Agro-climatic Information of the Center

 Research projects and schemes (On going) :

Infrastructure Facility Available

Achievements:

Seed Production during 2025-26

Recommended sugarcane varieties for various Agro-climatic conditions of Gujarat State

Recommendations:

Farmer’s recommendations:

(A) Planting and harvesting:

1. Farmers of South Saurashtra region are advised to plant sugarcane variety Co. 6304 during middle of November.
2. Farmers of middle Gujarat agro-climatic zone should plant sugarcane from November end to middle of January. The crop should be harvested between 11 to 14 months of planting for getting higher cane yield and monetary returns.
3. The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro Climatic Zone - VII interested to grow early sugarcane are advised to plant sugarcane from last week of October to last week of November. The early maturing variety CoC 671 should be harvested between 11 to 12 months of planting and midlate maturing variety CoN 91132 should be harvested between 12 to 14 months of planting for getting higher cane yield and net return.

(B) Seed production:

1. Farmers of Gujarat state are advised to grow new varieties of sugarcane by adopting either 30 days old seedling at 90 cm x 50 cm spacing or by planting two eye budded sets at 90 cm x 50 cm spacing for getting higher seed multiplication ratio and better seed germination.
2. Farmers of South Saurashtra agro-climatic zone growing sugarcane are advised to plant two budded sets at a distance of 90 cm between two rows and 80 cm between two sets within the row to get higher seed multiplication ratio of newly released varieties.

(C) Spacing and planting method:

1. The farmers of South Saurashtra heavy rainfall area are advised to plant sugarcane variety Co. 6304 at 25 cm in pair and 100-125 cm between pairs with application of 300 kg N/ha in four splits (15% at planting + 35 % 5 months after planting) along with phosphorus and potash each @ 125 kg/ha as basal dose for obtaining higher cane and sugar yield as well as better remuneration.
2. The farmers of South Saurashtra agro-climatic zone growing sugarcane variety Co. 671 are advised to adopt paired row planting (25 cm between rows and 75 cm between pairs) with the recommended doses of N.P. and K.
3. The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro Climatic Zone- VII interested to grow sugarcane at wider row spacing are advised to plant sugarcane variety Gujarat Sugarcane -5 ( CoN 05071) at 90 cm distance or in  paired rows ((30 : 150 cm) for getting higher cane yield and net returns.

(D) Biofertilizers:

9. The sugarcane growing farmers of South Saurashtra are advised to use Azotobacter as a biofertilizer @ 2 kg/ha before planting of sugarcane as a soil application along with the recommended dose fertilizer to maximize cane yield and higher monetary return. If farmers want to save 25% N, they may apply Azotobacter biofertilizer to the soil along with 75% N for sustaining sugarcane production.

(E) Weed management:

10. It is recommended to the sugarcane growers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic region that effective weed control can be achieved by covering with sugarcane trash @ 5 t/ha between the rows. In case of shortage of raw material, the weeds can be effectively controlled by pre emergence application of atrazine @ 2 kg.ai/ha. +2.4-D sodium salt @ 1 kg ai/ha at 60-70 DAP or by keeping weed free condition up to tillering phase through manual weeding. These resulted to a net profit of Rs. 9000 to 10000/ha.
11. Sugarcane growers of South Gujarat zone are advised to adopt weed control practices by spraying atrazine @ 2 kg ai/ha as pre emergence application followed by 2,4-D salt @ 1 kg ai/ha 8-10 weeks after planting or atrazine alone @ 2 kg ai/ha as pre emergence treatment or 2,4-D sodium salt @ 1 kg ai/ha + paraquat (Gramoxone) @ 0.5 kg ai/ha three weeks after planting to get the most economic and effective control of weeds.
12. The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing autumn-planted sugarcane are recommended to apply ametryne 2.0 kg/ha (80% WG g/10 L water) as early post emergence followed by two inter culturing and hand weeding at 60 and 90 days after planting OR three hand weeding at 30, 60 and 90 DAP and two inter culturing at 45 and 90 days after planting for effective weed management and securing higher cane yield and net return.

(F) Water management:

13. The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic zone are advised to irrigate their crop at an IW/CPE ratio of 1.25 involving 46 irrigations, under limited availability of water, the crop may be applied with 39 irrigations (IW/CPE ratio 1.0) or irrigate the crop 34 times at 8-10 days interval using sugarcane trash as mulch.
14. The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic zone growing sugarcane are advised to use drip method of irrigation to obtain highest cane yield (99.64 t/ha) and gross return (77365 Rs/ha).
15. Sugarcane growing farmers of South Gujarat are advised to apply six irrigations to midlate variety Co. 6304 at an interval of 20 days after cessation of monsoon. The crop may be supplied with 300 kg N/ha in equal four split at an interval of 75 days for obtaining good quality seed yield.
16. The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing sugarcane are recommended to adopt drip method of irrigation and plant the crop in paired rows (60-90-60 cm) and irrigate the crop at 0.9 PEF with laying laterals in each paired rows for securing higher cane yield and net return. Nitrogen and potassium should be applied at 80 per cent of recommended dose (i.e. 200-100 N-K₂O kg/ha) under drip irrigation in 10 equal splits starting from 45 DAP at an interval of 20 days.

 Drip system details:

17. The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro Climatic Zone interested to grow spring–planted sugarcane under water deficit condition during formative stage are recommended to apply trash mulch @ 5 t/ha at 4-6 days after planting and foliar spray of urea + muriate of potash both @ 2.5 % (2.5 kg urea + 2.5 kg KCl in 100 litres of water) at 60, 80 and 100 days after planting for securing higher cane yield and net return.

(G) Intercropping:

18. The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro Climatic Zone interested to grow spring–planted sugarcane with intercropping system are advised to grow one row of sesame or green gram or black gram as intercrop without fertilizer application in sugarcane planted at 90 cm row spacing for securing higher yield and net return. Weed control should be done with two hand weeding at 20 and 40 days after sowing of intercrop.
19. The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing autumn-planted sugarcane are recommended to grow one row of chickpea as an intercrop in sugarcane planted at 90 cm row spacing for securing higher yield and net return. Weed control should be done 9 with two hand weeding at 30 and 60 days after sowing of the intercrop.
20. The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing autumn-planted sugarcane are recommended to grow one row of fenugreek as intercrop in sugarcane planted at 90 cm row spacing for securing higher yield and additional net return.

(H) Ratoon management

21. The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing sugarcane first ratoon crop are recommended to adopt stubble shaving (Shaving of stubbles above the ground level), off barring (by bullock drawn cultivator and blade harrow) and gap filling (Filling the gaps 60 cm or more) to obtain higher cane yield and net return.

 Awards/Medals received

1. N. U. Dahima, Associate Research Scientist (Agronomy) has been awarded “Best Sector Officer Award” in Kodinar Talukaduring 2014.
2. P. D. Kumawat, Research Scientist (Sugarcane) has been conferred “Young Scientist Award-2017” in International Conference on Global Research Initiatives for Sustainable Agriculture & Allied Sciences” held at MPUAT, Udaipur during 02-04 December, 2017.
3. N. U. Dahima, Associate Research Scientist (Agronomy) has been awarded “Best Sector Officer Award of 92-KodinarAssembly Constituency” for the year 2017.
4. P. D. Kumawat, Research Scientist (Sugarcane) has been awarded “Best Campus Ambassador of 92-Kodinar Assembly Constituency Award-2021” in the celebration of National Voters Day programme on 25-01-2021.
5. K.P.Bhuriya, Assistant Research Scientist has been awarded ‘’Best Article Award’’ in Agriculture & Food: e-Newsletter for the year of 2020.
6. K.P.Bhuriya, Assistant Research Scientist has been awarded ‘’Best Outstanding Young Scientist National Award’’ for the year 2020 from Kamarajar Institute of Education and Research, Theni, Tamil Nadu, India.
7. P. D. Kumawat, Research Scientist (Sugarcane) has been awarded “Distinguished Scientist Award”in 2^nd International Agriculture Conference on “ Natural Farming innovations: Enhancing Soil health and Seed Quality with AI and Drone for a greener Agriculture Future” held at Hybrid mode Hansraj College, University of Delhi during November 3-5, 2024.
8. P. D. Kumawat, Research Scientist (Sugarcane) has been conferred “Best Oral Presentation award (Ist position)” in ICAR-New Delhi  sponsored National Seminar on “Jumpstarting Agricultural Initiatives for Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Development, and Augmenting Regional Collaborations (JAI-SARDAR)” Organized by Department of Agricultural Economics, COA, JAU, Junagadhon December 23, 2025.

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