Sugarcane Production In China Research Articles

Occurrence and field evaluation of sugarcane genotypes for resistance to pokkah boeng disease in China

AbstractSugarcane pokkah boeng disease (PBD), caused by aFusariumspecies complex, is one of the most critical diseases causing a significant economic loss of sugarcane production in China. It is important to standardize the evaluation method for screening sugarcane cultivars for resistance to PBD. Field trials were conducted to investigate the occurrence of sugarcane PBD in different months and growth stages from 2018 to 2019 and to evaluate the PBD resistance of 169 sugarcane genotypes from 2019 to 2022. PBD mainly occurred in the early and middle elongation stages at a plant height of approximately 1–2 m. The most severe and common incidence of PBD was from June to August. Variance analysis showed genotype, year and the interaction of genotype and year had a significant effect on disease incidence and disease index. The 169 sugarcane genotypes were divided into five categories by cluster analysis and discriminant analysis, of which 33 were rated as highly resistant, 37 as resistant, 38 as moderately susceptible, 26 as susceptible and 35 as highly susceptible. These findings enhance our understanding of sugarcane resistance to PBD and lay the foundation for breeding new resistant varieties.

Can Sugarcane Yield and Health Be Altered with Fully Mechanized Management?

At present, fully mechanized cultivation (FMC) has begun to be utilized in commercial sugarcane production in China. To provide new insights into whether cane yield and health are altered by fully mechanized cultivations, the cane yield and endophytic microbial community structure in stems of sugarcane that underwent fully mechanized cultivation (FMC) and conventional artificial cultivation (CAC) were compared. The results showed that the diversity and richness of endophytic microorganisms, except for the bacterial richness in the stems of sugarcane, could be significantly increased by using FMC. Meanwhile, in comparison with CAC, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Ascomycota increased under FMC. Moreover, some dominant endophytic bacterial genera, such as Acidovorax, Microbacterium, and Paenibacillus, and some dominant endophytic fungal genera, such as Scleroramularia, Tetraplosphaeria, and Dinemasporium, were found to be significantly enriched in cane stems under FMC treatments. Additionally, the endophytic microbial functions in sugarcane stems were not significantly altered by FMC treatments. Our results suggest that cane growth, yield, and health are not significantly altered by FMC. The results also indicate that fully mechanized management can be developed as a sustainable method in sugarcane production.

Reconciling productivity, profitability and sustainability of small-holder sugarcane farms: A combined life cycle and data envelopment analysis

CONTEXTSustainable crop production is critical to address the grand challenges of climate change and food security, and eco-efficiency is increasingly used to assess systems sustainability. Sugarcane is a major high biomass, high input sugar and bioenergy crop but with a relatively large carbon footprint. China is the third largest sugarcane producing country. However, its production eco-efficiency remains unclear. A reliable assessment of sugarcane crop production eco-efficiency is necessary to identify the most important targets and effective strategies to improve its economic and environmental outputs. OBJECTIVESThis study aimed to i) establish an eco-efficiency assessment model framework suitable for sugarcane crop production system in general, ii) quantify the eco-efficiency of sugarcane production in China, and iii) propose strategies to improve sugarcane crop productivity, sustainability and economic profit, while reducing its environmental cost. METHODSHere, based on farmer survey data, we combined life cycle assessment (LCA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) to determine eco-efficiency and sustainability of small-holder sugarcane farm production system in southern China. Six modelling approaches, including both input- and output-oriented, were used to assess sugarcane agriculture eco-efficiency. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSAn output-oriented DEA model with yield and profit as desirable and carbon footprint as undesirable outputs proved to be superior to the other approaches for sugarcane production eco-efficiency assessment. The estimated average eco-efficiency of plant (first year) and ratoon (second year) crops were 0.803 and 0.869, respectively. Under this model, yield and profit were increased by 16.6% and 180% for plant crop, and 9.62% and 38.2% for ratoon crop, respectively, with a substantial reduction, up to 28%, in carbon footprint. The farm performance analysis indicated that the most eco-efficient farmers had large farms with crop rotation systems, lower fertiliser input, a relatively higher education, more acceptance of new farming practices and products, and better access to agriculture resources, compared with eco-inefficient farmers. SIGNIFICANCEAdopting the model outputs reported here will help eco-inefficient farmers to narrow their productivity gap, increase profit and make Chinese sugarcane farming more eco-efficient. This is the first report of eco-efficiency and sustainability assessment in sugarcane production using LCA + DEA framework, with potential for adopting it to other agricultural systems.

SUSTAINABLE SUGARCANE CROPPING IN CHINA

<List> <ListItem><ItemContent> ● Cost escalation and declining profits evident in sugarcane production in China. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> ● Monoculture and fertilizer overuse causes poor soil health, crop productivity plateau. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> ● Matching crop nutrient demand and supply key to recovery of sugarcane soils. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> ● Inorganic inputs need to be replaced with organic sources to restore soil health and sustainability. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> ● Integrated multidisciplinary solution for sustainable sugarcane cropping system needed. </ItemContent></ListItem></List> Demand for sugar is projected to grow in China for the foreseeable future. However, sugarcane production is unlikely to increase due to increasing production cost and decreasing profit margin. The persisting sugarcane yield plateau and the current cropping system with fertilizer overuse, soil acidification and pests and diseases remain the major productivity constraints. Sugarcane agriculture supports the livelihood of about 28 million farmers in South China; hence, sustaining it is a socioeconomic imperative. More compellingly, to meet the ever-increasing Chinese market demand, annual sugar production must be increased from the current 10 Mt to 16 Mt by 2030 of which 80% to 90% comes from sugarcane. Therefore, increasing sugar yield and crop productivity in an environmentally sustainable way must be a priority. This review examines the current Chinese sugarcane production system and discuss options for its transition to a green, sustainable cropping system, which is vital for the long-term viability of the industry. This analysis shows that reducing chemical inputs, preventing soil degradation, improving soil health, managing water deficit, provision of clean planting material, and consolidation of small farm holdings are critical requirements to transform the current farming practices into an economically and environmentally sustainable sugarcane cropping system.

English

Sugarcane smut caused by Sporisorium scitanmineumis the most severe sugarcane disease that causes major economic losses in sugarcane production in China, and disease resistance breeding is an important way of preventing and controlling this disease. In this study, BC3F1lines derived from the cross between YC 73-226 and YCE 06-111 were used to generate sugarcane smut-resistant and -susceptible gene pools using bulked segregant analysis (BSA). Eighty-nine random primers of start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphisms were screened, whereas only primer SCoT44 could stably amplify the specific fragment (HE-Ss44) in the resistant pool. Then, several primer pairs of sequence characterized amplified regions (SCARs) were designed based on the sequence alignment of HE-Ss44 (920 bp), which was recovered after purification, and only one pair of SCAR primers (Ss44-F2/R2, forward: 5'-GGCGGGCACCGTCGAGTCCACAT-3'; reverse: 5'-CCGTCCGTCGG TCTCGTCCTTACG-3') could stably amplify a 400-bp specific band in resistant gene pool and its individuals. A validation test of SCAR marker Ss44-F2/R2 was performed using 34 sugarcane cultivars with known smut resistance, which revealed a selection accuracy of 82.35% between marker detection and known smut resistance. Moreover, Pearson’s correlation analysis also showed that the SCAR marker Ss44-F2/R2 was significantly correlated (r= 0.583, P= 0.0003 &lt; 0.01) with the smut resistance trait in sugarcane. In addition, the nucleotide sequence of HE-Ss44 linked with smut-resistancewas not aligned to the homologous sequence in GenBank (NCBI), and the accession number was MG740763. The SCAR marker Ss44-F2/R2 developed in this study can be used for the rapid detection of smut resistance in sugarcane and may be utilized as reference for the improvement of sugarcane smut resistance based on molecular marker-assisted selection.© 2021 Friends Science Publishers

Overexpression of SoACLA-1 Gene Confers Drought Tolerance Improvement in Sugarcane

Drought is one of the most severe stresses which limit sugarcane production in China. ATP citrate lyase (ACL) is a major enzyme responsible for the production of acetyl-CoA in cytoplasm and plays an important role in plant metabolism and stress response. In this study, sugarcane ACL gene SoACLA-1 was cloned. The plant overexpression vector of SoACLA-1 was built and transformed into sugarcane calli by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and PCR analysis confirmed that SoACLA-1 gene had been stably present in the T0, T1, and T2 generations of the transgenic sugarcane. In order to evaluate the drought resistance of the transgenic lines and verify the function of SoACLA-1 gene in the transgenic sugarcane, T1 generation of the SoACLA-1 transgenic sugarcane lines was used as the material to investigate the physiological and biochemical characteristics at 0 day, 3 days, 6 days, and 9 days after water stress and rewatering for 3 days. Comprehensive evaluation of four indicators (chlorophyll, malondialdehyde, proline, soluble sugar) related to drought resistance was done with membership fuzzy function method. The results showed that the drought resistance of five transgenic sugarcane lines from strong to weak, in turn, was RT2 > RT4 > RT3 > RT1 > WT, and the recovery ability after drought, in turn, was RT1 > RT2 > RT4 > RT3 > WT. The T2 generation of the SoACLA-1 transgenic sugarcane lines was used to analyze the physiological and biochemical changes and the expression of drought-related genes under water stress. The results showed that the transgenic sugarcane lines were more tolerant to drought as compared with the wild-type plants. Our findings indicated that SoACLA-1 gene plays an important role as a positive factor in response to water stress, and overexpression of SoACLA-1 can enhance drought tolerance in transgenic sugarcane plants.

Effect of Deep Vertical Rotary Tillage on Soil Properties and Sugarcane Biomass in Rainfed Dry-Land Regions of Southern China

Conventional tillage (CT) is the main agricultural practice for rainfed sugarcane production in China. However, subsoil compaction formed by long-term CT is harmful to soil properties and crop yield. Deep vertical rotary tillage (DVRT) is a novel tillage practice, which can alleviate subsoil compaction and create a more favorable soil environment for crop growth. This study aims to compare the effects of DVRT and CT practices on soil properties and sugarcane characteristics. The results showed that DVRT reduced soil bulk density and increased soil porosity to some extent in the 0–40 cm soil profile. Soil water storage of DVRT was relatively higher compared with CT due to the combined effects of soil water holding capacity and vegetation water consumption. There was significantly higher final aboveground biomass, underground biomass, and plant height from DVRT compared to CT (p &lt; 0.05), but there were no differences in final root length between tillage practices. Compared with CT, DVRT with one and two growth-years significantly increased aboveground biomass by 68.90% and 50.14%, respectively. Generally, the soil properties and sugarcane characteristics were not significantly different between DVRT with different growth years. DVRT is recommended as a tillage practice for sustainable agriculture in rainfed regions.

Developing genetically segregating populations for localization of novel sugarcane brown rust resistance genes

Brown rust caused by Puccinia melanocephala H. Sydow & P. Sydo is an important sugarcane disease that severely threatens sugarcane production in China. Breeding and planting resistant cultivars is the most cost-effective and efficient strategy for the control the disease. In addition, exploration, research, and utilization of resistant genes are the basis for resistance breeding. In the present study, four sugarcane varieties without the Bru1 gene and highly resistant to brown rust were used as male parents, and four varieties highly susceptible to brown rust were used as the female parents to configure hybrids. Six F1 hybrid populations were subjected to authenticity determination using SSR markers, brown rust resistance phenotype identification using artificial inoculation, and molecular detection of Bru1 gene. The results showed that the genetic segregation ratios in F1 hybrid populations of Yuetang 03-393 (HS) × ROC24 (HR) and Liucheng 03-1137 (HS) × Dezhe 93-88 (HR) were 3R:1S and 1R:3S, respectively, and Bru1 gene was not detected in their F1 hybrids. The results indicated that two dominant novel genes controlled brown rust resistance in Yuetang 03-393 (HS) × ROC24 (HR) and two recessive novel genes controlled brown rust resistance in Liucheng 03-1137 (HS) × Dezhe 93-88 (HR). Two genetically segregating populations that could be used for the localization of novel brown rust resistance genes were developed in the present study, and could lay a suitable foundation and provide theoretical reference for the analysis of the genetic mechanism of brown rust resistance, genetic map construction, mapping of novel resistance genes and the development of closely associated molecular markers in the future.

Isolation, Transformation and Overexpression of Sugarcane SoP5CS Gene for Drought Tolerance Improvement

Drought is one of the very important growth-limiting factors for sugarcane production in China. Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS) is the rate-limiting enzyme in proline synthesis, and it plays an important role in plant response to drought stress. In this study, sugarcane P5CS (SoP5CS) gene was cloned and submitted in GenBank with the accession number KJ546350. The gene SoP5CS was 2151 bp in length, encoding 716 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 77.73 kDa and an isoelectric point of 6.14. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of SoP5CS was higher in leaf than in root and stalk, and strongly induced under ABA, PEG, NaCl and 4 °C treatments. The plant excessive expression vector of SoP5CS was built and transformed into sugarcane calli by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method, and transgenic sugarcane plants were obtained. Under drought stress, some transgenic lines with overexpressed SoP5CS showed significantly higher in SoP5CS expression level, proline accumulation, abscisic acid content, superoxide dismutase activity and relative water content but lower MDA content and chlorophyll (SPAD value) decrease as compared with the WT plants. Moreover, all the transgenic plants increased drought stress tolerance. Our findings indicated that SoP5CS plays an important role in response to abiotic stresses and overexpression of SoP5CS can improve drought tolerance in transgenic sugarcane plants.

Identification of field resistance and molecular detection of the brown rust resistance gene Bru1 in new elite sugarcane varieties in China

Brown rust, caused by Puccinia melanocephala has become a serious problem for sugarcane production in China. Therefore, 50 new elite varieties bred by the Chinese Sugarcane System were screened for brown rust resistance and the presence of a major resistance gene, Bru1. Identification of field resistance and molecular detection of the brown rust resistance gene Bru1 in the 50 new elite varieties and 2 main cultivated varieties were carried out in 2014 and 2015 at regional experimental stations of the China Sugarcane System in Dehong and Baoshan, Yunnan Province, where the incidence of brown rust is particularly high. Resistance evaluations based on ratings of symptom severity resulting from field infection showed that 32 (64%) of the 50 new elite varieties were highly resistant (n = 13, 26%), resistant (n = 16, 32%) and moderately resistant (n = 3, 6%). Molecular detection identified Bru1 in 27 (54%) of these resistant varieties suggesting that brown rust resistance in these new elite varieties is primarily controlled by Bru1. The absence of Bru1 in the remaining five resistant suggested the presence of additional brown rust resistance genes. Two main cultivated varieties were highly resistant and Bru1-positive varieties. Different series differed in the frequencies of resistant and Bru1-positive varieties. Yunzhe series varieties had the highest frequency of resistant varieties (87.5%) and the highest frequency of Bru1-positive varieties (81.3%); In contrast, the Yuetang series varieties had the lowest frequency of resistant varieties (40%) and the lowest frequency of Bru1-positive varieties (30%). In this study, we defined the field resistance of 50 new elite varieties to brown rust, and determined the distribution of brown rust resistant gene Bru1 in different series varieties. These results will provide new options for commercial production with effective resistance to brown rust. Moreover, these new elite resistant varieties can be used for subsequent breeding and selection to produce agronomically superior varieties with effective brown rust resistance.

甘蔗钾营养研究进展

甘蔗是一种喜钾作物，钾利于提高甘蔗产量与增强抗逆性。国内外已开展许多与甘蔗钾营养相关的研究。本文综述了甘蔗钾营养的相关研究，它们主要集中在：对甘蔗光合作用等生理活动的影响，对甘蔗生长和产量形成的影响，甘蔗对钾的吸收积累与分配特性，甘蔗对钾吸收利用的基因型差异，蔗田土壤钾素形态转化与释放，蔗田土壤钾素肥力分级，甘蔗钾肥施用方式和用量，其他元素对甘蔗钾吸收利用的影响，钾提高甘蔗耐盐性及钠-钾替代，提高甘蔗其他抗性等方面。希望通过对这些研究的总结分析，以指导我国在该领域的研究，推动我国甘蔗生产的健康发展。 Sugarcane is a kind of crop that is addicted to potassium. Potassium enhances sugarcane yield and stress resistance. Many research papers related to potassium nutrition in sugarcane have been carried out both at home and abroad. Studies on potassium nutrition in sugarcane are reviewed in this paper, which mainly includes the effects of potassium on physiological activities such as photosynthesis in sugarcane, the effects of potassium on growth and yield of sugarcane; potassium accumulation and distribution in sugarcane; genotype differences in potassium uptake in sugarcane; potassium transformation and release in sugarcane field; soil potassium grading of sugarcane field; the effects of other elements on the utilization of potassium; potassium increases the salinity tolerance and sodium-potassium substitution; potassium increases other resistance of sugarcane. It is hoped that these studies can guide our research in this field and to promote the healthy development of sugarcane production in China.

Identification and Efficiency of a Nitrogen-fixing Endophytic Actinobacterial Strain from Sugarcane

Sugarcane production in China mostly uses a high amount of chemical nitrogen (N) as compared to the average use of other countries. A microbe-based alternative may help to manage this problem in ecofriendly manner. Therefore, the present study focused on the characterization of a sugarcane growth-promoting nitrogen-fixing endophytic actinobacteria. The actinobacterial strain WZS021 was identified on the basis of morphology, biology and sequencing of 16S rRNA, gyrB and acdS gene amplification. The nitrogenase activity was determined with acetylene reduction assay and effects of different nutritional conditions were evaluated, and 15N isotope dilution method was used to determine the N-fixing capability under sugarcane seedlings in the pot. The strain was identified as Streptomyces chartreusis, by three genes (16S rRNA, gyrB and acdS), but nifH gene showed similarity with Bacillus and these results showed nitrogen fixation ability and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase enzyme production ability at the molecular level. Moreover, strain WZS021 showed maximum nitrogenase enzyme production under pH 8 and sustained at higher temperature. Different carbon sources have less influence on nitrogenase activity. However, small amounts of N source can stimulate the nitrogenase activity, but after certain concentration it starts to inhibit the enzyme activity. Next to this, in the 15N isotope pot assay strain WZS021 significantly enhanced the dry weight of shoot and root by 20 and 75%, and N content increased by 30 and 36%, respectively. The N-fixation percentage of strain WZS021 under sugarcane seedlings was 9.16%. Overall, N-fixing ability of Streptomyces chartreusis strain WZS021 was characterized, and sugarcane biomass enhancement and substantial %Ndfa indicated that the promising strain could be applied in sugarcane as a growth promoter.

Evaluating Sugarcane Productivity in China over Different Periods Using Data Envelopment Analysis and the Malmquist Index

Nonparametric methods of data envelopment analysis and the Malmquist Index (MI), both based on a time-series analysis, were applied to examine the production efficiency performance and trend of China’s sugar industry from 2004 to 2013 in the four main sugarcane-growing regions of Guangxi, Yunnan, Guangdong and Hainan provinces, which produce more than 90 % of the total sugarcane production in China. The data used in the analysis were from ‘All China Data Compilation of Costs and Returns of Main Agricultural Products (2005–2014)’ of the Price Department of the National Development and Reform Commission. Our analysis revealed that the comprehensive efficiency of sugarcane production in China was relatively low. The average scores of technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency were 0.760, 0.954 and 0.792, respectively. These scores decreased yearly from 1.000, 1.000 and 1.000 in 2004 to 0.507, 0.978 and 0.518 in 2013, respectively, resulting in a negative impact on the development of the Chinese sugar industry. Additionally, the analysis based on the MI also demonstrated a decline in the trend of sugarcane productivity during 2004–2013 with the total factor productivity index score of 0.894, a slight increase in the technical generalization level with the technical efficiency change index score of 1.002 and a decrease in technological innovation with the technical change index score of 0.880. Our study clearly indicates that Chinese sugarcane productivity needs significant improvement.

Mechanization technology: The key to sugarcane production in China

Sugarcane is an important cash crop in southern China now planted on about 1.5 million ha in the main production areas in Guangxi, Zhuang Autonomous Region and Yunnan, Guangdong, and Hainan Provinces. Since the cost of labor in China is increasing rapidly and the price of local sugar is uncompetitive with the product from mechanized international producers, China needs to change its sugarcane production methods from manual work to mechanization in order to catch up with international trends in this global industry. Although a lot of effort in China have gone into sugarcane mechanization since the 1960s, the overall level of mechanization in sugarcane production is still only approximately 30%, which is about 20% lower than that achieved in the other main field crops. Almost all of the sugarcane grown in China is still harvested by hand. In order to summarize past experience and promote the mechanization of sugarcane production in China, this paper reviews the whole process of developing mechanization since 1960s and describes the current state of sugarcane mechanization in China. The research currently being undertaken and the main obstacles to be overcome in developing a mechanized sugarcane production system, are described. The design and testing of sugarcane harvesting machinery and its key components has been a significant research area by some Chinese universities, research institutes, and manufacturing companies in these past decades. This paper reviews that research and outlines the main achievements which have been made in this area. Mechanized harvesting systems for sugarcane, and the appropriate harvesting patterns suitable for different growing conditions applying in China, have also been studied. The paper concludes with some comments on the future directions for progress in China

Heralding a new era for sugar industry in China: Post IS-2004 scenario

The International Symposium on Sustainable Sugarcane and Sugar Production Technology (IS-2004), was successfully held from November 29 to December 2, 2004 in Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China. It was a mega event in the history of Chinese sugar industry and was attended by over 270 delegates from 20 major sugarcane growing countries. The IS-2004 Proceedings and Technical Sessions of this symposium generated tremendous enthusiasm amongst everybody related to sugarcane industry and rekindled the hope of its glorious future. A special session “Sugar Industry Across the Globe” provided a unique platform for the participants to share about problems and prospects of sugar industry in their country. Sugarcane production in China has more than 3000 years of glorious history, documented in religious and historical literature. Prior to 1840 A.D., China dominated the world trade of cane sugar but in the later period the sugar industry became very weak due to long time of wars and unstable social conditions. It has been developing rapidly again since early 1980s. Currently, China is the third largest sugar producer in the world with 10.02 million tons of sugar output in 2003–04 milling year, and sugarcane contributed to 94.0% of the total sugar output. Guangxi is the biggest sugarcane growing province in China producing over 5.88 million tons of white sugar which occupied 58.4% of the total sugar and 62.3% of the cane sugar produced in China, respectively. China has developed a series of unique and effective technologies for sustainable sugarcane and sugar production, especially for sugarcane production in upland area which occupies 90% of the total sugarcane production in China, maintaining cane yield in the range of 60 to 70 tons cane per hectare. Many sugarcane scientists and development officials after assessing the potential of Chinese sugar industry have remarked that China will be a Sugar Super Power, if sugarcane research and sugar industry continue to maintain its pace of current development.

China: An emerging sugar super power

Sugarcane production in China has more than 3000 years of history. Prior to 1840 A.D., China dominated the world trade of cane sugar but the sugar industry became very week since then due to long time of wars and unstable social conditions. It has been developing rapidly again since early 1980s. China has become the third largest sugar producer in the world with 10.02 million tons of sugar output in 2003/04 and sugarcane contributed to 94.0% of the total sugar output. Guangxi is the biggest sugarcane growers Province in China, and it produced 5.88 tons of sugar which occupied 58.4% of the total sugar and 62.3% of the cane sugar in China, respectively in 2003/04. The other two key sugarcane and cane sugar producing Provinces in China are Yuanan and Guangdong Province. The capitation consumption of sugar was 6.9 kg/person in 2002, and it has increased rapidly in the recent years. Drought is the most important constraint for the sugarcane production, and other key limitations include low temperature, frost, insect pests (mainly borers, aphids, thripid and scarabs), diseases (mainly ratoon stunting disease, mosaic, pineapple and smut), weeds and rats. China has established its unique effective technologies for sugarcane production especially for the production in upland which occupied 90% of the total sugarcane growing area in the country. The millable cane productivity remained 60 to 70 tons/ha in China in the recent years. More than 100 sugarcane varieties have been bred and released for commercial sugarcane production since 1950s, and the variety GT11, bred by the Guangxi Sugarcane Research Institute and released since December 1980, boasts the biggest commercialised area, that is, 1.33 million hectares of land area since 1985. The ratoon crops occupied about two third of the total sugarcane growing area, Inappropriate field management and diseases like ratoon stunting disease and mosaic are the most important factors that limit the commercial ratoon cane productivity at present. The milling duration is from mid November to the end of April next year, and chemical ripening has been used to increase the sucrose % cane at early milling stage. The intercropping is very popular in the sugarcane fields with various crops such as vegetables, melons, pulse crops, potato, corn, mushrooms and green manure crops.