AGR - 507 Practical Record [Link]. (Ag.
) 2nd Semester
Practical Notes
AGR - 507: Scientific Cultivation of Oil Seed, Fibre and Sugar Crops
[Link]. (Ag.) 2nd Semester
Object - 1: To Study about the Sowing of Sugarcane Crop
Sugarcane is a long-duration, high-nutrient demanding crop. Proper sowing (planting) deter-
mines the initial plant population and subsequent yield.
1. Preparation of Seed Material (Setts)
• Selection: The top one-third to half of the cane is used for seed because it contains younger,
highly viable buds and higher glucose content, which promotes rapid germination.
• Sett Size: Generally, 3-budded setts are considered ideal.
• Seed Rate: 35,000 to 40,000 three-budded setts per hectare (approx. 75–80 quintals/ha).
• Sett Treatment: Setts are dipped in a 0.1% solution of Carbendazim (Bavistin) or Agallol
for 15–20 minutes to prevent soil-borne diseases. Hot water treatment (50◦ C for 2 hours) is
done to eliminate seed-borne diseases like grassy shoot and smut.
2. Methods of Planting
• Flat Bed Method: Shallow furrows (8-10 cm deep) are opened at 75-90 cm spacing. Setts are
laid end-to-end and covered with soil. Common in Northern India.
• Ridge and Furrow Method: Furrows are made 20-25 cm deep. Setts are planted in the
furrows. This method saves water and makes earthing-up easier.
• Trench Method: Deep trenches (30 cm) are dug at a wider spacing (90-120 cm). Used for
tall-growing, high-yielding varieties to prevent lodging.
• Ring Pit Method: Circular pits (90 cm diameter, 45 cm deep) are dug. This is a high-density
planting system that yields significantly higher cane tonnage.
Object - 2: To Study about the Criteria of Harvesting of Cane at Right
Time
Harvesting sugarcane at peak maturity is critical to maximize sugar recovery. Premature or
delayed harvesting leads to a loss in cane weight and sucrose content.
1. Visual Symptoms
• General yellowing and drying of the lower leaves.
• The cane becomes brittle, and the buds swell (bulging of eyes).
• When struck with a finger or stick, the cane produces a distinct metallic sound (immature
cane gives a dull, thudding sound).
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AGR - 507 Practical Record [Link]. (Ag.) 2nd Semester
• Growth of the internodes ceases, and the topmost leaves appear as a bunch/rosette.
2. Chemical / Juice Tests (Definitive Criteria)
• Hand Refractometer (Brix Reading): A few drops of juice are taken from the middle intern-
ode. A Brix reading of 18% to 20% indicates peak maturity.
• Top-to-Bottom Ratio: Brix readings are taken from the top and bottom portions of the cane.
If the ratio is close to 1.0 (0.9 to 1.0), the cane is uniformly mature.
• Fehling’s Test (Glucose Content): Mature cane should have less than 0.5% reducing sugars
(glucose). High glucose means the sucrose has not yet fully formed or is degrading.
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AGR - 507 Practical Record [Link]. (Ag.) 2nd Semester
Object - 3: To Study about Cotton Seed Treatment
Cotton seed treatment is highly specialized due to the presence of fuzz (lint) on the seed coat,
which hinders moisture absorption, grading, and sowing via seed drills.
1. Acid Delinting (Removal of Fuzz)
• Process: Commercial Sulphuric acid (H2 SO4 ) is used. About 100 ml of acid is required per
1 kg of cotton seed.
• Method: The seeds are vigorously mixed with the acid for 2–3 minutes in a non-metal con-
tainer. The acid burns off the fuzz, leaving a smooth, black seed.
• Washing: The seeds must be washed immediately 3–4 times with clean water, followed by a
wash in a weak lime water solution (to neutralize remaining acid), and finally shade-dried.
• Benefits: Kills seed-borne pathogens (like Angular leaf spot), facilitates easy sowing, im-
proves germination rate, and makes grading out unhealthy seeds easy.
2. Chemical and Biological Treatment
• Fungicide: After delinting, seeds are treated with Thiram or Captan at 2–3 g/kg of seed to
prevent seedling rot.
• Insecticide: Treated with Imidacloprid (5-7 g/kg) to protect early seedlings from sucking
pests like jassids and aphids.
• Bio-fertilizer: Inoculated with Azotobacter and Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) to
enhance nutrient uptake.
Object - 4: To Study about Working out Growth Indices
Growth indices are mathematical tools used to quantify plant growth, dry matter accumula-
tion, and photosynthetic efficiency over a specific time period.
Where W1 and W2 are dry weights at time t1 and t2 ; L1 and L2 are leaf areas at time t1 and t2 ; and A is
ground area.
1. Crop Growth Rate (CGR)
Measures the rate of dry matter production per unit of ground area per unit of time.
W2 − W1 1
CGR = × (g/m2 /day)
t2 − t1 A
2. Relative Growth Rate (RGR)
Measures the increase in dry matter per unit of original dry matter over a time interval
(the ”compound interest” of plant growth).
ln(W2 ) − ln(W1 )
RGR = (g/g/day)
t2 − t1
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AGR - 507 Practical Record [Link]. (Ag.) 2nd Semester
3. Net Assimilation Rate (NAR)
Measures the net increase in dry weight per unit of leaf area per unit of time (indicates
photosynthetic efficiency).
(W2 − W1 )(ln( L2 ) − ln( L1 ))
N AR = (g/cm2 /day)
(t2 − t1 )( L2 − L1 )
4. Leaf Area Index (LAI)
The ratio of total leaf area to the ground area occupied by the crop.
Total Leaf Area
LAI = (Dimensionless)
Total Ground Area
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AGR - 507 Practical Record [Link]. (Ag.) 2nd Semester
Object - 5: To Study about the Intercultural Operations in Different
Crops
Intercultural operations are physical manipulations done in the field after sowing but before
harvesting to eliminate weeds, aerate the soil, and support the plant structurally.
1. In Sugarcane
• Blind Hoeing: Done 7-10 days after planting (before the shoots emerge) to break the soil
crust and uproot early weeds.
• Earthing Up: Moving soil from the ridges to the base of the plant. Done twice: partially at
45 days and fully at 90-120 days. Promotes root development and prevents lodging.
• Propping/Tying: Tying the canes together using their own dry leaves (trash) in August-
September to prevent the heavy, mature canes from falling over due to high winds.
• Detrashing: Removal of dry, lower leaves to improve aeration, reduce pest incidence (like
scales and mealybugs), and facilitate harvesting.
2. In Cotton
• Thinning: Done 15-20 Days After Sowing (DAS). Excess seedlings are removed to maintain
a strict plant-to-plant distance, ensuring no competition for light and nutrients.
• Nipping / Topping: The terminal growing point (apical bud) is manually pinched off when
the crop is 60-80 days old. This stops excessive vegetative vertical growth and forces the
plant to produce more lateral, fruit-bearing (sympodial) branches.
3. In Oilseeds (e.g., Groundnut)
• Hoeing/Weeding: Kept weed-free up to 35-40 days.
• Restriction on Interculture: No intercultural operations should be done once pegging starts
(around 40-45 DAS). Disturbing the soil at this stage will damage the pegs entering the soil,
drastically reducing pod formation.