There is wide space between my sugarcane rows in the early months. Can I intercrop something useful without hurting the cane in Maharashtra?
Can I intercrop pigeon pea or groundnut in my sugarcane (ganna)?
VVikas Jadhav7 महीने पहले · 274 व्यू
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🌾Farmer.in Krishi Teamविशेषज्ञ ✓7 महीने पहले
Yes, wide spaced sugarcane, especially under paired row or trench planting, leaves room early on for a short duration intercrop before the cane canopy closes, and farmers commonly use pulses, onion, groundnut, or vegetables. The intercrop must mature and be harvested before the cane grows tall and needs the full space, light, and water, so choose a short duration crop and keep it in the inter row strip without crowding the cane base. Legume intercrops add some nitrogen and help the soil. Do not let the intercrop compete with cane during its early establishment and grand growth, and keep the cane fertiliser and irrigation on schedule. For suitable intercrops and the row layout for your planting method, check with your local KVK or sugar mill cane staff.
TTukaram Shinde6 महीने पहले
I grow onion between my trench planted cane rows in the early months. It is out before the cane closes the canopy and gives me good extra income without dropping cane yield.
SSanjay Pawar6 महीने पहले
A short duration pulse worked well for me as an intercrop because it adds some nitrogen and is harvested early before the cane needs the full space. I keep it strictly in the strip between the rows and away from the cane base. The trick is choosing something that finishes early, not a long crop that competes with the cane.
DDattatraya Kale6 महीने पहले
One caution, do not let the intercrop tempt you into skimping on the cane's own water and fertiliser during its early grand growth, or the cane yield drops and you lose more than the intercrop earns. Keep the cane schedule first and treat the intercrop as a bonus from the spare early space. Trench or paired row planting gives the most room for this.