Construction and Management of Fish pond

 

To grow fish, it is required to have an appropriate fish pond for better fish production. A fish pond is a structure/habitat that meets the necessities for growing fish.

The farm may be located in an area that is large enough for present plans and any future pond extensions. It is good if the piece of land also has some slope topography. It is great because you can just lay your ponds out in a way that takes advantage of existing land contours. Also, ensure that such an area is not prone to flooding.

A large fish pond is used to raise fish for commercial purposes. These types of ponds require more advanced management techniques and equipment compared to a small backyard fish pond.  Commercial fish ponds are usually much larger than backyard ponds, often covering several acres. This allows for a larger stock of fish and more efficient production.

The cost of building and maintaining a commercial fish pond is much higher than a backyard fish pond, due to the larger size and advanced equipment and management required. Steps involved in preparing the site for a fish pond, include excavation, lining, and grading. A commercial fish pond requires a consistent and reliable water supply to maintain optimal water quality and temperature for the fish. This can be achieved through wells, springs, or a connection to a municipal water supply.

Soil selection:

The soil at the site of the fish pond should be well-drained and free of pollutants. Clay or Clay loam soils are ideal for a fish pond as they can keep the water and eliminate the loss of water by seepage. However, sandy soils may not be suitable as they require compacting to become suitable. A soil test should be conducted to determine the suitability of the soil for a fish pond. The required/ideal pH of the fish pond should be between 7.5 and 8.

It is needed to have a simple test to determine the appropriateness of the soil for pond construction. Dampen the soil, squeeze the sample tightly in your hand and then open your hand again to see the result. If the sample is in its shape, then it is considered good for building a pond.

If the sample is not in its shape, it cannot be considered for building a pond (too much sand is present). In this case, you may import clay soil for compacting the pond to minimize seepage.

Planning

Before any design and type of fish pond, first, it is to be decided where the pond site is and how many nurseries, rearing, and stocking ponds are to be constructed.

It is also important to identify the exact size of the pond, attention may be given to all measurements as this will help to consider the number of fish fingerlings needed for stocking. Keep in mind the water source and ensure that its ability to keep the pond full throughout the cultural period.

Construction methods

Before going to construction, Clear all flora around the spot for the pond and move the debris far away from the pond location. The reason is that don’t use soil that has plants in it to construct the dykes.

There are several methods for constructing a fish pond, and the method chosen will depend on the size and location of the pond, as well as the budget and skills of the builder. Some popular methods include:

Prefabricated ponds: These are pre-formed pond liners that are available in a variety of sizes and shapes. They are easy to install, but they may not be as customizable as other methods. There are different types of liners available for fish ponds, such as rubber, PVC, and clay. Also, the way of installation of the liner is important to ensure the durability of the pond.

1.     Dig and liner method: This method involves digging a hole for the pond and lining it with a flexible liner, such as rubber or PVC. This method allows for more customization, but it can be more labour-intensive and require more equipment. The process of excavating the site for the fish pond requires equipment such as an excavator, Tractors with a front blade as proper dykes may be constructed and it may have proper drainage.

Concrete pond: This method involves pouring a concrete slab for the base of the pond and building up the sides with bricks or other materials. This method is more durable than others but also more expensive.

Filtration and aeration

A commercial fish pond requires advanced filtration and aeration systems to maintain water quality and oxygen levels for the fish. These systems can include mechanical filters, biological filters, and aeration devices.

Stock and management

A commercial fish pond is typically stocked with a specific species of fish, such as tilapia, catfish, Rahu, Grass carp, Common Carp, or Mori. The fish are raised using advanced management techniques, such as feeding, spawning, and disease control.

Harvesting and processing

Commercial fish ponds require efficient methods for harvesting and processing the fish, such as grading, packing, and storing.

It is important to take into consideration the soil type, drainage and water quality before constructing a fish pond. also, the construction method chosen should be based on the size, location and budget of the project, as well as the builder's skills

Tomato Farming in Sindh, Pakistan.

 

Tomato Farming

Tomato is the world’s biggest vegetable crop and is known because of its special nutritive value. It is an important commercial vegetable crop in Pakistan. It is the second most important crop in the world after potatoes. Fruits are eaten raw or in cooked form. It is a rich source of vitamin A and C, potassium and minerals. It is used in soup, juice and ketchup and powder. Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops cultivated for its plump fruits. Tomato is considered an important commercial and dietary vegetable crop. It is the main vegetable with a high product turnover. Tomato in its fresh and processed form is a major consumable product.

Recently the tomato crop has gained popularity amongst tunnel growers because of good yield and early maturation. Both conventional and hybrid varieties are grown in the field and under the tunnel.

Importance in Diet:

Tomato is a rich source of minerals, vitamins and organic acids, essential amino acids and dietary fibers. Tomato is known as a productive as well as protective food. It is a rich source of vitamin A and C, and it also contains minerals like iron and phosphorus. Tomato contains Lycopene and Beta-carotene pigments.

Soil

Tomato flourishes on all types of land. A fertile sandy loam soil is best suited for an early crop. The loams and clay loams have a greater water-holding capacity and are better suited to persist during the harvesting period.

Varieties

Roma, Moneymaker, Cherry tomato, Beef tomato, Sahl, FM-9, Ana seminis hybrid tomato, Topsin M.

Time of Sowing

Due to varying climatic conditions, there is a wide range of sowing time for tomatoes in Pakistan. Three main crops are as under.

Early Crop

For an early crop, the nursery is sown in July-August, transplanted in the field in August-September and the harvesting of the crop starts in November.

Mid-Season Crop:

Nursery is sown in September, which is transplanted in October and harvested in December/January.

Main Season Crop:

Nursery is sown in mid-November, transplanted in February and the crop is harvested in May-June.

Seed Rate and Nursery Raising:

100-150 g seed is required to prepare the nursery for one acre. Seed is sown in raised beds prepared with farm yard manure, soil and sand with a ratio of 1:1:1 and covered with a thin polyethene sheet. The seeds will germinate in 7-14 days. Remove the polyethene sheet after seed germination.

Transplanting:

The seedlings should be harvested to survive in outdoor conditions. The hardening may be accomplished by lessening the water supply. The process may require 7 to 10 days. The seedlings are transplanted on both sides of 1.5-meter-wide beds with a distance of 50 cm on the rows.

Irrigation:

The plants are irrigated just after transplanting. Irrigation with an interval of 7-8 days is suggested. The irrigation interval can be decreased from 5-6 days when the weather is too hot. Irrigation water should be given with care so that beds should not be submerged in water.

Manure and Fertilizers:

In tomato crop, high yield can be attained only if well-balanced fertilizers and manure are supplied to the plants in time. Rotten farm yard manure should be used at the rate of 10-15 tones per acre, at the time of land preparation for maintaining proper physical conditions and fertility of the soil. A general recommendation for chemical fertilizers is 75 kg of nitrogen, 60 kg of phosphorus and 60 kg of potassium. Half amount of all fertilizers and the full amount of farm yard manure are incorporated into the soil at the time of land preparation. The remaining half amount of the fertilizers is split into two doses and applied as a side dressing to the plants one month after transplanting and after the first picking of fruit.

Harvesting:

The stage at which the tomatoes are harvested depends upon the purpose for which they are grown. For canning and processing, the fruit is harvested when it is fully ripened on the vines. For local markets, it is harvested in the hard ripe and pink stages. For the distant markets, the fruit is picked in the mature green or turning pink stage. For home use, tomatoes may be left on the plants until they are fully coloured.

Storage:

Tomatoes can be kept for storage for only a short period of 5-10 days. Fruits picked at the semi-ripe point and placed in a well-ventilated store with low humidity and at 1-2°C will remain fit for human consumption for about three weeks.

Tomato Diseases:

Fusarium wilt:

It is caused by the fungus Fusarium exosporium lycopercici. It is characterized by the yellowing and drying of the leaves gradually from the base upward, and by discolouration of the vascular tissue. It is controlled by the use of disease-resistant cultivars and disease-free seeds. The planting should be done on disease-free beds. The crop rotation should be followed and diseased plants should be disposed of.

Bacterial wilt:

It is caused by Pseudomonas solanacearum. The diseased plants wilt during the day and partially recover at night. Freshly cut stems exude a gummy, yellow mass of bacteria. It can be controlled by planting disease-free plants, removal of diseased plants and following crop rotation.

Early blight:

Alternaria solani, the fungus that causes early blight in potatoes. To control it, sow only treated seed from disease-free plants, practice sanitation by deep ploughing and follow crop rotation.

Damping off:

It attacks nursery seedlings at the surface of the soil, causing the stems to shrivel and the plants to topple over. Treat the seed with thiram and avoid over-irrigation.

Viral diseases:

The significant viral diseases of tomatoes are the tobacco mosaic virus and the cucumber mosaic virus. The diseases are highly infectious and spread by insects and cultural operations. Sanitation and control of vectors can reduce the spread of viruses.

Yield

Generally, there will be 7-11 harvests in a crop life span. The yield per hectare varies greatly according to variety and season. On average, the yield varies from 10-12 t/acre. Hybrid varieties may yield up to 25-30 t/acre.

Cotton Farming in Sindh, Pakistan

Cotton Farming

Cotton is the most important cash crop in Pakistan as well as in the world. It plays a leading role in the industrial and agricultural economy of the country. It provides raw materials to the textile industry. It provides direct livelihood to farmers and people employed in the cotton trade and its processing. Cotton is a water-desiring crop and around 6% of the water for irrigation is used for its cultivation.

Archaeologists/historians believe that cotton existed 5000 years ago and Mohan-jo-Daro was a natural place of cotton, where the people knew the arts of spinning and weaving. Cotton lint was separated from seed on a charkha (a kind of hand-cranked roller gin) and the fibres were processed into fabrics with drop spindles and primitive looms. The quality of the textile produced has been excellent.

Cotton is a regular fibre that finds use in many products. These range from clothing to home furnishings to medical products. As a result, cotton is always in demand though its use is subject to the strengths and weaknesses of the overall economy.

Pakistan is one of the earliest homes of cultivated cotton, the world’s 4th largest producer of cotton, the 3rd largest exporter of raw cotton and a leading exporter of yarn in the world. The value addition through cotton is 8.2 per cent in agriculture and 2 per cent in the GDP. A profound investment in the form of over 1,000 ginning factories, and over 400 textile mills heavily depends upon cotton.

Cotton is a major crop in Pakistan after wheat and it occupies the largest area in Pakistan compared to other crops. Cotton crop earns the country’s largest export revenues and in addition to the lint, the seed of cotton for oil and meal accounts for 80 per cent of the national production of oilseed. Cotton and cotton-related products contribute 10 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP) and 55 per cent to the foreign exchange earnings of the country.

Selection of soil

It can be grown on all types of soil having pH ranges in-between 6 and 8. Deep, friable, well-drained and fertile soil is good for crop cultivation. Sandy, saline or waterlogged soils are not suitable for cotton cultivation. The depth of soil should not be less than 20-25 cm.

Soil Preparation

It required thorough land preparation for good germination and growth of the crop. After removal of the Rabi crop, irrigate the field immediately then take ploughing of land. Carry out deep ploughing once in three years, it will help to keep a check on perennial weeds and also kill various soil-borne pests and diseases.

The optimum time for sowing is in April – mid-May. For Management of Mealy-bug, sow Bajra, Arhar, Maize and Jowar in the fields surrounding the cotton crop. Avoid growing tur, moong and bhendi in and around the cotton field as these harbour insect pests. Cotton rotation with berseem and cluster bean is found to have a beneficial effect on the succeeding cotton crop.

Spacing

For BT cotton use a spacing of 75x15 cm under irrigated conditions while under rain-fed conditions use a spacing of 60x30 cm. For desi, cotton uses a spacing of 60x30 cm for rain-fed as well as for irrigated conditions.

Sowing Depth

Sowing should be done at depth of 5 cm.

Method of sowing

For sowing use a sowing drill for desi cotton while dibbling of seed is done in the case of hybrids and Bt cotton. Square planting is beneficial compared to rectangular planting. Few gaps arise due to failure of seed germination and mortality of seedlings. To overcome this gap filling is necessary. Two weeks after sowing the weak/diseased/damaged seedlings should be removed by keeping a healthy seedling/hill.

Cotton Seed Varieties and Seed Rate

Name                                                                 Seed Rate

FH-900, FH-901, FH-1000 & CIM-602          8-10 kg per acre

MNT-886, FH-142, BH-118 & CIM-473          8-10 kg per acre

Neelam-121, Chris-9, Reshmi & Harii            8-10 kg per acre

Dost, Shahbaz, Chris-134 & Chris 342          8-10 kg per acre

MNT-886, Chandii, Sohni, Nayab & NIA Ufaq 8-10 kg per acre

For Narri sowing method

FH-900, FH-901, FH-1000 & CIM-602            3-4 kg per acre

MNT-886, FH-142, BH-118 & CIM-473           3-4 kg per acre

Neelam-121, Chris-9, Reshmi & Harii             3-4 kg per acre

Dost, Shahbaz, Chris-134 & Chris 342            3-4 kg per acre

MNT-886, Chandii, Sohni, Nayab & NIA Ufaq  3-4 kg per acre

 

Seed Treatment

The seed of cotton is covered by short fibre. Before sowing removal of this is necessary as it will make it difficult for sowing. It can be removed by chemical and Non-chemical methods.

 

In the Non-chemical method, seeds are soaked in water overnight, then next day rubbed with cow dung and wood ash or sawdust then dried in the shed before sowing.

In the chemical method, Depending upon the fibres on the seeds, mix the 400 gm concentrated Sulphuric acid (Industrial grade) in 4 kg seeds for American cotton and 300 gm for 3 kg Desi cotton seed for 2-3 minutes. It will burn all the fibres of seeds. Then 10 Ltr of water in the container, stir well and drained out the water. Wash the seeds three times with normal water and then lime water (Sodium Bicarbonate@50gm/10Ltr of water) for 1 min. Give one more washing then dry the seeds in the shed.

Do not use Metal or wood containers instead use plastic or earthen pots and use plastic gloves by the operator for the chemical method.

To protect from sucking pest attacks (up to 15-20 days) treat seeds with Imidacloprid (Confidor) 5-7ml or Thiamethoxam (CRUISER)@ 5-7gm/kg of seeds.

Fertilizer required (Kg/Acre)

Varieties	Urea	DAP         or         SSP	MOP
BT Cotton	65	27                          75	-
Desi	130	27                          75	-

 

Weed Control

Due to wide-spaced crops weeds pose a serious threat. A weed-free period of 50-60 days from sowing is necessary for good yield otherwise it may cause a 60-80% reduction in yields. Manual, mechanical and chemical methods of weed control in combination are necessary for effective weed control. Carry out first manual hoeing 5-6 weeks after sowing or before first irrigation. The remaining hoeing should be done after each irrigation. Do not allow congress grass to grow around cotton fields, as they increase the possibility of mealy bug infestation.

To control weeds after sowing but before their emergence takes a spray of Pendimethalin @ 25-33 ml/10 Ltr of water. Apply Paraquat (Gramoxone) 24% WSC @ 500 ml/acre or Glyphosate @1 Ltr/acre in 100 Ltr of water, 6 to 8 weeks after sowing when the crop is 40-45 cm in height. The crop is highly sensitive to the 2,4-D weedicide. Its vapours can cause serious injury to cotton even if sprayed in adjoining fields. Spraying of herbicide should be carried out either in the morning hour or in the evening hours.

Recommended time for irrigation is given below in the table:-

Critical stages                                       Irrigation Interval

Branching and Square formation         45-50 days after sowing

Flowering and Fruiting stage               75-85 days after sowing

Boll formation                                       95-105 days after sowing

Boll development and boll opening     115-125 days after sowing

Cotton required four to six irrigation depending upon rainfall intensity. Give first Irrigation to the crop four to six weeks after sowing. And remaining irrigation at intervals of two or three weeks. Never let water stand in younger plants. Do not let the crop suffer for want of water during flowering and fruiting to avoid the shedding of flowers and bolls. Give the last irrigation to the crop when 33% of bolls are opened and after that, there is no need for more water through irrigation.

Whenever salty water has to use for irrigation, the water should be get tested by the authenticated laboratory and as per their recommendation, Gypsum or Pyrite may be added. In Drought Conditions, alternate furrow irrigation and the use of a micro irrigation system (wherever feasible) will be of immense help in saving irrigation water.

Cotton crop Diseases

Leaf Curl Virus

Upward and downward curling of leaves accompanied by small as well as main vein thickenings on leaves, pronounced on the underside. The newly produced leaves are small, excessively crinkled and curled at the edge. The primary stem often tends to grow taller than normal. The flowers squared in growth and become fruitless. Bolls remained small in size and failed to open. All parts of badly hit plants are very brittle and ready broken.

Boll Rot

The studies revealed that different types of symptoms may occur, which can be eminent based on their specific causal agent as below: Black boll or Aspergillus rot: bolls start losing green colour all in all, become pinkish brown and finally dusty black due to overgrowth of fungus. Rhizopus rot: Diseased portions become greyish along with softening of internal tissues. The fungus grows profusely and covers many bolls under moist conditions. Fusarium rot: The bolls become reddish and brownish tinge and show dry and white fluffy fungal on opening. Bacterial or Xanthomonas rot: Water-soaking areas developed on the bolls giving out a gummy substance and foul smell.

Angular Leaf Spot or Bacterial Blight

The disease attacks all parts of the plant above ground level causing seedling rot, angular spots on leaves and stems, and boll rot.

Root Rot

This disease generally appears, when plants are about 4-6 weeks old and continue up to boll formation. Diseased plants can be easily pulled out of the soil, and appears in patches. Roots and root-lets show rotting, yellowing, disintegration and shredding.

Minor Diseases

Anthracnose, leaf spots (caused by different fungi), sooty mould, stenosis, stunting and premature opening of bolls (Tirak) etc. are also reported to cause disease in cotton and damage to the crop, which may reduce the yield, sometimes very low and sometimes so much.

Control

Following disease management practices may help to save the crop from all the above major and minor diseases of cotton.

·       Cultivation of disease-resistant variety is the only safe measure of all different diseases.

·     Eradication including collection and burning of plant debris may help to control seedling, root and boll rots as well as bacterial blight, because disease inoculum may also survive through plant debris.

·   Deep ploughing with a short duration, at least two months before sowing, help to control seedling and root rot.

·        Proper land levelling is a preventive measure against seedling and root rot.

·   Use of healthy seed, acid delinting and chemical seed treatment minimize the disease incidence of seedling, root and boll rots as well as bacterial blight.

·    Crop rotation with non-host i.e. sowing of sorghum for 3 to 4 years is useful for control of seedling and root rot.

·      Mixed cropping with kidney bean or fodder and leguminous crops save the cotton crop from root rot.

·        Proper use of irrigation and chemical fertilizers improves the disease-resistant power in cotton plants.

·        Early sowing of the crop is a preventive measure for control of boll rot.

·     White fly transmits the cotton leaf curl virus from diseased plants to healthy ones, whereas, different cotton bollworms may play a role to transmit the boll rot disease, hence white fly and bollworms must be controlled.

·    Lady's finger (okra), sun kukri, china rose, thorn apple (datura), mint (pudina), karund, cucurbits (especially watermelon), beans, tomatoes, tobacco, chillies, soybean, sunflower, cowpeas, eggplant (brinjal), hollyhock (Jul-e-Khera), zinnia, sesame, Ak (Calotropis), Sheesham, citrus species etc. are recorded as alternate host plants of cotton leaf curl virus as well as white fly, and also some of them is an alternate host of bollworms. Therefore, they all must be eradicated before and during the cotton cropping season. Cotton growing zones may play a better role in this purpose.

Meanwhile, using proper cotton production technology per recommendations of agricultural experts/researchers is economical and most effective for cotton disease management. It is the outlook and responsibility of the cotton growers to adopt modern cotton production technology and play a role in the country's development and prosperity.

Yield

With expectations for a slight increase in area, but stagnant yields, 2022/23 production is forecast to reach 6.22 million bales, a 3.7 per cent increase over 2021/22. Driven by Pakistan’s value-added cotton textile exports, cotton use is forecast to grow in 2022/23, albeit at a modest 2 per cent.

Cotton growers from lower Sindh are getting a per-acre yield of fewer than 30 maunds compared to 49 maunds in the past. Growers from upper Sindh are getting up to 55 maunds per acre.

Sugarcane Farming in Sindh, Pakistan.

 

Sugarcane farming 

Sugarcane is an important crop in Pakistan, both economically and culturally. It is one of the country's major cash crops and is grown on a large scale in the Punjab and Sindh provinces. The crop provides the raw material for the sugar industry, which is a major source of revenue for the country. Additionally, sugarcane is used to produce other products such as molasses, ethanol, and bagasse (the dry pulpy residue left after juice extraction), which are used in industries like textiles, paper, and power generation. It also creates job opportunities for farmers, labourers and its by-products used in other industries. Moreover, sugarcane is also an important crop in terms of the livelihoods and food security of many smallholder farmers and rural communities in Pakistan.

It also forms an essential item for industries like sugar, chipboard, paper, barrages, and confectionery uses in chemicals, plastics, paints, synthetics, fiber, insecticides and detergents Sugarcane production in the country has increased over time. Despite expansion in production over years, increase in the productivity per unit of area has been very low in Pakistan. The average sugarcane production in the country required static between 45-50 tons/ha, which is very much low compared to the cane-producing other countries. The average yield of sugarcane in the world is around 60 metric tons/ha, while India and Egypt are getting around 66 tons and 105 tons/hectare, respectively. In this way, Egypt with the highest cane yield in the world is getting about 142 per cent high-yield than Pakistan. India with almost similar soil and climatic conditions is obtaining about 53 per cent higher cane yield than Pakistan. As it is one of the cash crops of the country, therefore, efforts should be made to improve its productivity. As a result of these efforts, substantial improvement can take place in its yield. Improved seed production, quality control and distribution depend largely upon the availability of skilled and competent local manpower, which is present in insufficient in most developing countries.

Our sugar yield and sugar recovery (%) are less than half of the developed cane-growing countries of the world. The goal of increasing sugar yield per unit area is difficult, time-consuming and needs dedicated efforts from the government, millers and growers.

Some of the measures to bring down the cost of cultivation and improve cane productivity include the selection of the right varieties, maintenance of soil health, quality planting material, nutrient management, the adoption of copping systems approach, weed management, water management and proper post-harvest handling.

Role of Grower:

Grower is the main key factor that can help to increase the sugarcane production from the field. In Pakistan, the most grower doesn’t know the proper method of sugarcane cultivation. Hence the cane produced is of no good quality and we have less cane and sugar recovery. So it is necessary that there should be organizations that should guide the growers to increase their production. Here are some of the steps that can improve sugarcane production.

Land preparation: Sugarcane is a deep-rooted crop and proper land preparation plays an important role in the development of the cane root system, and achieving optimal growth of the crop. Land should be prepared by deep ploughing at least after every two years. The soil should be disked. The soil in the prepared field should be friable and well worked so that full germination takes place and later on plants grow without any inhibiting barriers (compact sub-soil layer).

Farmyard Manure: It is very important that well-rotten farmyard manure (FYM) should be applied a month prior to land preparation. Press mud from the sugar industry is another excellent source of organic matter and nutrients. .Green manuring can also serve the purpose.

Soil Insect Control at Planting Time: Growers must keep in mind the practices they can use to decrease the possibility of soil insect damage. Only two crop conditions require use of a soil insecticide in Louisiana sugarcane fields and usually only in sandy soils. These are:

(a) When pasture, turf or grass-infested land is brought into cane production for the first time or after being out of cane production for several years. There are usually enough grubs or wireworms already established in this type of land to warrant a preventive application of insecticide at cane planting time. However, a soil insecticide application may not be needed with the second plant-cane crop if the field has been kept reasonably free of grass during the ratoon crops.

(b) When cane fields are extremely grassy, particularly when cane is planted in a field that was not kept free of heavy grass infestation when fallow. Ongoing wireworm and white grub infestations will persist in grassy fields. Again, this may be needed only on light or mixed soils.

Growers must consider control measures for soil insects at planting time and base chemical control on verification of soil insect pest infestations. Based on new research data, the economic threshold is slightly above one wireworm per bait sample before planting. Soil insecticides have had a suppressive effect on beneficial predators in sugarcane studies.

Sowing Season

The selection of an appropriate planting method and schedule greatly influences crop growth, maturity, and yield. Since low temperature and moisture stress are detrimental to germination and subsequent establishment, the planting season in subtropical regions is preferably spring. But in areas where winter is severe enough to restrict growth or even kill sugarcane, planting material may only be available in autumn, thus necessitating pre-winter planting. In tropical regions, particularly where irrigation is not practised, a sufficiently moist season should be selected for planting and establishment.

There are two planting seasons: fall and spring. Fall planting starts from the first week of September and continues to mid-October in Punjab and Sindh, while in the NWFP planting is done in October and November. Spring planting starts in mid-February and lasts until the end of March in Punjab and Sindh. These planting times are strictly observed because late planting can reduce the yield by as much as 30 per cent.

Seed rate and planting pattern:

Appropriate seed rate and spacing are often overlooked by farmers, with the result that the optimal plant population is not achieved, which is the key factor in sugarcane production. The seed rate and spacing between rows differ with variety. Thick-cane cultivars like 'BL-4', 'Triton', and 'PR-1000' require a higher seed rate and more space between the rows than thin and medium-cane varieties. Eight to nine tonnes of stripped cane per hectare for thick varieties, and six to seven tones for medium to thin varieties is sufficient to produce a desired plant population of about 0.15 million canes/ha. A spacing of 1 m between the rows of thick varieties, and 0.60-0.75 m for thin to medium varieties allows sufficient space for operations like intercultural and earthing up.

Seed Rate

Upper Sindh 80-100 mds/acre or 30000-40000 buds/acre

Middle Sindh 80-100 mds/acre or 30000-40000 buds/acre

Lower Sindh  80-100 mds/acre or 30000-40000 buds/acre

Planting Pattern:

Sugarcane may be planted at a row spacing of 90 cm to 1 m. Two budded double sets should be placed end to end in the furrows covered with 2 to 3 cm soil layer. About 3.2 to 4 tonnes of seed (80 to 100 maunds) of thin cane varieties and 4 to 5 tonnes seed (100 to 120 maunds) of thick varieties are sufficient to plant one acre.

Research has shown good yield increases in production and sugar per acre when the planted row was widened to the 15- to 18-inch furrow. Growers who can successfully handle the 24-inch width furrow are encouraged to do so. It is also suggested that the furrow opener be constructed to leave a wide bottom with a slight indentation on each side of the furrow and a slight ridge of loose soil in the middle of the furrow bottom.

Varieties:

Practice healthy seeds of improved varieties of sugarcane. Which can increase cane yield from 20 to 25 per cent. The Sugarcane varieties recommended are given below:

CP-43-33, CP- 77-400, CP 81-1435, ABT super, BF–162, SPSG – 26,

SPF – 234, BL – 4, T - 10

Recommended varieties of Sugarcane.

Lower Sindh (areas south to Hyderabad)

Early maturing: BL –4

Mid-season: PR –1000, BF –129

Late maturing: NIA-98

Upper Sindh (areas north of Hyderabad)

Early maturing: BL-4, L –113, L –116, TRITON, SPSG-26

Late maturing: NIA-98

BL-4 variety flourishes very well in heavy fertile and well-drained soil with good irrigation. As the variety occupied good fields, it established high yields. New variety BF-12-is yet in the stage of multiplication, while SPSG -26 and Th-10, has just been introduced. Results show that 87 per cent planted recommended varieties and the remaining 13 per cent planted non-recommended varieties. The economic life span of sugarcane variety varies from 8 to 10 years and after that replacement of the variety is necessary.

Fertilizer application

According to a survey, the farmers are using one-fourth of chemical fertilizers against the sugarcane crop requirements due to the non-availability of fertilizers and the high cost of the same. Apart from this haphazard use of fertilizer brings no fruit and therefore the farmers do not get the crops to their expectations. The very important job of getting the soil tested before the use of any particular fertilizer is not practiced in our country.

As mentioned earlier fertilizer use in Pakistan is imbalanced and inadequate. Most of the cane growers in the country use only nitrogenous fertilizers while others use an imbalanced combination of N and P. Use of K is almost neglected in cane crop. It is very important to use proper doses of balanced fertilizers to exploit the maximum yield potential of cane crop. Fertilizer recommendations for sugarcane are given below.

Nutrients (kgs acre-1 )       Fertilizer (bags acre-1 )        

NP/2O/5       K/2O     Urea              DAP         MOP/SOP

70-110          50         50-70         2.25-4 2.25    2.5-1.75 / 2-3

All phosphorus, potash, and one-fourth N should be applied when planting. It is preferable that P and K may be applied in furrows where seed sets are to be placed. The rest of the nitrogenous fertilizer may be applied in three equal splits i.e. during April, and May and by mid June to February-March planted crop.

Soil Testing

The best way to define lime, phosphorus and potassium requirements is with a reliable soil test. The soil sample must be collected accurately for the test to be valid. Large fields should be broken up into smaller units for sampling purposes, and the smaller fields intensively sampled, because nutrient and pH levels often vary greatly within fields. Intensive, thorough sampling is the only way to detect these variations and adjust fertilizer and lime rates accordingly. Medium to heavy, pH 5.0-8.5. Liming required if pH < 5, or gypsum if pH > 9.5.

Weed control

Good land preparation is a key factor in controlling weeds. For proper weed control, Gesapax combi (80 WP) may be applied @ 1.4 kg per acre in medium textured soils and @ 1.8 kg per acre in heavy soils in 100 to 120 litres of water. The weedicide should be used with the advice of technical experts.

Irrigation

It is very important to take care of the irrigation requirements of sugarcane, particularly in the summer months. Farmers must plan their acreage to be planted under cane crop according to the available water at their farm. Keep in mind that each field should get at least 16 to 20 irrigations during the crop year adjusting the irrigation schedule according to rainfall in summer.

Table of Irrigation Schedule

March-April: 12-14 days

May-June: 8-10 days

July-August: 10-15 days (if there is no rainfall, irrigation interval should be 8-10 days)

September-October: 15-20 days

November-December: 25-30 days

Control of diseases

For controlling sugarcane diseases, use healthy seeds and preferably plant disease-resistant varieties. Treat the seed with fungicide before planting. The diseased plants from the field should be removed and either buried or burnt.

Harvesting

Stop irrigation 25 to 30 days before harvesting of crop and do not leave the harvested crop for long in the field. In case it has to be kept for a prolonged period, it should be covered with trash. Different varieties planted may be harvested according to their maturity. Harvesting of early maturing varieties may be started during November, mid-season varieties during December and the late maturing varieties during January. The crop harvested during February-March gives good ratoon crop.

When the stem is close to the surface, great vigilance is required in order to cut the maximum portion of the stem, which is valuable both for its weight and sugar content. The harvested cane should be immediately hauled to the mill otherwise weight and sucrose losses may occur. For this purpose, transport should be arranged in advance.