Question

What are the merits and demerits of ratooning sugarcane?

Answer 1

Hint:
Ratooning is an agricultural technique in which the shoot of the plant is harvested and the apices of the shoot and the roots are left as it is so that a fresh new plant can grow from it. Ratooning makes the sugarcane cultivation more sustainable and profitable.

Complete answer:
Ratooning is an agricultural technique in which the shoot of the plant is harvested and the roots and the shoot apices are left as it is so that a fresh new plant grows from it. Thus, ratooning refers to the rearing and nurturing of sprouts from subterranean buds following harvesting of planted crops into the commercial crop.
The number of ratoons in a sugarcane production cycle may vary depending upon climatic conditions of the area. In India and China one crop and followed by one ratoon per cycle is the most productive. Whereas in Cuba, Mauritius and Venezuela there can be six or more ratoons per cycle, thus making the process more productive there.
Merits
> Sugarcane ratooning is an integral part of the sugarcane-based cropping system.
> Ratooning makes the sugarcane cultivation more sustainable and profitable.
> One of the chief advantages of ratoon crops is that the production cost is very low and very convenient for the farmer.
> Another equally important benefit of ratoon crops is that it has a shorter life span. It matures 3 – 4 weeks earlier and vacates the field for another set of ratoon crops to grow.
Demerits
> The ratoon crops cannot be renewed infinitely.
> They can only be harvested for a few seasons.
> A significant decline in the yields can be observed in such plants because ratooning causes crowding and the soil does not have time to get replenished.
> In general, the ratoon yields are lower as compared to the crop yields.
> Moreover, the soil may get contaminated due to overuse of fertilizers and pesticides as they require more fertilizers and are more prone to pest attacks.

Note:
In India, ratoon crops occupy 50 – 55% of the total cane acreage, but its contribution towards total cane production is low and only about 30 – 35% due to poor yield of ratoon cane crops.
The earliest traces of crop ratooning in India can be dated back to the Vedic age.