FAISALABAD, Feb 24 (APP): The agriculture experts advised farmers to complete sugarcane cultivation by March 15 and use only approved varieties with recommended seed rate to ensure healthy crop growth and bumper yield.
A spokesman for the agriculture (Extension) department said here on Tuesday that the growers should use 100 to 120 maunds of approved seed per acre for sowing sugarcane crop in deep furrows and they should strictly avoid cultivation of banned varieties as these varieties would cause colossal financial loss for the growers.
He said that farmers can achieve better germination and healthy crop stand by soaking sugarcane seed in a fungicide solution for three to five minutes before sowing.
He recommended applying three and a quarter bags of urea, two bags of DAP and two bags of sulphate of potash per acre in moderately fertile land to obtain better results and a bumper crop.
He advised farmers to apply light irrigation immediately after sowing and irrigate again at appropriate intervals once the furrows dry and the water should be supplied as required until complete germination of the crop, he added.
Cultivation in deep furrows not only saves irrigation water but also protects the crop from lodging and ultimately enhances overall productivity, he added.