Stubble buds of cane harvested in the cold sprout slowly and in smaller numbers. So do not panic and plough the field straight away. Cut the stubble level with the ground, keep the soil moist, count on day 45, and then fill the empty patches. Decide whether to keep the ratoon only after that.
Why does the ratoon slow down in the cold?
A ratoon crop grows from the buds on the stubble below the soil. According to a 2018 Indian Farming article, these buds sprout late at low temperatures. Even in normal conditions only 30 to 40% of stubble buds sprout. So if the field looks empty early on, do not write it off yet.
Studies also show an effect of the harvest month. In a 2003 Sugar Tech study on CoLk 8102 and CoS 88230, sprouting was lower in crops cut in December and January than in those cut in November and February. A Journal of Sugarcane Research report from Karnal also found average sprouting higher in spring-cut crops than in winter-cut crops.
What to do in the first 45 days after harvest
- Stubble: Cut level with the ground using a sharp knife. Take care not to shake or uproot the clump, or the plant count will fall.
- Irrigation: Irrigate on time after harvest. A 2021 Indian Farming article says a ratoon crop needs 8 to 10 irrigations over its life. Where water is short, drip is useful.
- Trash: Do not burn it. The same article mentions spreading 3 tonnes of trash per hectare between the furrows, which is about 480 to 490 kg per vigha. For details read Burn the trash or keep it in the field?
- Count on day 45: In the Karnal trial, sprouting was recorded 45 days after harvest. Count on the same day in 4 to 5 different parts of your field. Note where sprouting is good and where there are empty strips.
How much does variety matter?
Not every variety sprouts equally in the cold. In the Sugar Tech study, CoLk 8102 had more sprouts per clump. Work at Karnal on more than 7,000 clones found large differences in winter sprouting, and some clones sprouted even better in winter. So when you plant next, ask: how does this variety ratoon after a winter harvest?
Fill the gaps, or not keep the ratoon at all?
If empty strips remain after 45 days, consider gap filling. Polybag settlings 35 to 40 days old, or clumps from dense patches, can be used. For the method read How to fill gaps in a ratoon crop.
No single figure for how much gap means dropping the ratoon applies to every field. But if the field has red rot or another serious disease, do not keep the ratoon. If in doubt, show photos to your agriculture officer.
If you can control the harvest date
According to the 2021 Indian Farming article, spring-harvested crops make better ratoons because of moderate temperatures. The harvest date usually depends on the mill schedule, so this is not always possible. But if you have more than one field, you can try to keep the field you plan to ratoon from being cut in mid-winter. It is easier to let the crop you will not ratoon be the one harvested in December-January.
Questions and answers
How many days does a winter-cut ratoon take to sprout?
No fixed day can be given. It varies with the cold, the variety and soil moisture. Counting on day 45 and deciding then is a sensible approach.
If the field looks empty at first, should I plough it?
No, not right away. Stubble buds sprout late in the cold. Count on day 45, then fill gaps or take advice from your agriculture officer.
Is the effect this large in Gujarat too?
The studies we read are from North India. South Gujarat has a milder winter, so the effect may be smaller, but we did not find exact figures for it.
Sources: Rana et al.: Multi-ratooning in sugarcane, Indian Farming 71(5), 2021 · Rai et al.: Soil incorporation of trash and foliar application of plant growth regulators, Indian Farming 68(12), 2018 · Singh, Rai, Solomon, Shrivastava: Role of IAA in sprouting of subterranean buds in winter initiated sugarcane ratoon, Sugar Tech 5(3), 2003 · Bakshi Ram: Sugarcane varieties for abiotic stresses, Journal of Sugarcane Research 7(1), 2017
*Farmers' results are their own experience, not a guarantee. Results change with soil, water, weather and care.
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