Abstract

                                A field experiment was conducted at Sugarcane Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Sirugamani during (Plant crop) 2017-18 to find out the effect of intercropping and double row planting on growth attributes, the yield of sugarcane under the Sustainable sugarcane initiative. The experiments were laid out in a strip plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments comprised of crop geometry viz., M1- 150 x 60 cm Single row planting, M2-150 x 60 cm Double row planting, M3- 180 x 60 cm Single row planting, and M4-180 x 60 cm Double row planting. The sub plot treatments were S1- Sole crop of Sugarcane, S2-Sugarcane + Greengram (Aduthurai 3), S3- Sugarcane + Blackgram (Vamban 5) and S4- Sugarcane + Sunnhemp (Co 1). The intercrops were raised in additive series viz., 3 rows under a row spacing of 150 cm in sugarcane and 4 rows under 180 cm. The recommended schedule of drip fertigation for the Sustainable sugarcane initiative was followed by using a surface drip irrigation system. Observations on growth attributes, and yield parameters were taken under the Sustainable sugarcane initiative. The results revealed that higher growth attributes and higher cane yield of sugarcane were also recorded under 150 cm double row planting of sugarcane with sunnhemp (M2S4).

Key words : Sustainable sugarcane initiative (SSI); Inter cropping; Growth; Yield