Effect Number of Buds per Sett and Sett Spacing on Yield of Sugarcane at Metahara Sugar Estate

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Metahara Sugar Estate from 2008-2013 cropping period in plant cane and two ratoon crops in order  to evaluate the effect of different number of buds per sett (2 buds(check), 3 buds, 4 buds and 5 buds setts) and two within row spacings (end-to-end and 5 cm overlapping (check)) using six sugarcane varieties in three setts of experiments viz., Set I (B52298, Co680), Set II (NCo334,Co678), Set III (Mex54/245,B41/227) on yield and yield components of sugarcane. The experiment was carried out in split plot design in three replications, where varieties were assigned as a main plot and combination of number of buds per sett and intra-row spacing were assigned as a sub-plot. Analysis of variance revealed that irrespective of the varieties, soils and crop types, sett type and placement didn’t affect cane and sugar yields. Whereas, considering the cost benefit analysis using five budded setts as a planting material is mandatory with the benefit of reduce seed cane preparation and transportation cost, increasing of labour efficiency, increasing laborers income, and saving extra land for commercial cane production. Therefore, it is recommended that Metahara sugar estate can use five budded sett in end-to-end sett arrangements for all varieties under study.