistant to red rot.
TNAU SC Si7 High yielder and high quality, drought and saline tolerant and moderately
resistant to red rot.
TNAU SC Si 8 High yielder and high quality, Tolerant to drought, water logging conditions
and problem soils. Moderately resistant to red rot. Suitable for mechanized cultivation.

FIBRE CROPS
Plants grown for their fibre yield. There are different kinds of fibre
1. Seed fibre 2. Stem and Leaf fibre
Seed fibre
1. Cotton
a) Gossypium arboreum (Karunkanni cotton)
b) G. herbaceum (Uppan cotton)
c) G. barbadense (Egyptian cotton or Sea-Island cotton)
d) G. hirsutum (American cotton/ Cambodian cotton)
Stem fibre
1. Jute : Corchorus olitorius, C. capsularis
2. Deccan hemp / Brown hemp : Hibiscus cannabinus
3. Mesta / Deccan hemp or Brown hemp : Hibiscus sabdariffa
4. Sunn hemp : Crotalaria juncea

Leaf fibre
1. Sisal hemp : Agave spp.
COTTON - Desicotton - Gossypium arboreum (Karunganni), Gossypium herbaceum (uppam)
Exotic - Gossypium hirsutum (Cambodia), G. barbadence (Egyptian cotton)
Varieties / Parentage Season Irrigated / Seed yield Special features
Hybrids Rainfed of (kg/ha)
MCU 5 Multiple cross Aug-Jan Irrigated 1850 Extra long staple (29mm MHL)70 s ginning 34%
MCU 7 X ray irradiation of x L 1143 EE Jan-Feb to Irrigated 1330 Medium staple of (23.7 mm MHL) 40s early
May -June (Rice fallow) maturing with33.2% ginning out turn. Tolerant to
(Summer) Black arm.
MUC 9 MCU 8 x MCU5 Hybrid derivative Aug-Jan Irrigated 2100 Extra long staple 30.5 mm MHL 70 s. ginning out
(Winter) turn (34.9%).
MCU 10 Gamma irradiation of Sep -Oct to Rainfed 750 Medium staple, 25 mm MHL 40s, resistant to
MCU 4 Jan-Feb bacterial blight, field tolerant to rhizoctonia and
alternaria. High ginning outturn of 37%,
MCU 11 MCU5 x Egyptian hirsutum Aug-Sept. Irrigated 2200 Early, increasing ginning out turn 3.2% over MCU 5
Hybrid derivate increased seed cotton yield. Extra long stable.
LRA 5166 Laxmi x Reba B.50x AC 122 Sep-Oct to Rainfed 725 Medium staple(29 mm), 40s, ginning 36.2 %
Jan-Feb
MCU 5 VT Reselection from MCU 5 Aug-Oct Irrigated 2000 Extra long staple, Verticillium wilt tolerant
Jan –Feb
Supriya MCU 5 x C 1998 Aug-Oct Irrigated 2000 White fly tolerant
Jan-Feb
Anjali LRA 5166 x (Khandwa 2 x Reba B Jan –Feb Irrigated 1800 Dwarf, semi compact plant type
50) BC 2 (Rice fallows)
Surabhi) MCU 5 VT (MCU 5 x Aug-Oct Irrigated 2200 Exta long staple, Verticillium wilt resistant
G.mexicanum)
Sumangala CW 134 x Reba B Sept-Oct Irrigated 2000 Suitable for rainfed tract
50 x Khandwa 2 Jan –Feb Rainfed 1200
Sruthi 70 E x RSP 4 Sept-Oct Irrigated 2500 Early duration
Jan –Feb
K9 H4 x 0896 hybrid derivative Sep-Oct Rainfed 570 Medium staple (25 mm MHL) rainfed Karunganni,
to Jan-Feb 36.8% ginning out turn.
K10 K9 x 11875 hybrid derivative Sep-Oct to Rainfed 726 Early (140 days) medium staple, 23.8 mm MHL rainfed
Jan-Feb Karunganni, 38% ginning out turn.
KC2 MCU 10 x KC1 Sep to Oct Rainfed 772 Early 140-150 days medium staple 24.4 mm 38 %
 ginning out warm. 40S moderate resistant to Jassid.
K11 (K9 x 11876)x (K9 x 11450) Oct-Mar Rainfed 1100 Better fibre properties with lessor pest incidence than
Multiple Hybrid derivative K10
Suvin Hybrid derivative from the cross Aug-Feb Irrigated 1020 Extra long staple 32-mm MHL cotton with 28% ginning
Sujatha X St. Vincent out turn and spins 100 S.
Jayalaxmi Inter-specific hybrid of DS 28 G Aug-Feb Irrigated 2880 High yield hybrid with 36.5 ginning out turn with 32.3
hirsutum x SB425 (VF) G. mm fibre length, tolerant to red leaf blight and black
barbadense arm, earlier by 10 days than Varalaxmi.
TCHB213 Interspecific hybrid of TCH 1218 Aug-Feb Irrigated 2215 High yielding, early maturing. Tolerant to leaf spot
(G. hirsutum) and TCB 209 diseases.
(G.barbadense)
SVPR 1 MCU 7 x AC129/2 Feb-July Summer 15-16 Q. Suited for summer irrigated and tank fed rice fallows of
Irrigated Of Kapas Kamarajar, Madurai, and Nellai Districts. A medium
/ ha staples cotton superior to MCU 7 yielding of 150-180
Kg/ha, maturing in 135 days.
Paiyur 1 MCU10 x SRT 1 Sep- Oct Winter 1173 Resistant to bacterial blight and Alternate leaf spot.
Rainfed kg/ha
Suitable for late sowing in winter rainfed tracts of
Dharmapuri, Salem, Madurai and Dindigul Anna
Districts. 145-150 days duration.
Savitha T7 x M12 Aug-Feb Irrigated 1800 It is an intra hirsutum hybrid suited to winter irrigated
(Intra hirsutum hybrid) tract of Tamil Nadu Coimbatore, Paiyur, Salem
Dharmapuri, Madurai and Dindigul Anna Districts). It
has a ginning out turn of 34% and fibre length of 30mm
and can spin 60’s count.
HB224 It is an inter specific hybrid Aug-Feb Irrigated 2000 It is an interspecific hybrid cotton involving
involving G.hirsutum x G.hirusutum x G. barbadense species. It is suited to
G.barbadense species winter irrigated tract of Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore,
Periyar, Salem, Dharmapuri and Dindigul-Anna
districts). It has a ginning out turn of 31.2% and fibre
length of 32.4 mm and can spin 80's count.
ADT 1 It is a selection from Jan-Feb Irrigated 1263 It is a short duration variety with 125 days duration and
Tomcot37 H it is suited to rice fallow tract of Tamil Nadu
(Thanjavur), Naga pattinam, parts of Trichy and South
 Arcot districts. It has given 15% higher yield than MCU
7 and it is 10 days earlier than MCU7. It is a medium
staple variety and can spin 30's count.
SVPR 2 TSDT 22 x JR 36 Feb -March Summer 1658 Ginning out turn 36.4, medium staple (25 mm) spin 40S
Irrigated suited to summer irrigated tract, rice fallow tract on
Tamil Nadu.
MCU 12 LRA 5166 x MCU 11 Aug -Feb Winter 1574 High yielding medium duration spinnability to 60 S.
irrigated
SVPR 3 Selection from L.H Jan-Feb Rice 1800 Suitable for rice fallow tract.early duration (135-140
900 x 1301 D.D fallows days). Tolerant to drought, leafhopper, alternaria spot,
black arm disease.
MCU 13 It is a multiple cross Aug- Oct Irrigated 2200 Early duration Can spun upto 50s
derivative involving the parents of Jan-Feb
[(TCH 665 x LS 149) x (TCH 665
x TCH 21)] x (TCH 21 x EECH) x
(TCH 92-7 x EECH)
GREEN MANURE
Growing of a crop purposely and incorporation in the soil for manuring is called green
manuring. Collecting green leaves from all available sources and using for manures is called
green leaf manuring.
Beneficial effects of green manuring are as follow:
 Leguminous green manure crops fix atmospheric N, which enriches the soil. Green
manures ploughed into the soil may add 20-40 kg N/ha besides 5-20 kg excreted by
the roots. Clovers and Lucerne may add upto 70-110 kg/ha.
 When the green manure is ploughed at flowering stage, it decomposes easily without
leaving much residue in the soil. If the green manure is allowed to mature and is
ploughed in, it decomposes slowly and some humus is added to the soil.
 The green manure added to the soil promotes the activity of soil microbes. Carbon
dioxide is liberated, chemical reactions are speeded up and more plant nutrient is
made available. Organic acids produced during decomposition of green manure helps
to release phosphorus and make them available for the use of next crop.
 The green manures also improve the structure of the soil.
 The green manure crop withdraws the plant nutrients from the lower layers and
concentrates them in the surface soil for use of succeeding crops
 Green manure also improve physical properties of soil by improving soil aeration
nutrient and water holding capacity.

Nitrogen content (%) and N accumulation (Kg/ha)

Green manure N content (% on dry wt. basis) N added (Kg/ha)
Crotolaria juncea 2.80-3.15 80-130
Sesbania aculeate 2.55-3.21 130-185
Sesbania rostrata 3.20-3.37 170-220
Sesbania speciosa 2.29-3.10 115-160
Phaseolus trilobus 2.16-2.77 85-125
Tephrosia purpurea 2.90-3.22 70-115

Green leaf manure N content (% on dry wt. basis)

Pongamia glabra (Pinnata) 1.30-1.54
Azadirachta indica 0.97-1.15
Cassia florida 1.40-1.60
Glyricidia maculate 2.25-2.75
Albizzia lebbek 1.12-1.35
Calotropis gigantea 1.35-1.49
Leucaena lucocephala 3.50-3.70

Biomass estimation of green manures

Biomass estimation in green manure is done by harvesting the fresh biomass at
the time of incorporation from a known marked area and weighing them and expressed as
tonnes of fresh biomass per hectare. The same is also expressed as dry weight (t/ha). The N
content in the green manure is estimated and expressed as per cent of N on dry or fresh
weight basis for working out the contributing of N through them. In the absence of a balance,
compute on the basis of head load (one head weight is about 20 kg).
Seed rate and biomass yield of the common green manures are as follow
Green manure Seed rate (kg/ha) Biomass (t/ha)
Sesbania aculeate 20 10-20
S. speciosa 15 8-15
S. rostrata 20 15-20
Tephrosia trilobus 15-20 10-15
Phaseolus trilobus 10-15 8-10
Crotolaria juncea 25 15-20
Forage crops
India has the largest bovine population amounting to nearly 15% of the total world's
livestock. Besides, there is an animal population by 16-22 per cent every decade. They are of
two types: viz., grasses and legumes. Forage crops are also called as fodder crops.
A. Grasses
No Common name Botanical name
1. Napier grass / Elephant grass : Pennisetum purpureum
2. Para grass / Water grass : Brachiaria mutica
3. Guinea grass : Panicum maximum
4. Rhodes grass : Chloris gayana
5. Bermuda grass : Cynodon dactylon
6. Sudan grass : Sorghum sudanense
7. Australian grass : Panicum antidotale
8. Hybrid NB 21 : Hybrid between Napier x Bajra
B. Legume fodder crops
1. Lucerne / Alfalfa : Medicago sativa
2. Egyptian clover / Berseem : Trifolium alexandrinum
3. Indian clover : Melilotus parviflora
4. Siratro : Macroptilum atropurpureum
5. Stylos : Stylosanthes hemata
6. Subabool : Leuceana leucocephala
7. Velvet bean : Mucuna cochinchinensis
Tree resources for forages
Common name Botanical name Crude Protein (% in leaves)
Siris Albizia lebbeck 16.8
Neem Azadirachta indica 14.5
Shisam Dalbergia sissoo 12.3
Subabul Leucaenaleucocephala 21.8
Agathi Sesbania grandiflora 33.5
Seemai karuvel Prosopis juliflora 21.5

NARCOTICS – Stimulates Nervous System

Tobacco - Leaf including leaf sheath is the economic portion

i) Tobacco - Nicotiana tabaccum
- N. rustica (Turkeys or East Indian tobacco)
Betel vine - Leaf is the economic portion
 ii) Betelvine(Betel piper) - Piper betle
iii) Arecanut (Betel nut) - Areca catechu

TOBACCO - Nicotiana tabacum Family - Solanaceae

Sl Duration Yield
Types Varieties & Hybrids Area of Cultivation
No days kg/ha
1 Cigar Vellaivazhai (VV-2) Dindigul&Vedasanthur 80-90 2100
Karuvazhai (KV-1) Dindigul&Vedasanthur, 90-100 2400
Krishna Many land Trichy 100-110 2500
( Hybrid)
2 Country Oosikaappal (I-737) Erode, Kurichi 85-90 1600
Cheroot Hybrid Namakkal and Salem.
Bhavani
Special 1-737 x olor Edapadi, Sankagiri, 90-100 2000
10
Oosikaappal (OK-I) Salem, Namakkal 90-100 2000
Sendarapatty Spl.
OK-1 Sendarapatty 90-100 2500
(Hybrid) &Gangavalli
3 Chewing Type
Sun cured Monnai (I-64) Madurai, Chenggalput, 110-120 3000
Trichy, Erode
Bhagyalakshmi Madurai, Chenggalput, 115-125 3500
I-64 x 1-375 Trichy, Erode.
Vazhaikappal Coimbatore, 100-110 2600
(I-115) Meemampalayam
Karamadai, Avanasi,
Mettupalayam
Vadamuugam (VD-1) 110-120 2500
Vattakappal (VTK- Erode 120-130 2800
1) (Avanasi, Gobi)
Vedaranyam (VR-2) Vedaranyam & 110-120 2500
Chidambaram
Smoke cured Periya vadamugam Madurai, Chengai, 110-120 3200
(PV-7) Erode, Coimbatore
Hybrid Coimbatore 120-125 3000
Thangam (PV-7 x 1-
64) Maragatham 100-105 3200
N-7x I-115
Pit cured Vattakkappal Coimbatore 110-120 2800
(VTK-1) (Palladam,
Vadamugam (VD-1) Sultanpettai) 110-120 2500
Hybrid Coimbatore
Vairam (I-64 x V (Palladam, 110-120 3500
7KI) Sultanpettai)
Ex. No.2: Nursery preparation and Management for Sugarcane and Tobacco
Date:
Sugarcane is vegetatively propagated for commercial cultivation. Different kinds of
planting materials viz., cane setts, settlings and bud chips are used for raising sugarcane crop.
 Cane Setts
Stem cuttings or sections of the stalks are called "setts" or seed pieces. Each sett
contains one or more buds. Always use fresh, genetically pure, pest and disease free setts as
seed material. Generally, two buded setts are used for planting in Tamil Nadu.
Settlings
Cane setts with roots and shoots are known as settlings. Settlings can be raised either
in nursery beds or in polythene bags. Single node settlings are used as a planting material in
spaced transplanting technique of raising sugarcane crop.
Raising of Seed Cane Crop

 Select an upland field for raising seed crop with no soil problems (soil salinity,
acidity, water logging etc) and adequate irrigation facility
 Prepare the soil thoroughly and incorporate 20-25 tons / ha of FYM 15 days before
planting
 Provide field channels and field drains to prevent rain water traversing from adjoining
field to check spread of red rot disease
 Select seed material from previously raised seed nursery crop and prepare the setts.
Use only sterilized setts to avoid transmission of certain diseases like Red rot diseases
and Grassy Shoot Disease
 Give heat treatment (heat therapy) to eliminate seed borne diseases and
organomercurial treatment to protect the setts from soil borne diseases to ensure better
germination
 Adopt narrow spacing of 75 cm to obtain higher yield of setts per unit area
 Use 25% higher seed rate than normal cane crop
 Apply higher nutrient dose of 250 kg N + 75 kg P2O5 + 125 kg K2O/ha
 Irrigate the crop at optimum levels to avoid any water stress during crop life taking in
to account evaporative demand of the atmosphere (ET o) and Crop characteristics (Kc)
at different crop growth stages
 Provide weed free environment for better growth of the crop and also to avoid
infestation of pests and diseases
 Adopt field inspection for timely control of pests and diseases
 Rouge out the affected clumps and plants of other varieties
 Protect the crop from lodging, binding and propping
 Crop is ready in 7 - 8 months. Setts obtained from such crop contain healthy and
sound buds, higher moisture content, adequate nutrients, higher amounts of reducing
sugars, therefore, establish quickly and grow vigorously thus ensuring a good
commercial main field crop.

Ideal Seed Cane

 Always use seed cane obtained from a seed crop of 7-8 months
 Free from disease and pest infestation like red rot, wilt, smut, ratoon stunting disease
etc
 Possesses healthy buds without any damage in handling and transport.
 Buds with higher moisture content, adequate nutrients, higher amount of reducing
sugars and viability.
  Free from aerial roots and splits.

Preparation of Setts

 Harvest the seed crop one day before planting to obtain higher percentage and
uniform germination.
 Prepare the setts always one day before planting by giving sett treatment.
 Planting material or seed cane should be free from aerial roots and splits.
 Avoid damage to buds while cutting setts.
 Change the seed material after every two to three seasons. In case if it is inevitable to
use mature cane as seed, the top one-third portion can be used satisfactorily.
 Pure in quality.
Seed rates & spacing
• Nearly 10-12 tonnes of seed cane are required to plant one ha of field. However, it is
better always to go by number of setts per ha rather than weight basis.
• In TN
– 50,000 three budded setts
– 75,000 two budded setts
• Row spacing may vary
– 0.9m to 1.2m and 2.4m
Measures to obtain higher germination
Some important simple measures to obtain higher uniform plant population are as follows: 

 Using quality setts as seed material obtained from a short seed crop devoid of any
primary infection
 Using preferably two eye bud setts instead of three bud setts as seed material
 Careful preparation of setts without damaging the buds or setts
 Using sterilized knives for preparing setts to avoid transmission of root stunting and
grassy shoot diseases
 Planting freshly prepared and treated setts
 Giving adequate and frequent irrigation's during germination phase
 Control of weeds through pre-emergence herbicides
 Seed treatment with fungicide and pesticides

Transplanting Technique
Seedlings are raised in a nursery bed using single bud setts. When the seedlings are of
about 6 weeks old, they are transplanted in the prepared main field.
Advantages

 Saving in seed cost as the seed requirement is only about 2-3 tons/ha against the
normal seed requirement of 10-12 tons/ha.
 Synchronous tillering leading to uniform growth and maturity of stalk population,
which usually gives better yield and sugar recovery.
 Sufficient time for main field preparation
 Saving in water and fertilizer
 Better weed management
Planting Time
Seasons
 There are four main seasons in TN
o Early – Dec-Jan
 o Mid-season – Feb-Mar
o Late – Apr – may
o Special season – June-July
 All India
o Spring – Feb-Mar
 Suru in Maharastra, Eksali in Gujarat & AP
o Autumn – Sep-Oct-
 13-15 months, supplies sugar for early crushing
o Adsali – July - Aug
 16-18 months
 Increase in yield & sugar recovery
 Though it is advantageous area is declining due to water problem
o Late planting – beyond March, reduction in duration and yield

Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI)

Raising nursery using single budded chips
In the conventional method, 2-3 budded sugarcane setts are used for planting. In SSI,
single budded chips, carefully removed from healthy canes are used for raising nursery. The
selected buds are placed in trays filled with coco-pith (coconut coir waste) to raise the
seedlings. By raising nursery, high percentage of germination can be achieved within a week
depending on the agro climatic conditions.

1. Bud selection
In SSI method, single budded chips from the healthy mother canes are used for raising
nursery. The procedure given below has to be followed for the selection of healthy buds.
 Select healthy canes of 7 to 9 months old which have good internode length (7 to 8
inches) and girth.
 Observe and avoid canes with disease infestation like fungus growth, spots etc.
 Cut the required quantity of canes (refer table 2). Farmers who are unable to go for
immediate chipping of buds may keep the cut canes for about a week under shade.
 Remove buds from the selected canes using an implement called Bud Chipper (as
shown in the picture). The Bud Chipper comprises a handle and a cutting blade fixed
on a wooden plank.
 Keep the cane on the plank and adjust it in such a way that a single bud is placed
exactly below the cutting blade. When the handle is pressed, single bud chip comes
off the cane.
 Large number of buds (about 150/hr) can easily be chipped off in this way in a short
period of time.
 Next, the chipped buds have to be treated with organic or chemical solutions.

Details of canes required for 1 acre

Age of the cane No. of potential buds per cane No. of canes required

7 - 9 months 10-12 450-500

2. Treatment
It is important to treat the buds with various organic or chemical solutions before
planting to avoid infestation. The bud treatment has to be done in the following way:
 Take a tub preferably made of plastic or aluminium
 Pour 10 litres of water in the tub and dissolve the chemical or organic components.
  Put the bud chips in a gunny bag and immerse the bag in the prepared solution for 10-
15 minutes.
 After treatment, the bud chips have to be dried for 2 -3 hours under shade and then
used for nursery planting.

Treatment solutions for buds (1 acre)

Chemical Organic

Malathion – 20 ml Trichoderma or Pseudomonas – 500 g

Carbendazim – 5 g Cow urine – 1 to 2 litres

Lime – 100 g
3. Nursery
Young seedlings are raised in the nursery. It is better to establish a shade net shed for
the purpose of nursery management. It is a fully covered structure meant to provide shade and
create other favourable conditions like warm and wind free environment.
 For raising the nursery, take-well decomposed coco-pith. Fill half of each cone in the
tray with coco-pith.
 Place the buds flat or in a slightly slanting position in the cones of a tray. Do not press
or push it hard. Ensure that the bud side faces up
 Cover the bud chips in trays completely with coco-pith.
 After filling all the trays, place them one above the other and finally keep an empty
tray upside down at the top. About 100 trays (4 sets, each consisting of 25 trays) are
to be placed together and wrapped tightly with polythene sheets. Place small weights
on the bundles and keep it for 5 to 8 days in the same position to create high
temperature and humidity.
 Take measures to control termites around the trays by drenching the soil with
Chlorpyriphos 50 EC (5ml/l) and ensure that there are no weeds in and around the
nursery area.
 Care should be taken to avoid water, air or sunlight entering into the trays by tightly
covering and keeping the bundles in shade net or preferably inside a room. Create
artificial warmth through electric bulbs if the climate is too cold. This is the most
crucial phase of the nursery management. Under proper conditions (especially, warm
temperature) within 3 – 5 days, white roots (primodia) will come out and shoots will
also appear in next 2 to 3 days.
 Either on the 5th or 8th day (based on the climatic conditions), all the trays with
sprouted buds are to be removed from the polythene sheet and kept side by side in
beds on the ground to facilitate watering and other nursery management practices.
 Based on the moisture content of coco-pith, watering to the trays (seedlings) has to be
initiated in the evenings for the next 15 days using rose cans. Shoots will start
growing strong and leaves will start sprouting. After appearance of two leaves,
application of water can be increased gradually depending on moisture level in trays.
 During six leaf stage (about 20 days old seedling), grading of the plants has to be
done. Stop giving water for a day to loosen the coco-pith in the trays, this enables
easy lifting up of the young seedlings.
 Plants of similar age (height) can be lifted up and placed in one tray. This way
grading of plants according to their height is achieved and damaged or dead plants can
be removed.

Tobacco - Nursery
 The best time of sowing in Tamil Nadu is from 15th August to September end.
 Nursery area should be very close to the water source. There should be ample drainage
and protection from heavy wind the area should be free from nematode infestation. Red
sandy loam soils are preferred for tobacco nurseries.
 The nursery area required for one hectare of main field is 25 m 2. Prepare beds with 2.5 m
long, 1.00 m wide and 15 cm high. This keeps away damping off and leaf blight.
 After preparation of the bed, burning of paddy husk at 15 kg/2.5 m 2 bed or burning of
farm waste such as tobacco stalks, bajra or jowar straw should be done to ensure
destruction of pathogens, nematodes, pupae and egg masses of insects and weed seeds to
a depth of 5-10 cm).
 Seeds should be sown evenly to avoid over crowing of seedlings, which will prevent
damping off. Seed rate 1.0 to 1.25 g/ 2.5 m2 beds.
 Basal fertilizer application of 10:50:16 NPK kg/ha .
 After sowing, the beds should be covered with coconut fibre / dried trash at 750g/2.5 m 2
to protect the germinating seeds from beating rain and scorching sun and also to conserve
moisture. The covering should be removed in phased manner from 15 th to 25th day of
sowing.
 Watering the bed 5 to 8 times per day with rose can ensures uniform germination of the
seeds. It is imperative that the seedbeds are neither allowed to dry or retain excess
moisture.
 Seedlings will be ready by 6-8 weeks and at the end of nursery period, the left over
seedlings should be pulled and ploughed immediately.
Ex. No.3 Acquiring skill in field preparation, sowing and manuring of crops
Date: under pure and intercropping situations

Field Preparation, Sowing and Nutrient Management for Cotton

IRRIGATED COTTON
Preparation of the field
Prepare the field to get a fine tilth.
Chiseling for soils with hard pan
Chisel the soils having hard pan formation at shallow depths with chisel plough at 0.5 m
interval, first in one direction and then in the direction perpendicular to the previous one,
once in three years. Apply 12.5 t farm yard manure or composted coir pith / ha besides
chiselling to get an additional yield of about 30% over control.
If intercropping of green gram / Soybean is proposed, prepare the main fields, so as to
provide ridges and furrows to take up sowing 20 days prior to cotton sowing.
Application of FYM or compost
Spread 12.5 t of FYM or compost per hectare of available uniformly on the
unploughed soil and incorporate it by country ploughing.
Apply and 10 packets of Azospirillum (2000 g/ha) and 10 packets (2000 g/ha) of
Phosphobacteria or 20 packets of Azophos (4000 g/ha) mixed with 25 kg FYM and 25 kg of
soil on the seed line. This saves 25% nitrogen besides increasing yield.
Application of Micronutrient Mixture
Mix 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture formulated by the Department of Agriculture,
Tamil Nadu with enough sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg for one ha.
Nutritional Disorders’ Correction
a) In the case of Zinc deficient soils ZnSO 4 @ 50 kg/ha as basal or ZnSO4 0.5% spray
thrice at 45, 60 and 75 DAS.
b) When reddening occurs in leaves apply 5% MgSO4 + Urea (1.0%) and ZnSO 4
(0.10%) as foliar spray on 50th and 80th day to correct this deficiency. In Mg deficient
areas apply MgSo4 @ 20 kg/ha basally.
Formation of ridges and furrows
i. Form ridges and furrows 10 m long with appropriate spacing depending upon the
variety.
ii. Use ridge plough or bund former to form ridges so as to economics on cost of
cultivation.
iii. In the fields with ragi, stubbles, just dibble cottonseeds at the specified spacing.

Spacing
Varieties / Hybrids Spacing (in cm
between rows)
MCU -5, MCU -5VT, MCU-9, MCU-11, 12, 13 ,LRA 5166, SVPR -2, 75
KC -2, MCU 10 45
Suvin 90
Jayalakshmi, HB 224, TCHB 213 120
MCU-7, SVPR -1, ADT-1 60
Note: Adopt higher spacing of rows in fertile soils by 15 to 30 cm
Seed rate and Spacing
Quantity of seed (Kg /ha)
Varieties / Hybrids SPACING Seed with Delinted Naked
(cm) Fuzz seeds seeds
MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, MCU 7, 75 x 30 15.00 7.50 -
MCU 9, MCU 11, MCU 12, MCU 13
Suvin 90 x 45 - - 6.00
Jayalakshmi, HB 224 120 x 60 3.75 2.50 -
MCU 7, SVPR – 2,3 60/75 x 30 15.00 - -
TCHB 213 120 x 60 2.5 2.0
KC-2, MCU 10 45 x 15 20.00 15.00 -
Note: Even good quality seeds give a germination of only 60 percent. So adopt a higher seed
rate as above.
a. If cotton intercropped with other crops, one paired row of cotton is alternated with three
rows of intercrop and the total population of cotton crop is maintained as the same level
as in the case of pure crop.
b. For intercropping with Green gram / Soybean, complete sowing and irrigation 20 days
prior to cotton sowing on one side of the ridge.
Varieties/hybrid Spacing for cotton crop (cm)
Within Paired rows Between Paired row Between plants
MCU 5, MCU 5 VT, 60 90 30
MCU 12,MCU13
SUVIN 80 100 45
TCHB 213 100 140 60

Plant two rows of intercrop between each paired row of cotton

Intercrop Seed rate (kg/ha) Spacing (cm)
Rows Plants
Blackgram 12.5 30 10

Greengram 12.5 30 10
Cowpea 7.5 30 20
Soyabean 20.0 30 10

Sowing
i. Dibble the seeds at a depth of 3 cm in the furrows where fertilizers and insecticides are
applied, maintaining the correct spacing and then cover seeds with soil.
ii. In the case of intercropping, sow the seeds of the intercrop in between the paired rows of
cotton in a row of 5 cm apart and cover the seeds.
iii. Sow the required number of seeds in each hole.

No. of seeds per hole

Varieties / Hybrids Fuzzy seeds Delinted seeds
Jayalakshmi, TCHB 213 2 1
All other Varieties / hybrids 3 2
Application of Fertilizers: Apply NPK fertilizer as per soil test recommendation, if soil test
recommendations are not available follow the blanket recommendation.

Under normal culture

Quantity of fertilizers II top
(Kg / ha) dressing
Varieties / Hybrids Basal Topdressing (60-65 DAS)
(40-45 DAS)
N P K N P K N P K
MCU 7, SVPR entries 30 30 30 30 - - - - -
MCU5, MCU5VT, MCU9, 40 40 40 40 - - - - -
SUVIN, MCU11, MCU 12.
Jayalakshmi, HB224, TCHB 213 40 60 60 40 - - 40 - -

ii. Application of Azospirillum to seed (600 gm) and soil 2 kg (25 kg FYM + 25 kg soil) saves
25% N requirement. Hence apply 45 to 90 kg N/ha depending on the variety / hybrid.

Top dressing of ' N ' fertilizer:

i. Top dress 50 % of the recommended dose of N on 40-45 th day of sowing for cotton
varieties.
ii. Top dress 1/3rd of recommended dose of N on 40-45th and 60-65th day sowing for hybrids.
iii. Foliar application of 2% DAP + 1% KCl will improve kapas yield.
iv. Apply the fertilizers in a band, two-thirds of the distance from the top of the ridge, and
incorporate.
v. In the case of cotton dibbled in the ragi stubbles, top dress 20 kg ' N ' per ha on 40-45 th
day of sowing.
vi. In the case of hybrid cotton dibbled in the ragi stubble, top dress 30 kg of N/ha on 40-45 th
& 60-65th days of sowing.

RICE FALLOW COTTON

Preparation of the field

i. If the soil is in waxy condition, instead of zero tillage, the seed rows may be tilled and the
seed can be dibbled.
ii. If the soil is dry and not in condition to take up sowing, let in water and then allow the
soil to dry till soil comes to waxy condition.
iii. At the lower level of the field dig a trench 15-cm wide and connect this trench to the
outside channel to drain off the excess water.

Sowing the seeds

Sl. Variety
Particulars
No MCU 7 LRA 5166 ADT 1
a. Seed rate (kg/ha)
 i. Fuzzy seed 15.0 25 18
ii. Acid delinted 7.5 15 9
Spacing (cm)
b. i. Between rows 60 45 60
ii. Between plants 30 15 30
Number of seeds per hole
c. i. Fuzzy seeds 4 4 4
ii. Acid delinted 2 2 2
d. Depth of sowing (cm) 3 3 3
Application of fertilizers:
Old delta New delta
a. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test a. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test
recommendation. If soil test is not recommendations and if not done,
available follow the blanket follow the blanket recommendation of
recommendation of 60:30:30 kg NPK/ 60:30:30 kg NPK/ha.
ha.
b. Apply half the dose of N and full dose of b. Apply one-third the dose of N and full
P2O5 and K2O on the 30- 35th day of dose of P2O5 and K2O on the 20th day of
sowing along the rows of cotton plants. sowing.
c. Apply the remaining N on 50-55th day of c. Apply the fertilizer mixture in band
sowing. along the row and then cover with soil.
d. Apply the remaining 2/3 of N on 40th
day of sowing in bands.
Application of micro nutrients
Apply basally 12.5 kg /ha micronutrients mixture prepared by department of Agriculture.
In case of zinc deficient soils apply zinc sulphate @ 15 kg ha-1 is recommended.
Formation of ridges
Old Delta New Delta
1 If soil is in condition give a hoeing with 1 Give hoeing with mummatti and form
mummatti & forms ridges & incorporate ridges and incorporates the fertilizer in
the fertilizer in the soil around the plants the soil around the plant on the 40th day of
th
between 30 to 35 day of sowing. day of sowing.
2 If soil is not in condition give one hoeing 2 If soil is not in condition give one hoeing
and weeding and cover the fertilizers. and weeding and cover the fertilizer.
3 If ridges & furrows are not formed at the 3 From long ridges of furrows on alternate
time of first application of fertilizer form rows of plants to adopt skip furrow
them at next time. irrigation in subsequent application.
4 Form long ridges and furrows from one
end of the field to the other end without
form any separate channel for carrying
water to prevent excessive socking of
water. Form furrows on alternate rows of
plants to adopt skip furrow irrigation to
prevent excess irrigation water.
RAIN FED COTTON
Preparation of the field
 i. Start preparation of the land immediately after harvest of the previous crop.
ii. Adopt permanent broad ridges system.
Application of FYM or Compost:
i. Spread 12.5 t of FYM or Composted coir pith per hectare uniformly on the unploughed
soil and incorporation by ploughing. Apply 10 packets (2000 g/ha) of Azospirillum
inoculum plus 25 kg FYM plus 25 kg soil.
ii. Incorporate the manure in the soil by working the multipurpose implement or country
plough.
Application of inorganic fertilizers:
i. Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation as far as possible
ii. If soil tests are not done, follow the blanket recommendations for the different varieties.
Varieties / Hybrids Quantity of fertilizers in kg/ha
N P2O5 K2O
K9,K10, K11 20 0 0
MCU 10, SVPR 2 , KC 2 40 20 40
Paiyur 1 40 20 40
Application of micro nutrient mixture:
i. Mix 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixed formulated by the Department of Agriculture, Tamil
Nadu with enough sand to make a total quantity of 50 kg.
ii. Apply uniformly over the furrows after sowing and cover the seeds.
iii. Do not incorporate in the soil.

Seeds and Sowing

Adopt the following seed rates for different varieties / hybrids.
Quantity of seeds (Kg/ ha)
Varieties Delinted
Fuzzy seeds
seeds
K9, K10, K11. 20 -
MCU 10, LRA 5166, Paiyur -1 SVPR 2 20 15

Note: Delint only MCU 10, LRA 5166, and Paiyur 1 seeds. Do not delint seeds of
K9 and K10.
In the case of mixed crop of cotton, maintaining the same seed rates as that of pure crop
and adopt the following seed rate for the pulse crop.
Black gram / Green gram 10 kg/ha
Cowpea 7.5 kg /ha.
Spacing
i. In the case of pure crop of varieties / hybrids, a spacing of 45 cm between rows and 15
cm between plants may be adopted.
ii. In the case of cotton, intercropped with pulses, one paired row of cotton is alternated with
two rows of pulses and the total population of cotton crop in maintained at the same line
as that for a pure crop of cotton.

Spacing of cotton crop in cm

 Varieties /hybrids Within paired Between paired Between
row rows plants
K9, K10, K11,
30 60 15
LRA 5166, Paiyur 1
iii. Adopt a spacing of 30 x 10 cm for the pulse crop in between each paired row of cotton.
APK 1 Black gram is best suited for this situation.
Sowing
i. Use the multipurpose farming implement to sow the seeds and to apply basal fertilizer
simultaneously.
ii. Fill the hopper in the implement with the fertilizer mixtures and work the implement.
iii. Engage 3 persons for dropping the seeds, 2 for cotton and one for pulses.
iv. In one operation, placement of fertilizer, sowing of seeds and covering will be completed.
Note:
Cotton and pulses can be sown at a depth of 5 cm in black cotton soil even before the onset
of monsoon rains in dry bed sowing. When light rains are received the moisture will not
penetrate deeper and the seeds will not germinate and die away, only when good rains are
received, the moisture level is sufficient to penetrate to the level of the seed and facilitates
germination and proper establishment.

FIELD PREPARATION, PLANTING AND MANURING FOR SUGARCANE

a) Wetland (Heavy soils)

In wetlands, preparatory cultivation by ploughing the land and bringing the soil to fine tilth
could not be done.
1. After harvest of the paddy crop, form irrigation and drainage channels of 40 cm depth
and 30cm width at intervals of 6 m across the field and along the field borders.
2. Form ridges and furrows with a spacing of 90 cm between rows with spade.
3. Stir the furrows with hand hoes and allow the soil to weather for 4 to 5 days.

b) Problem soils with excessive soil moisture

In problem soils, with excessive moisture where it is difficult to drain water, form raised
beds at 30 cm intervals with Length - 5 m, Width - 90 cm, and Height -15 cm.

c) Garden lands with medium and light soils

In medium and light soil irrigated by flow or lift irrigation adopt the following:
1. The initial ploughing with two disc plough followed by eight disc plough and using
cultivator for deep ploughing followed by one time operation of rotavator to pulverize the
soil to get a fine tilth, free of weeds and stubbles.
2. Level the field with laser leveller for effective and proper irrigation management.
3. Open ridges and furrows with tractor operated victory plough with a depth of 30cm and
spacing of 90 cm between the rows for normal planting with furrow irrigation.
4. Open irrigation channels at 10 m intervals.

BASAL APPLICATION OF ORGANIC MANURES:

 Apply FYM at 12.5 t/ha or compost 25 t/ha or filter pressmud at 37.5 t/ha before the last
ploughing under garden land conditions. In wetlands this may be applied along the furrows and
incorporated well.
Sett preparation
Take seed material from a short crop (6 to 8 months nursery crop) free from borers,
scales, mealy bugs, grassy shoot and smut and resistant to red rot disease.
1) Detrash the same with hand
2) Use short knife to prepare setts without splits.
3) Discard setts with damaged buds, sprouted buds, splits etc.
Sett Treatment
Select healthy setts for planting.
 The setts should be soaked in 100 litres of water dissolved with 50g Carbendazim, 200ml
Malathion and 1 kg urea for 15 minutes.
 Treat setts with Aerated steam at 50°C for one hour to control primary infection of grassy
shoot disease.

Ethereal or Lime Treatment:

Soak setts in 200 ppm ethereal or lime solution 20% (80 kg kiln lime in 400 litres of H 2O)
for one hour and plant in deep furrows of 30 cm depth to alleviate moisture stress during
drought.
Adopting the seed rate:
75, 000 two-budded or 50,000 three-budded setts / ha.
PLANTING
Different systems of planting are not found to influence the millable cane population,
commercial cane sugar per cent, cane and sugar yield.
 Irrigate the furrows to form slurry in wet land condition (Heavy soil)
 Place the setts along the centre of the furrows, accommodating 12 buds/metre length.
Keep the buds in the lateral position and press gently beneath the soil in the furrow.
 Next day cover the exposed setts with soil to avoid exposure of setts to sunlight.
 d) Plant more setts near the channel or double row planting at every 10th row for gap
filling, at later stage.
 In dry/ garden land dry method of planting may be followed. First arrange the setts along
the furrows cover the setts with soil and then irrigate.
Improved technologies on cane planting systems
Mechanisation of planting
 TNAU mechanical planter is useful for cost effective planting with saving of Rs.3750 /
ha and it can cover an area of 1.5ha/day
 Reduces the human labour drudgery and seed rate up to 5 tones/ha.
 Paired row system of planting double side planting of sugarcane setts with 150 + 30 cm
spacing for Astraf 8000 series (Mechanical harvester) operated areas and 150 + 30 cm
spacing for New Holland 4000 series operated areas may be adopted with single row of
cane planting.
 Sugarcane cultivates under subsurface drip system the laterals may be placed 20cm depth
in the furrows and setts are placed 5cm above the laterals.
  For sustainable sugarcane initiative system (SSI) transplanting young chip bud seedling
raised in portray (25-35 days old) in wide spacing (5x2 feet) in the main field with drip
fertigation system.
 Daincha / Sunhemp intercropping in the wider spaced cane cultivated area for improving
soil health and reduce the weed infestation. It also reduces early shoot borer incidences
and increases cane yield.
 Plant the setts on one side of the ridge for 90 cm spacing in heavy soil to avoid sett rot
resulted better germination
 Sow rhizobium treated green manure seeds @ 10kg/ha on the opposite side of ridge with
10cm. Spacing on or before 3 days after planting.
 Incorporate the green manure crop 50-60 days after planting in between inter row of
wider spaced crop and give partial earthing up with recommended dose of N fertilizer on
90 – 100 day after planting.
 Introduction of power weeder with rotovator for weeding and earthing up with ridger to
save the cost on labour and also to reduce human drudgery.
5. FILLING UP GAPS
 Fill the gaps, if any, within 30 days after planting with sprouted setts.
 Gap filling with two budded setts/ poly bag seedlings within 15 to 20 days after planting
to maintain optimum plant stand.
 Maintain adequate moisture for 3 weeks for proper establishment of the sprouted setts.
TRASH MULCHING
Mulch the ridges uniformly with cane trash to a thickness of 10 cm within a week after
planting. It helps to tide over drought, conserves moisture, reduce weed population and minimise
shoot borer incidence. Mulch the field with trash after 21 days of planting in heavy soil and
wetland conditions.Avoid trash mulching in areas where incidence of termites is noticed.
RAISING INTER CROPS
In areas of adequate irrigation, sow one row of soybean or black gram or green gram
along the centre of the ridge on the 3rd day of planting. Intercropping of daincha or sunhemp
along ridges and incorporation of the same on the 45th day during partial earthing up helps to
increase the soil fertility, and also the cane yield. Especially Intercropping of Co.1 Soybean gives
a yield of 800 kg/ha without any adverse effect on cane yield.
BASAL APPLICATION OF PERTILIZER
If soil test is not done, follow blanket recommendation of NPK @ 300:100:200 kg/ha
Apply super phosphate (625 kg/ha) along the furrows and incorporate with hand hoe.

DRESSING WITH FERTILIZERS

a. Soil application
Apply 275 kg of nitrogen and 112.5 kg of K 2O/ha in three equal splits at 30, 60 and 90
days in coastal and flow irrigated belts (assured water supply areas). In the case of lift irrigation
belt, apply 225 kg of nitrogen and 112.5 kg of K 2O/ha in three equal splits at 30, 60 and 90 days
(water scarcity areas). For jaggery areas, apply 175 kg of nitrogen and 112.5 kg of K 2O/ha in
three equal splits on 30, 60 and 90 days.

NITROGEN SAVING
a. Neem Cake Blended Urea: Apply 67.5 kg of N/ha + 27.5 kg of Neem Cake at 30 days and
repeat on 60th and 90th days.
Note: Neem cake blending: Powder the required quantity of neem cake and mix it with urea
thoroughly and keep it for 24 hours. Thus, 75 kg of nitrogen/ha can be saved by this method.
b. Azospirillum: Mix 12 packets (2400 g)/ha of Azospirillum inoculant or TNAU Biofert –1
with 25 kg of FYM and 25 kg soil and apply near the clumps on 30th day of planting. Repeat the
same on 60th day with another 12 packets (2400 gm). Repeat the above on the other side of the
crop row on the 90th day (for lift irrigated belt).
c. Band placement: Open deep furrows of 15 cm depth with hand hoes and place the fertilisers
in the form of band and cover it properly.
Subsurface application: Application of 255 kg of Nitrogen in the form of urea along with
potash at 10cm depth with 15cm intervals by the side of the cane clump will result in the saving
of 20 kg N/ha without any yield reduction.

Micro nutrient fertilizers:

1. (a) Zinc deficient soils : Basal application of 37.5 kg/ha of zinc sulphate.
(b) Sugarcane crop with zinc deficiency symptoms: foliar spray of 0.5% zinc sulphate
with1% urea at 15 days internal till deficiency symptoms disappear.
2. (a) Iron deficient soils: Basal application of 100 kg/ha of ferrous sulphate.
(b) Sugarcane with Iron deficiency symptoms: foliar spray of 1% ferrous sulphate with 1%
urea at 15 days interval till deficiency symptoms disappear.
3. Soil application of CuSO4 @ 5 kg/ha in copper deficient soils. Alternatively foliar spray of
0.2% CuSO4 twice during early stage of crop growth.

Common Micronutrient mixture : To provide all micronutrients to sugarcane, 50 kg /ha of

micronutrient mixture containing 20 kg Ferrous sulphate,10 kg Manganese sulphate, 10 kg Zinc
sulphate, 5 kg of Copper sulphate, 5 kg of Borax mixed with 100 kg of well decomposed FYM,
can be recommended as soil application prior to planting. (Or) Application of TNAU MN
mixture @ 50 kg/ha as EFYM for higher cane yield.

Recommended dosage of macro and micronutrients

Macronutrients
a. Sugarcane – plant crop (meant for sugar mills)
300:100:200 kg /ha of N, P2O5 & K2O
b. Sugarcane – Ratoon crop (meant for sugar mills)
300 + 25% extra N: 100: 200 kg /ha of N, P2O5 & K2O
c. Sugarcane for jaggery manufacture (plant as well as ratoon crop)
225 : 62.5 : 112.5 kg /ha of N, P2O5 & K2O
BIOFERTILIZER FOR SUGARCANE
Azospirillum is the common bio fertilizer recommended for N nutrition which could
colonize the roots of sugarcane and fix atmospheric nitrogen to the tune of about 50 to 75 kg
nitrogen per ha per year.
Recently, another endophytic nitrogen fixing bacterium, Gluconacetobacter
diazotrophicus isolated from sugarcane can able to fix more nitrogen than Azospirillum. It
colonizes throughout the sugarcane and increases the total N content. In soil, it can also colonize
the roots and able to solubilize the phosphate, iron and Zn. It can also enhance the crop growth,
yield of sugarcane and sugar content of the juice. Since it is more efficient than Azospirillum, this
new organism was test-verified in various centres and released as new biofertilizer
Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus TNAU Biofert-I. Phosphobacteria as P solubiliser are
recommended for sugarcane crop.
Sett treatment with Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus
Before planting the sugarcane setts can be treated with ten packets (2 kg) per ha of
Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus prepared as slurry with 250 L of water.
Soil application Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus
Twelve packets (2.4 kg) per ha is recommended for soil application each at 30th, 60th
and 90th day after planting under irrigated condition.
Same method of application can be followed for Phosphobacteria.
 If basal application is not followed apply the same with 30th day, 60th day and 90th day
after planting and copiously irrigate the field.
 Biofertilizer treatment should be done just before planting.
 Immediately plant/ Irrigate after biofertilizer application
 Do not mix biofertilizer along with chemical fertilizer.
 Reduces 25% of the recommended N to reap the benefits of biofertilizer application

TOBACCO
Main field preparation
Season: Rabi planting: First fortnight of October
Ploughing: 4 to 5 ploughing followed by two harrowing are necessary to get a desired tilth
summer ploughing reduces building up of pests and diseases including nematodes.
Planting method & spacing:
Planting in ridges is better than flat bed system
i. Chewing tobacco 75x75 cm
ii. Cigar tobacco 75x50 cm
iii. Cheroot tobacco 60x45 cm
Manures and fertilizers
FYM 25 t / ha or sheep penning @ 8 to 10 thousand sheep / ha or 25 t/ha of night soil
compost & Neem Cake 250 kg / ha.

Inorganic fertilizers 100: 50:50 NPK kg/ha.

Nitrogen: 100 kg N/ha in the form of Ammonium sulphate for chewing tobacco. If water is
brackish reduce N to 75 kg/ha. Apply 50% N at 45 th day & remaining 50 % at 60th day of
planting.
Application of half of the recommended N through foliar spray of urea @ 2% solution 3
times at an interval of 10 days starting from 60 th day increases the yield from 6 to 12%. By
seedling dipping and soil application of Azospirillum about 25 % of N can be saved.

Phosphorus - Apply 100 kg of P2O5 in the form of super phosphate in conjunction with sieved
FYM or night oil compost 1:4 ratio (625 kg super + 2500 kg super phosphate & Cheroot NSC or
FYM at planting)
Potassium - Chewing type 50 kg /ha. Cigar & cheroot type 100 kg / ha. Apply potassium in
two splits 45 and 60 days after planting.
Planting - Select healthy seedlings free from pest and diseases and plant them in the cool hours
of evening.
Gap filling - 7-10 days after planting gap filling should be taken up.
Intercropping - Onion and Coriander are the most suitable intercrops for Tobacco.

Green manures
The green manure seeds are broadcast over the standing rice crop, 3-5 days prior to the
harvest of rice crop when water stands in the field or when the surface has sufficient moisture for
germination. The germinating seedlings are not much affected by
trampling during rice harvest.
The summer rains are assured in some region when permit green manure sowing 3-4
months in advance. The lands are ploughed in a dry state and sown with suitable green manure
crops during summer. Whenever irrigation is possible, 2-3 irrigations are given.
Forages
Cereals
Most of the cereal crops like sorghum, pearl millet, teosinte and other grasses do not
require a fine seed bed for cultivation. The land does not require a deep and repeated cultivation.
Two to three operations by desi plough or blade harrow to 15 cm depth is enough to prepare a
tilth for the grasses. The field is essentially required to be free from weeds for good
establishment of grasses.
Lucerne
A very good tilth is required for Lucerne cultivation. This is achieved either by one
mould board ploughing followed by four to five ploughings with desi plough or by a tractor
ploughing followed by several operations with disc harrow or cultivator. The land should be
levelled and made into compartments for effective irrigation and proper drainage.
Methods of planting

Fodder sorghum Ridges and furrows

Cumbu napier hybrid Ridges and furrows
Guinea grass Ridges and furrows
Hedge Lucerne Ridges and furrows
Lucerne, Stylo Beds and channels
Leucaena Ridges and furrows
Forage Crops

Sl. Crop Seed Spacing Fertilizer Duration Yield

No. Rate (cm) NPK (days) (t/ha)
(kg/ha) (kg/ha)
1 Fodder sorghum 40 30 x 10 40:40:0 60-65 35-40
2 Fodder maize 40-60 30 x 10 80:40:0 65-70 45-50
(African tall)
3 Fodder cumbu 8-10 30 x 10 40:20:0 60-65 30-35
 (Co 8)
4 Bajra napier hybrid 40,000 50 x 50 50:50:40 75 300-350
(Co 1, Co 2, Co 3 sets
& KKM 1)
5 Guinea grass Co 1, 40,000 50 x 50 50:50:40 75 200-250
Co 2, Co3 sets
6 Lucerne Co1 15-20 20 25:120:40 60 70-80
7 Kolukattai grass 8 50 x 30 25:40:20 Perennial 20-30
Co 1- Blue buffle per year
8 Cowpea Co 5 20-25 30 x 15 20:40:0 60-65 30-35
Ex. No.4: Acquiring skill in different seed treatment techniques and
Date: foliar nutrition of crops

Seed treatment
Seed treatment is a process of application either by mixing or by coating or by soaking in
solution of chemicals or protectant (with fungicidal, insecticidal bactericidal, nematicidal or bio
pesticidal properties), nutrients, hormones or growth regulators or subjected to a process of
wetting and drying or subjected to various energies from (Radiation, heat, magnetism,
electricity) designed to reducing control or repel disease organism, insects or other pests which
attack seeds or seedlings growing there from. Seed treatment also includes control pests when
the seed is in storage and after it has been sown/planted.

SUGARCANE - Sett Treatment

 Select healthy setts for planting.

 The setts should be soaked in 100 litres of water dissolved with 125 g Carbendazim, 500 ml
Malathion and 2.5 kg urea for 15 minutes.
 Treat setts with Aerated steam at 50°C for one hour to control primary infection of grassy
shoot disease.

Azospirillum: Prepare the slurry with 10 packets (2000 g)/ha of Azospirillum inoculum with
sufficient water and soak the setts in the slurry for 10-15 minutes before planting.
Drought management
To alleviate moisture stress soaks the setts in ethrel 200 ppm or lime solution (80 kg kiln
lime in 400 lit) for one hour and plant in deep furrow of 30 cm depth.

TROPICAL SUGARBEET
• Use only pellated seeds 1,20,000 Nos /ha requires 6 pockets i.e.- 3.6 kg / ha.- One pocket
contains 20000 seeds or 600 g

COTTON
Acid -delinting of cotton seeds
i. Choose either plastic bucket or enamel containers for acid delinting of seeds.
ii. Do not use earthen wares, metal vessels, porcelain wares or wooden drum for acid
delinting as concentrated sulphuric acid will corrode them.
iii. Put the required quantity of seeds in the container and add commercial concentrated
sulphuric acid at the rate of 100 ml per kg of fuzzy seed.
iv. Stir vigorously with a wooden stick for 2 to 3 minutes till the fuzz sticking to the seeds is
completely digested and the seed coat attains a dark coffee brown colour
v. Add water to fill the container. Drain the acid water and repeat the washing 4 or 5 times
to remove any trace of acid.
vi. Remove the floating, ill-filled, damaged, diseased and insect attacked seeds while
retaining the healthy and good seeds which remain at the bottom.
vii. Drain the water completely and dry the delinted seeds in shade.

Merits of Acid delinting

 i. Eliminates some externally seed borne pathogenic organisms.
ii. Kills eggs, larvae and pupae of pink bollworm.
iii. Helps to remove immature, ill-filled cut and damaged seeds.
iv. Makes seed dressing more effective and easy.
v. Facilitates easy sowing.
Pre-treatment of acid delinted seeds with fungicides
 Treat the seeds with any one of the following fungicides: Carbendazim 2 g/kg or
Carboxin 2 g/kg or Captan 2 g/kg or Thiram 2 g/kg of seeds.or Treat the delinted seeds
with talc formulation of Trichoderma viride @ 4g/kg of seed
 Treat the delinted fungicide treated seeds with 3 packets (600 g) of Azospirillum and
3 packets of phosphobacteria 600g (or) 6 packets of Azophos (1200 g) and sow
immediately.
Seed hardening
Soak the seeds in equal volume of Pungam leaf extract (1%) for 8 hours and dry back to
original moisture to increase germination and vigour.
Seed pelleting
Seeds coated with arappu leaf powder 100 gm/kg along with DAP 40 gm/kg and micro
nutrient mixture 15g/kg using 5% maida solution or gruel as adhesive (300 ml/ kg) to increase
the germination and vigour.
Seed treatment with 3 packets of Azospirillum (600 g/ha) and 3 packets (600 g/ha) of
Phosphobacteria or 6 packets of Azophos(1200 g/ha)
Seed treatment for forage crops
1. Subabul
Seeds of subabul are hard and require scarification to obtain high and uniform
germination. Scarification of seeds can be done by pounding the seeds with sand and mortor.
Acid scarification can be done by dipping the seeds in concentrated sulphuric acid for three
minutes, and washing thoroughly with tap water. The easiest method is hot water treatment.
Seeds are soaked in hot water (80°C) for 4 minutes. Boiling water is removed from flame and
kept for 4 minutes and comes down to 80°C. Alternatively, bring the water to boil (100°C) in a
vessel, take it out of flame and immediately pour it over the seeds and keep them for 3-4
minutes. Then the hot water is poured out and cool water is added to keep the seeds for overnight
before sowing.
2. Muyal masal (stylo) - Stylosanthus scabra
Stylo seeds posses hard seed coat. So acid scarification is to be done by dipping the seeds
in concentrated sulphuric acid for 3 minutes and washing thoroughly with tap water. Acid
scarified seeds are again to be pre-soaked in cold water overnight before sowing in the field.
Alternatively, seeds can also be scarified in hot water. Immerse seeds for 4 minutes in hot water
at 80°C. Scarified seeds are again to be pre-soaked in cold water for overnight.
3. Berseem - Trifolium alexandrianum
Berseem seeds are soaked for 10-12 hours in water to soften the seed coat. Soaking is
preferred in evening hours. Following soaking, seed treatment with Rhizobial culture is
recommended just before sowing.
4. Anjan grass - Cenchrus ciliaris
The seeds are normally soaked in water for about 8 hours to remove the germination
inhibitors. The seeds are fluffy and therefore broadcast after mixing with moist soil for easy and
uniform distribution. Sometimes small pellets (0.5-1.0 cm dia) are made up of cow dung, silt and
lime by inserting two thirds of seeds in each pellet. The half dried pellets are then broadcast.
5. Lucerne -Medicago sativa
The seeds are soaked in water for 6-8 hours and rubbed or scarified. Alternatively, seeds
are dipped in concentrated sulphuric acid for 10-15 minutes and followed by through and
repeated washing in water to make them acid free.
Green manures
Seed treatment for Kolinji
The seeds have waxy impermeable seed coat and hence scarification of seeds is done by
slightly pounding the seeds mixed with sand for effecting satisfactory germination. Alternatively
steeping the seeds in boiling water for 2-3 minutes is equally effective in promoting the
germination. If kolinji is sown continuously in the same field for 3-4 seasons, the seeds shed by
the crop, produce voluntary seedlings and further sowing is not necessary. The mature seeds are
dormant in the swamp rice soils and here the soil starts drying, after the harvest of rice, the
kolinji seeds germinate and the crop is in the field till the next rice is raised.
Foliar Nutrition
Sugarcane

 Zinc deficiency : Foliar spray of 0.5% zinc sulphate with 1% urea at 15 days interval till
deficiency symptoms disappear.
 Iron deficiency: Foliar spray of 1% ferrous sulphate with 1% urea at 15 days interval till
deficiency symptoms disappear
 Foliar spray of TNAU Sugarcane Booster @ 1.0, 1.5 and 2 kg/acre in 200 litres of water at
45,60 and 75 days after planting enhances cane growth and weight, internodal length, cane
yield, sugar content and offers drought tolerance.
Cotton
Foliar applications of 2% DAP + 1% KCl will improve kapas yield. TNAU PGR foliar
formulation @1.25 % concentration at square and boll formation stages along with the
recommended NPK to obtain the maximum seed cotton yield with reduced extent of leaf
reddening.
Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) spray
Spray 40 ppm NAA at 60 and 90 days after sowing on the crop to prevent early shedding
of buds and squares and to increase the yield.
NOTE: 40 mg of NAA dissolved in one litre of water will give 40 ppm.
TNAU cotton plus
Foliar spray of TNAU Cotton Plus @ 2.5 kg/acre in 200 litres of water at flowering and
at boll formation stages reduces flower and square shedding, improves boll bursting, increases
seed cotton yield and imparts drought tolerance.

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR DELAYED SOWING

KCI 1% spray, twice on 50 and 70 DAS for delayed sowing (first fortnight of March) of
summer irrigated cotton in rice-cotton cropping system for Srivilliputhur region. Spray 0.5%
urea and 1% KCl on the 45th and 65th day of sowing if sufficient moisture is available for
rainfed cotton
SEED PRODUCTION
 Apply 1% DAP as three sprays on 70th, 80th and 90th day after sowing (or)
 Spray 0.5 % Nutrigold or 3 % cowpea sprout extract at vegetative and flowering stage.
Hybrid seed production
 Spray 100 ppm boric acid or 0.5 % zinc sulphate to the male parent at 1st flowering to
improve the pollen viability and pollen production
 Spray salicylic acid @ 250 ppm at 90 days after sowing for increased seed set.
 Sprays 2% DAP for 4 times at 10 days interval for better development of crossed bolls
during boll development period.

EX. No. 5 Estimation of plant population per unit area for crops
Date:

Plant Population
Plant population refers to the number of plants per unit area. The plant population should
be optimum. Either excess (or) low plant population is not advantages. At low population the
individual plant growth and yield increases, however the yield per unit area reduces. At higher
population, competition among plants is more for growth factors, and the yield will be reduced.
Yield per plant decreases as plant population per unit area is increased. However, the yield per
unit area increases. Optimum population is good for getting higher yield.
Optimum Plant Population
Optimum plant population means number of plant population ideally required per unit
area to get maximum yield.
Spacing and Plant Population: Spacing between the row and within the plants decides the plant
stand/plant population per/unit area. Optimum plant population results in normal crop growth &
thereby yields.
One can manipulate the R/R & P/P distance but care should be taken for maintaining the
optimum plant population as per the recommendations. Cotton (irrigated) 12000 (90 – 120 x 60 –
90 cm). Dense population results in competition for nutrients, moisture & light and thereby
suppressed growth while less population results in low yield /unit area.
Yield of a crop is the result of final plant population which depends on the no. of viable
seeds, germination % and survival rates. An establishment of optimum plant population is
essential to get maximum yield. Yield/plant decreases gradually as plant population/unit are is
increased. However, the yield/unit area is increased due to efficient utilization of growth factors.
Optimum plant population depends on plant size, elasticity, foraging area, nature of the plant,
capacity to reach optimum leaf area at an early date & seed rate used.

Biological yield increases with increases in plant population up to a point and reaches a
plateau with further increases in population. Thus no additional biological yield can be obtained.
On the other hand, the economic yield increases with increases in plant population up to a point
and subsequently decreases with increase in population.

The factors affecting optimum plant population

Size of the plant: The plant canopy spread at the time of flowering has decided the spacing to be
adopted for crops. The spacing will be differed even with the varieties of the same crop, because
of difference in size of the plant.
Soil Cover: Maintain the optimum plant population so that the crop should cover the soil as
early as possible so as to intercept maximum sun light and to produce more DMP.
Foraging area: Root spread also decide, the optimum plant population per unit area
Time of sowing: Size of the plant and its growth of same crop, variety differs due to time of
sowing because of change in weather parameters. Hence optimum plant population differs
according to time of sowing.
a) Crop and variety
Cotton - (varieties) - 60 x 50 cm
Hybrid - 120 x 45 cm
Method of sowing – Broadcasting, no definite geometry unlike line sowing or transplanting.
Irrigation: The soil moisture decides the plant population per unit area. It is well known that
plant population has to be less under rainfed conditions compared to irrigated conditions. In well
distributed rainfall regions, high population can be maintained.
Fertilizer application: Under low fertility condition, higher plant population leads to nutrient
deficiency. High fertilizer application requires more population for effective utilization of the
nutrients to get higher yield.
Seed rate – The amount of seeds decides the population under broadcasting the seed rate is higher when
compound to line sowing/transplanting
SEED RATE AND SPACING OF IMPORTANT FIELD CROPS

Crops Seed rate (kg/ha) Spacing (cm)

Cotton – variety 8-10 60 x 30 or 60 x 45
Cotton – hybrid 4-5 90 x 60 or120 x 60
Jute 8-10 30 x 5
Mesta 10-15 30 x 10
Sugarbeet 3.6 50 x 20
Tobacco 10 to 15 75 x 75
75 x 50
60 x 45
Forage crops

Crop Seed Spacing (cm)

Rate (kg/ha)
Fodder sorghum 40 30x10
Fodder maize (African tall) 40-60 30x10
Fodder cumbu (CO 8) 8-10 30x10
Bajra napier hybrid (CO 1, CO 2, CO 3 & KKM 1) 40,000 sets 50x50
Guinea grass CO 1, CO 2 40,000 sets 50x50
Lucerne CO1 15-20 20
Kolukattai grass CO 1- Blue buffle 8 50x30
Cowpea CO 5 20-25 30x15
Green manure

Crop Seed Spacing

 Rate (kg/ha) (cm)
Sithagathi (Sesbania speciosa) 15 kg/ha Seed purpose 45 x 20
Dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) 20 kg/ha Seed purpose 45 x 20
Manila agathi Sesbania rostrata 7-8 kg/ha Seed purpose 45 x 20
Sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea) 20 kg/ha Seed purpose 45 x 20
Wild Indigo (Tephrosia purpurea) 10 kg/ha Seed purpose 30 x 10
Pillipesara (Phaseolus trilobus) 10 kg/ha Seed purpose 30 x 10 cm

Optimum Plant Population – Importance

 Yield of a crop depends on the final plant population.
 Establishment of optimum plant population is essential to get maximum yield
 The individual plant yield is increased, when sown at wider spacing. When sown at closer
spacing the individual plant yield is reduced due to competition. Therefore yield per plant
decreases gradually, as the plant population per unit area is increased. However the yield
per unit area is increased due to efficient utilisation of growth factors by increased plant
population
 Under rainfed conditions, population should not be so high to deplete most of the moisture
before crop matures, and not low to leave moisture unutilized
 Under conditions of sufficient soil moisture and nutrients, higher population is necessary to
utilize all growth factors.
Crop geometry (Planting pattern) : is defined as the pattern of distribution of plants over the
ground, which determines the shape of the area available to the individual plant.
Crop geometry influences crop yield through it influence on light interception, rooting
pattern and moisture extraction pattern.
Optimum plant population should be maintained in the desired geometry to minimise
competition, to make full use all the available resources, to suit different weed control practices
and cropping pattern.

Plant geometry refers to the shape of the plants while crop geometry refers to the shape of the
area available to the individual plant.

Crop geometry is altered by changing inter-row and intra-row spacing.

Spacing No. of plant No. of plants No. of plants

per m2 per ac per ha
30 x 10 cm = 300 cm2
33.3 1,33,333 3,33,333
20 x 15 cm = 300 cm2
10 x 10 cm = 100 cm2
100 4,00,000 10,00,000
20 x 5 cm = 100 cm2
15 x 15 cm = 225 cm2
44.4 2,00,000 5,00,000
22.5 x 10 cm = 225 cm2
Square planting: Square planting of plants will be more efficient in the utilisation of light, water
and nutrients available to the individual plant than in a rectangular arrangement. Inter cultivation
is also possible in both directions and helps in effective weed control.

Rectangular planting: Wider inter row spacing and closer inter row spacing is very common for
most of the crops, thus attaining rectangularity.
Calculation of plant population in line sown crop
Total area
Plant population=
Spacing
100×100 (cm 2 )
Plant population m -2=
Spacing (cm) =X
Population ha-1 = X  10,000 =Y
(or)
Area
Population per ha = -------------------- x 10,000
Spacing [m]

Broadcasted crops: A quadrat of 0.25 m2 size was placed randomly at ten spots in each field
and plant population was counted in quadrats and expressed as number of plants m-2.