Detailed Explanation of Sugarcane Seed Treatment Methods Before Planting

In China, sugarcane is mainly produced in Fujian, Guangdong, Taiwan, China, and Sichuan, among other places. Sugarcane is a common fruit, as well as the raw material for making sucrose, and it can also be used to extract ethanol, so sugarcane has very high use value. Therefore, when planting sugarcane, seed cane treatment is needed, and seed cane is always grown from sugarcane stalks. So, to ensure the quality of the seed cane, how should we carry it out? Let's take a look below.

1. Seed cane selection

Seed cane selection is not completed in one step; it needs to go through four stages to select the best seed stalks, namely field block selection, plant selection at harvest, stalk selection at cutting, and bud selection at planting. First, we select sugarcane from fields with better growth for seed retention; then at harvest time, select sugarcane that is free of pests and diseases, highly resistant, and of good quality; then choose stalks with thick cane stems and plump cane buds, and check whether the stalks have mechanical injuries; finally, at planting time, check the budding condition of the seed cane and carry out selection reasonably according to planting requirements.

2. Cutting the seed cane

Cutting the seed cane is mainly to ensure the quality of the seed cane, so when cutting, we need to peel off the leaf sheaths before cutting. The blade used for cutting should be thin, and when cutting, do not hesitate; the cut should be fast, accurate, and with a smooth cut surface. Next, the lower part of the seedling should be left a bit longer, and it can be cut into single-bud, double-bud, three-bud, or multi-bud sections, and so on. Among these, the most commonly used in production is the double-bud seed cane, because its sprouting retention rate and yield are both very good.

3. Soaking the seed cane

After cutting the seed cane, we need to carry out seed cane treatment. First, we need to sun-dry the seed cane to reduce part of its moisture, and then soak it in clean water or limewater, which can promote the seed cane's absorption of water and soaking agents. Soak in clean water for about 24 to 48 hours and then remove, while soaking in limewater only requires 12 to 24 hours. Finally, carbendazim or other agents can also be used to soak for about 10 minutes and then remove, which can prevent pineapple disease. If we want to prevent ratoon stunting disease, we can use warm water soaking, and the effect is also excellent.

4. Promoting germination of the seed cane

To promote the germination speed of the seed cane, we generally carry out artificial germination promotion, especially when the temperature is relatively low in winter and spring, when the seed cane sprouts very slowly, so it must be done by artificial germination promotion methods. The most commonly used methods are compost germination promotion and plastic film covering germination promotion. Both of these commonly used germination promotion methods use the principles of heat preservation and moisture retention, so germination promotion does not affect the quality of the seed cane. Of course, we should note that after a certain period of time, the seed cane should be dug out promptly for planting.

The above is a brief introduction from the editor today to the simple treatment methods for sugarcane seed cane. Although it looks very simple, it actually has a certain degree of technical difficulty, which is also why so much seed is retained, but the amount finally planted is reduced. If everyone wants to understand sugarcane planting techniques, remember to leave a message for the editor.