Division of Crop Production

Division of Crop Production at the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research is engaged in development of agro-techniques for profitable and sustainable sugarcane production in sub-tropical regions of the country. Encompassing agronomy, soil science, microbiology, agricultural extension, farm and training sections the Division strives to address existing and emerging issues related to soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, keeping in mind the interests of sugarcane growers and sugarcane processing industry including gur and jaggery manufacturers. Having come into existence with the inception of the Institute in 1952, the Agronomy component of the Division sits on the laurels of developing a number of farmer friendly techniques like ring-pit method of sugarcane planting, skip-furrow method of irrigation, nutrient, water and weed management package in sugarcane production system including its diversification. A section called Soil Science and Agricultural chemistry came into being during 1956 with a mandate to work on soil fertility assessment and management of nutrients for the crop. Extension & Training section was initiated in 1969 for effective dissemination of developed techniques among end users and also to impart training to a wide array of clientele made of farmers, sugar factory cane development workers and the staff of state sugarcane department. It was christened as the Division of Crop Production in June 2001 by broadening the scope of existing Division of Agronomy and merging the above mentioned sections into it. Presently the Division represents the disciplines of Agronomy, Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural Microbiology and Extension & Training. Besides, the Farm Section continues to function under the administrative control of the Division.

Vision

• ‘To become globally known sugarcane production research, extension and training centre’

Mission

• Improving ratoon cane productivity to the level of plant crop in sub-tropical India

Thrust Areas

Multi-ratooning in sugarcane with emphasis on

• Integrated nutrient management through bio-manures and cash the trash concept
• Counterpart nutrient balance
• Deep K fertilizer placement
• Effective control of perennial weeds

New crop geometry with accent on

• Optimizing plant population and tillering dynamics
• Paradigm shift for suiting to mechanization requirements
• Realizing higher NMC and cane yield from sugarcane production system

Organics based sugarcane production utilizing

• Crop residues
• Industrial wastes
• Bio-manures
• Microbial and fungal synergies

Soil microbial environment

• Soil micro-biota profiling in long term experiments
• Commercial exploitation of Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus
• Microbial inoculants capable of degrading stubble at low thermal regime

Efficient water, nutrient and weed management strategies matching for

• Direct sugarcane planting after wheat harvest with zero tillage
• Simultaneous sugarcane planting and wheat sowing in flat beds
• Wheat + sugarcane planting in overlapping cropping system under FIRB

New emerging crop diversification options to

• Enhance land productivity
• Increase input use efficiency
• Capitalize allelopathic effects
• Sustain soil health

Knowledge rich TOT programme

• Assessment and refinement
• Application of Technology with ITK
• Development of training modules