Faisalabad: The agriculture experts have advised the farmers to prepare their lands immediately for September sugarcane cultivation as September sowing window for sugarcane is fast approaching.
A spokesman of Agriculture (Extension) Department said here on Saturday that the farmers should complete land preparation with special attention to soil condition, drainage, manure application and selection of suitable varieties to achieve healthy crop growth and better yields.
He said that the most suitable period for September-planted sugarcane is from September 01 to September 30, making the coming weeks important for growers intending to cultivate the crop during recommended sowing season.
He said that loam and heavy loam soils with good drainage and adequate organic matter were considered most suitable for sugarcane cultivation.
However, the crop could also be grown successfully on light and relatively weak soils if proper care and management practices were adopted, he added.
He cautioned the farmers against cultivating sugarcane on waterlogged and saline soils, which were not considered suitable for the crop.
Since sugarcane develops a deep root system, the spokesman stressed that proper preparation of the soil to a depth of at least one foot was essential for ensuring healthy root development and vigorous crop growth.
He advised the growers to make the soil soft, friable and level before sowing and carry out deep ploughing as part of the land-preparation process.
Well-decomposed farmyard manure should also be incorporated into the soil before preparation to improve its fertility and physical condition, he added.
He said that for better soil preparation, the farmers should use a rotavator and operate a chisel plough twice in opposite directions, followed by the use of a conventional plough and plank to achieve a properly prepared seedbed.
He further recommended that medium and late maturing sugarcane varieties should be preferred for September cultivation as these varieties were considered better suited to the sowing season.
For riverine and adjoining areas, he said that the approved varieties included CP 400-77, CPF-237, SPF-213 and HSF-240.
In other areas of Punjab, the farmers could cultivate the aforementioned varieties along with CPF-246, CPF-247, CPF-248 and CPF-249, he added.
The spokesman said that SPF-234 was particularly suitable for southern Punjab, excluding the riverine areas and it was considered the most appropriate variety for Rajanpur, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan districts.
He urged the farmers to consult local agricultural experts of the Punjab Agriculture Department regarding soil preparation, variety selection and other technical aspects before commencing September sugarcane cultivation to ensure better crop establishment and productivity.
