Biofuel Crops for Vertical Intensification of Sugarcane Based Intercropping Systems

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Date
2018-07
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University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during 2016-17 (plant cane) and 2017-18 (ratoon cane) at Sugarcane Research Farm, Zadshapur of S. Nijalingappa Sugar Institute (SNSI) of Belagavi. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three spacing levels (120,150 and 180 cm) as main plot treatments, three component crops (sugarbeet, sweet sorghum and sweet potato) under 1:1 and 1:2 ratio as sub-plots with four control plots [sole sugarcane (90 cm), sole sugarbeet, sole sweet sorghum and sole sweet potato] outside the experiment and replicated thrice. A row spacing of 150 cm recorded significantly higher number of millable canes (NMC) in both plant and ratoon cane. With respect to row spacing of 180 cm recorded higher cane yield (132.2 t ha-1) in plant cane. A row spacing of 150 cm recorded additional net returns of ` 79,999 ha-1 in plant cane and ` 80,832 ha-1 in ratoon cane over 90 cm row spacing. Among the component crops, sugarcane + sugarbeet 1:1 row proportion recorded significantly higher cane yield (132.2 t ha-1) and ethanol yield (8.69 thousand l ha-1) in plant cane. Similar trend was also observed in ratoon cane. With respect to interactions between row spacings and component crops with different row proportion, significantly higher NMC (111.91 thousands ha-1) and cane yield (139.6 t ha-1) was recorded with sugarcane (150 cm) + sugarbeet 1:1 row proportion. Similar trend was noticed in ratoon cane. In plant cane, intercropping of sugarcane (150 cm) + sugarbeet 1:2 row proportion, realised significantly higher sugarcane equivalent yield (145.7 t ha-1) and net returns (` 2,46,829 ha-1) over all other treatment combinations. In ratoon cane similar trend was followed as that of plant cane.
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