AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

SUGARCANE

The following table gives the acreage under sugar crops in each taluka of the district in 1956-57: —

TABLE No. 22

AREA UNDER SUGAR CROPS (TALUKAWISE) IN JALGAON DISTRICT, 1956-57.

(In acres)

Oos

Oos (sugarcane) is usually taken in the rich black soils, though the results form highly manured light soils are also found to be satisfactory. In growing sugarcane, care is taken not to plant it on the same field more than once in three years; in the intervening years, dry crops are taken. After first ploughing, about 30 to 100 cart-loads of fram yard manure per acre are spread. Then the field is again ploughed once or twice so as to mix the manure thoroughly with the soil. Bigger clods are powdered by means of a wooden mallet and the surface is smoothened. The land is finally ploughed and put into ridges and furrows. Necessary channels are prepared for irrigation before planting.

Sugarcane is a twelve month crop. Selected chopping or sets (seed cane cut into pieces) are planted in January. On the third day after planting, first watering (ambuni) is done; second watering (nimbum) is given after the seventh dav. Then follow regular waterings at intervals of eight days, except when it is raining. As soon as rain ceases, a light watering (veravani) is given to wash away the rain water which might prove harmful to the roots because of its coldness. Nearly a month after planting, hoeing is done three times at one month's interval after which hand-weeding is done. At the time of earthing up, about 150 lbs. to 200 lbs. of nitrogen per acre are applied as a top dressing in the form of ground-nut cake and sulphate of ammonia in equal proportions. When the crop becomes yellow, the canes break at nods when snapped, and when hard wound is produced on beating the cane with knuckles, the cane is considered as fully ripe.

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