Evaluating the effect of sugarcane planting methods on growth and radiation use efficiency of its different varieties

To examine the growth and radiation use efficiency (RUE) of different sugarcane cultivars (HSF 240, CP 77-400 & CPF 249) under two planting methods (2.5 feet apart single row, a farmers’ practice, and 4 feet apart dual rows deep trench plantings, a recommended practice) at Research Farm of Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI), Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad during 2019-20. The experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design with split-plot arrangement in three repeats. The results showed maximum dry matter (3348.24 g m-2), CGR (21.49 g m-2 day-1), mean CGR (12.78 g m-2 day-1), LAI (7.81), leaf area duration (1290.32 days), along with radiation use efficiency for total dry matter (2.16 g MJ-1) and cane yield (6.32 g MJ-1) in 4 feet apart dual rows trench planting in comparison to 2.5 feet apart single row trench planting, 2.08 g MJ-1 and 5.70 g MJ-1, respectively. On the other hand, higher dry matter (3451.42 g m-2), CGR (21.54 g m-2 day-1), mean CGR (13.16 g m-2 day-1), LAI (8.01), LAD (1324.58 days), RUE for dry matter production (2.20 g MJ-1) and cane yield (6.53 g MJ-1) was recorded in variety CP 77-400, a direct introduction to SRI, as compared with local material, HSF 240 and CPF 249 and occupying large area in whole Punjab-Pakistan.