Sugarcane, as the name suggests, is a fruit crop that can be enjoyed fresh. It is characterized by its high water content and sugar content, making it quite popular in the market. So, what are the planting time and methods for sugarcane? Let's find out.
Planting Time for Sugarcane
Sugarcane is mainly planted in spring, with late February to early March being the suitable planting season. Farmers need to choose sugarcane varieties according to their planting needs. Sugarcane varieties mainly include black-skinned sugarcane, while some areas in Guangdong also have yellow-skinned sugarcane.
Planting Methods for Sugarcane
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Site Selection: Choose plots with deep, fertile soil that are well-drained and not prone to drought or waterlogging.
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Land Preparation: Land preparation is generally done using mechanized methods. The soil can be crushed with a rotary cultivator to reduce clumps and minimize damage from sugarcane borers. Plow the land deeply with a high-powered tractor, reaching a depth of 35-40 cm, with furrows 20-25 cm wide.
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Application of Base Fertilizer: Apply sufficient base fertilizer, mainly organic fertilizer, combined with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote soil maturation and improve soil fertility.
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Selection of Seeds: Before planting, select disease-free, insect-free, and well-formed seed stalks with four to five healthy buds. If possible, use virus-free cultivated seed stalks to improve sugarcane yield and quality. After selecting the seed stalks, trim the leaves appropriately, remove any excessive length from the top, and soak the seeds in a disinfectant solution for seed sterilization.
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Planting Method: Dig holes for planting. Mix the fertilizer thoroughly with the bottom soil of the hole and then add farmyard manure or fine soil to a thickness of 5-6 cm. Place the seed stalks on top and cover them with a layer of fine soil 3-5 cm thick. Water the area thoroughly with either plain water or diluted fertilizer. Since the temperature is relatively low in February to March, it is necessary to cover the area with plastic film to raise the soil temperature and promote early growth of the sugarcane.
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Planting Density: The planting density is generally maintained at about 20 buds per meter to ensure that there are no fewer than 4,500 effective stems per mu.
In conclusion, with the increasing benefits of sugarcane cultivation, the planting area of sugarcane is also increasing year by year. However, it is crucial to master the planting time and methods, especially the preparatory work before planting, including site selection and seed selection. Proper preparation will make field management much easier later on.
