Agrotechnologies to Enhance Sugarcane Productivity in India

Sugarcane productivity is stagnating in India. Demand for sugarcane is increasing. Scope for extending sugarcane area in the country is limited. Under these circumstances, emphasis must be on increasing sugarcane productivity. Technologies such as situation-specific cultivars, newer planting techniques, heat therapy or meristem culture derived quality seed material, site-specific and cultivar-specific nutrient management, drip irrigation, fertigation, integrated weed management, abiotic and biotic stress management, etc. have the potential to increase yields substantially. This paper reviews some of the recent developments in these areas and suggests how these technologies can be applied at field level to enhance productivity.