Sugarcane Ratoon Management and Fertilization
Ratoon sugarcane management is an economically important practice in Pakistan, allowing farmers to harvest multiple crops from a single planting. However, ratoon crops require careful management to maintain yields. Fertilizer program for ratoon sugarcane: - Immediately after harvest: Apply 2 bags DAP per acre - At earthing up: 2-3 bags urea per acre - Mid-season: 1 bag SOP per acre - Micronutrients: Zinc and iron sulphate as needed Critical ratoon management practices: - Shave stubbles close to ground level - Fill gaps with setts from the same variety - Manage irrigation carefully in early stages - Control weeds aggressively in the first 60 days Well-managed ratoon crops can achieve 80-90% of plant crop yields at significantly lower cost due to savings on land preparation and seed material.