In a release issued by media liaison unit of Punjab agriculture department on Thursday, the agriculture spokesman said that duration between first week of February to mid March was best suitable for spring sugarcane crop sowing.
He advised farmers to sow only registered high yielding varieties of sugarcane adding that early varieties included CPF- 243, HSF-240, HSF-242, CP- 77-400 and CPF-237.
Varieties including SPF-245, SPF-234, SPF-213, CPF-246, CPF- 247, and CPF-248 can be sown in case the sowing gets a little bit late while COJ-84 can be sown as the late sown variety.
He warned that farmers should not sow the prohibited varieties including Triton, COL-54, CO-1148 (Indian), COL-29, COL-44, BL-4, L-116, L-118, SPF-238, and BF-162.
He said that in case of normal weather conditions and in time sowing, seeds having four eyes should be sown at the rate of 13000 to 15000 per acre. Seeds having three eyes should be sown at the rate of 17000 to 20000 per acre. Experts said that the number of seed can be obtained from 100-120 Maund sugarcane.
Land be prepared by deep ploughing and then be levelled. Ridger be utilized to prepare 10-12 inch deep lines separated by four feet distance.
Phosphorous and Potash be applied and seed be sown. The sown seed be covered by thin layer of soil by hand or feet and light water be applied. Water application be repeated after suitable duration when the field is dry. Farmers should keep repeating need-based water application till the germination.