Main Sugarcane Research Station

Junagadh Agricultural University

Kodinar-362725

Year of Establishment: 1958

The research work on sugarcane was initiated at Agricultural Research Station, Kodinar and Vyara in the Ex. Bombay State during 1958-59. In 1972, when Gujarat Agricultural University came into existence, the technical control of the sugarcane research was at Junagadh. All these research schemes were shifted to Kodinar, in Junagadh district during June-2000. Kodinar centre of Junagadh Agricultural University is the main sugarcane research station in Gujarat with the mandate to take up multidisciplinary production technology for increasing production in Gujarat. This centre is located at the southern coastal belt of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic zone-7, 5 km away from Kodinar city and 136 km away from Junagadh.

1.  To develop early, midlate and late maturing sugarcane varieties suitable for this region in respect of yield and quality parameters.

2.  To determine appropriate cultural practices in respect of nutrient management, time of planting, spacing, intercropping etc for the recommended varieties.

3.  Testing centre for oilseeds crops like groundnut, sesame etc.

4.  To conduct Locational trials of bajra and wheat.

5.  Maintenance and evaluation of Germplasm of sugarcane.

6.  Seed production programme of all released variety of sugarcane.

1.  To evaluate the Coimbatore canes under different agro-climatic conditions.

2.· To work out appropriate sugarcane based cropping system under different farming situation.

3.  To develop sugarcane varieties resistance to salinity, drought and water logging conditions.

4.  To develop production technology under limited water, poor quality of irrigation water and saline soils of costal area.

5.  To identify the pest and diseases its nature of damage and to work out its control measures.

6.  To screen the most stable sugarcane variety for South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone of Gujarat.

7.  To find out the nutrient and water requirement of promising varieties of sugarcane.

8.  To develop the economical agronomic package of practices for sugarcane crop.

A. Crop Improvement

(1)  AVT-12 Early I^st Plant Crop

(2)  AVT-12 Midlate I^st Plant Crop

(3)  SVT-12 Early I^st plant Crop

(4)  SVT-12 Midlate I^st Plant Crop

(5)  AVT-12 Early II^nd plant Crop

(6)  AVT-12 Midlate II^nd Plant Crop

(7)  SVT-12 Early II^nd Plant Crop

(8)  SVT-12 Midlate II^nd Plant Crop

(9)  SVT-12 Early Ratoon Crop

(10)  SVT -12 Midlate Ratoon Crop

Location varietal trial of NAU, Navsari

(11) SVT- I^st Plant Crop

(12) SVT- II^nd Plant Crop

(13) SVT- I^st Ratoon Crop

B. Crop Production

(1) Integrated Weed Management in autumn planted sugarcane.

(2) Response of sugarcane (Saccharum complex hybrid) to N,  P and K nano- fertilizers.

(3) Feasibility of seed spices intercropping with autumn-planted sugarcane (Saccharum complex hybrid).

(a) Name of the Agro- climatic zone	:	South Saurashtra Agro-climatic zone
(b) Rainfall	:	Rainfall of last 25 years 1005.76 mm
(c) Soil	:	Alluvial with medium drainage type with average depth of more than 100 cm.
(d) Temperature	:	Min. 11.00C  Max. 39.50C (2017)
(e) Geographical details	:	Climate	:	Sub-tropical
		Longitude	:	690E
		Latitude	:	210N
		Altitude	:	15 m ASL
		Av. Rainfall	:	1450.5 mm
(f) Soil Properties	:	The soil texture varies from sandy clay loam to silty clay loam and low in available nitrogen and low to medium in phosphorus.

Seed Production during 2021-22

Farmer’s recommendations:  

(A) Planting and harvesting:

1.   Farmers of South Saurashtra region are advised to plant sugarcane variety Co. 6304 during middle of November.

2.  Farmers of middle Gujarat agro-climatic zone should plant sugarcane from November end to middle of January. The crop should be harvested between 11 to 14 months of planting for getting higher cane yield and monetary returns.

3.  The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro Climatic Zone - VII interested to grow early sugarcane are advised to plant sugarcane from last week of October to last week of November. The early maturing variety CoC 671 should be harvested between 11 to 12 months of planting and midlate maturing variety CoN 91132 should be harvested between 12 to 14 months of planting for getting higher cane yield and net return.

(B) Seed production:

4.   Farmers of Gujarat state are advised to grow new varieties of sugarcane by adopting either 30 days old seedling at 90 cm x 50 cm spacing or by planting two eye budded sets at 90 cm x 50 cm spacing for getting higher seed multiplication ratio and better seed germination.

5.  Farmers of South Saurashtra agro-climatic zone growing sugarcane are advised to plant two budded sets at a distance of 90 cm between two rows and 80 cm between two sets within the row to get higher seed multiplication ratio of newly released varieties.

(C) Spacing and planting method:

6.  The farmers of South Saurashtra heavy rainfall area are advised to plant sugarcane variety Co. 6304 at 25 cm in pair and 100-125 cm between pairs with application of 300 kg N/ha in four splits (15% at planting + 35 % 5 months after planting) along with phosphorus and potash each @ 125 kg/ha as basal dose for obtaining higher cane and sugar yield as well as better remuneration.

7.  The farmers of South Saurashtra agro-climatic zone growing sugarcane variety Co. 671 are advised to adopt paired row planting (25 cm between rows and 75 cm between pairs) with the recommended doses of N. P. and K.

8.  The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro Climatic Zone- VII interested to grow sugarcane at wider row spacing are advised to plant sugarcane variety Gujarat Sugarcane -5 ( CoN 05071) at  90 cm distance or in  paired rows ((30 : 150 cm) for getting higher cane yield and net returns.

(D) Biofertilizers:

9.   The sugarcane growing farmers of South Saurashtra are advised to use Azotobacter as a biofertilizer @ 2 kg/ha before planting of sugarcane as a soil application along with the recommended dose fertilizer to maximize cane yield and higher monetary return. If farmers want to save 25% N, they may apply Azotobacter biofertilizer to the soil along with 75% N for sustaining sugarcane production.

(E) Weed management:

10.  It is recommended to the sugarcane growers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic region that effective weed control can be achieved by covering with sugarcane trash @ 5 t/ha between the rows. In case of shortage of raw material, the weeds can be effectively controlled by pre emergence application of atrazine @ 2 kg.ai/ha. +2.4-D sodium salt @ 1 kg ai/ha at 60-70 DAP or by keeping weed free condition up to tillering phase through manual weeding. These resulted to a net profit of Rs. 9000 to 10000/ha.

11.  Sugarcane growers of South Gujarat zone are advised to adopt weed control practices by spraying atrazine @ 2 kg ai/ha as pre emergence application followed by 2,4-D salt @ 1 kg ai/ha 8-10 weeks after planting or atrazine alone @ 2 kg ai/ha as pre emergence treatment or 2,4-D sodium salt @ 1 kg ai/ha + paraquat (Gramoxone) @ 0.5 kg ai/ha three weeks after planting to get the most economic and effective control of weeds.

12.  The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro Climatic Zone interested to grow spring–planted sugarcane with intercropping system are advised to grow one row of sesame or green gram or black gram as intercrop without fertilizer application in sugarcane planted at 90 cm row spacing for securing higher yield and net return. Weed control should be done with two hand weeding at 20 and 40 days after sowing of intercrop.

(F) Water management:

13.  The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic zone are advised to irrigate their crop at an IW/CPE ratio of 1.25 involving 46 irrigations, under limited availability of water, the crop may be applied with 39 irrigations (IW/CPE ratio 1.0) or irrigate the crop 34 times at 8-10 days interval using sugarcane trash as mulch.

14.  The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic zone growing sugarcane are advised to use drip method of irrigation to obtain highest cane yield (99.64 t/ha) and gross return (77365 Rs/ha).

15.  Sugarcane growing farmers of South Gujarat are advised to apply six irrigations to midlate variety Co. 6304 at an interval of 20 days after cessation of monsoon. The crop may be supplied with 300 kg N/ha in equal four split at an interval of 75 days for obtaining good quality seed yield.

16.  The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing sugarcane are recommended to adopt drip method of irrigation and plant the crop in paired rows (60-90-60 cm) and irrigate the crop at 0.9 PEF with laying laterals in each paired rows for securing higher cane yield and net return. Nitrogen and potassium should be applied at 80 per cent of recommended dose (i.e. 200-100 N-K2O kg/ha) under drip irrigation in 10 equal splits starting from 45 DAP at an interval of 20 days.

Drip system details:

17.  The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro Climatic Zone interested to grow spring–planted sugarcane under water deficit condition during formative stage are recommended to apply trash mulch @ 5 t/ha at 4-6 days after planting and foliar spray of urea + muriate of potash both @ 2.5 % (2.5 kg urea + 2.5 kg KCl in 100 litres of water) at 60, 80 and 100 days after planting for securing higher cane yield and net return.

(G) Intercropping:

18. It is profitable to adopt green gram and groundnut in that order as inter crops when sugarcane planting coincides with sowing of these crops. It increases production from the unit area due to the additional of inter crops.

Scientific recommendations: One scientific recommendation is released during 2018.

1. Dr. N. U. Dahima, Associate Research Scientist (Agronomy) has been awarded Best Sector Officer Award in Kodinar Taluka during 2014.

2. Dr. P. D. Kumawat, Research Scientist (Sugarcane) has been conferred Young Scientist Award-2017 in “International Conference on Global Research Initiatives for Sustainable Agriculture & Allied Sciences” held at MPUAT, Udaipur during 02-04 December, 2017.

3. Dr. N. U. Dahima, Associate Research Scientist (Agronomy) has been awarded Best Sector Officer Award of 92-Kodinar Assembly Constituency for the year 2017.

4. Dr. P. D. Kumawat, Research Scientist (Sugarcane) has been awarded Best Campus Ambassador of 92-kodinar Assembly Constituency Award-2021 in the celebration of National Voters Day Programme on 25-01-2021. 

5. Prof. K. P. Bhuriya, Assistant Research Scientist has been awarded "Best Article Award" in Agriculture & Food: e-Newsletter for the year of 2020.

6. Prof. K. P. Bhuriya, Assistant Research Scientist has been awarded "Best Outstanding Young Scientist National Award" for the year 2020 from Kamarajar Institute of Education and Research, Theni, Tamil Nadu, India.

The transfer of technology generated by the scientists of University is being disseminated to the various extension agencies and farmers in the following ways:

1.  Participation in the training programmes, “Krishi Mela", farmer's day and Agricultural Exhibition organized by University or other agencies.

2.  Educating students and farmers during visit of this station.

3.  Dissemination of technology through TV, Radio broadcasting, literature, press note, personnel contact/spot field diagnosis etc.

4.  Scientists of this Station are participating in “Krushi Mahotsav” every year during May-June.

5.  Scientists of this Station are carried out extension activity of Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav programme.

1.  Improvement in sugarcane yield with superior quality parameters.

2.  Yield enhancement and stability in production of different maturity groups.

3.  Development of input responsive varieties of sugarcane.

4.  Use of tissue culture techniques in sugarcane improvement for fast multiplication and development of diseases pest resistance varieties.

5.  Technology development for higher production based on integrated nutrient management, efficient water management and other improved technologies of sugarcane cultivation.

Dr. P. D. Kumawat

Research Scientist (Sugarcane)

Main Sugarcane Research Station,

Junagadh Agricultural University,

Kodinar, District: Gir Somnath

Pin-362725

Phone: (O) +91- 02795- 221473

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.