1. General Introduction

1.1. Origin

Sugarcane has the English name Sugarcane; its scientific name is Saccharum ssp., belonging to the genus (Saccharum) and the grass family (Poaceae), with multi-year regeneration. It originates from tropical and subtropical regions. Sugarcane is grown and harvested annually for sugar production.

Vietnam’s sugarcane cultivation area up to 2021 is about 150,000 ha.

1.2. Biological characteristics and environmental conditions

Sugarcane prefers high temperatures, with an optimal development temperature of 25-26°C. The temperature threshold during the ripening stage is 14-25°C. It requires full sunlight (from 1200-3000 hours/year) and an average rainfall of 120-150 mm/month. Sugarcane adapts to various soil types, from clay to sandy soils. The minimum soil requirement is a depth of 0.7-0.8 m with certain porosity and non-acidic soil with pH from 5.5-8.

2. Sugarcane cultivation with Southern Fertilizer

2.1 Seed, land preparation and planting techniques

a. Seed: Currently, propagation is mainly done using disease-free sugarcane from 6–10 months old. Additionally, propagation can be done using seedling trays, tips, parent plant bases, or sown seeds… but these are not common.

Sugarcane varieties grown today are complex interspecific hybrids. Commonly cultivated varieties include VN 85-1859; VN 84-4137; VĐ 81-3254; VĐ 68-237; ROC 16; ROC 10; ROC 1; R 597; R 570; QĐ-15; MY 5514; K 84-200; F.156; F.157; F.154; F.134; Comus; C.819-67… Depending on the crushing capacity of the factory or purchasing capacity of raw sugarcane, the planting variety structure should be arranged suitably (early-, mid- or late-ripening varieties).

b. Soil: Suitable for many soil types. However, the best soil for sugarcane is loose soil, with deep cultivation layers, high fertility, good moisture retention and good drainage.

c. Planting techniques:

– Season:

+ Northern Midland and Mountainous Region: 01/01-30/04 (off-season 01/09-30/11)
+ North Central Coast: 01/01-30/04 (off-season 01/10-15/12)
+ South Central Coast: 01/01-01/03 (off-season 01/06-30/08)
+ Central Highlands: 01/10-30/11 (off-season 01/05-30/06)
+ Southeast: 15/10-30/12 (off-season 15/04-15/06)
+ Mekong Delta: 01/04-30/06 (off-season 15/11-30/01)

– Planting density: Depending on soil and variety, arrange row spacing according to manual or mechanical cultivation. Single row spacing: 0.8-1.2 m (manual); Double row: 1.2-1.8 m x 0.6-0.4 m (mechanical). Required seed stalks: 35,000–40,000 cuttings/ha (each cutting with 3–5 buds; 3–4 cuttings/m) equivalent to 8–10 tons.

– Land preparation: Apply organic fertilizer and lime, plow deeply (40-50 cm), harrow thoroughly, and make furrows according to the planned density (in the Mekong Delta, high beds are often made to prevent flooding).

2.2. Fertilization

SFJC Bio-Gold G.A.P organic fertilizer is a product of Southern Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, a clean fertilizer made from 100% plant-based raw materials, suitable for G.A.P cultivation. It contains 55% organic matter, naturally derived nitrogen, humic acid, fulvic acid, Trichoderma fungi, etc., contributing to a stable soil ecosystem, enhancing beneficial microorganisms, reducing harmful fungi, limiting nutrient leaching, stimulating new root formation, improving root health, and preventing soil degradation and nutrient depletion.

Supe Lan Long Thanh is produced by Southern Fertilizer Joint Stock Company at Long Thanh Super Phosphate Plant, containing 16% available phosphorus, 10% sulfur, 15% calcium, and other secondary and micronutrients. It stimulates new tissue formation, promotes flower bud differentiation, is easily soluble and absorbable in soil, and is suitable for many crops.

Southern Fertilizer NPK 20-20-15+TE (Steam granulation technology). This is a new product produced on a rotary steam granulation line with high nutrient content, promoting fast tiller and shoot development, helping plants grow stronger.

Southern Fertilizer NPK 16-16-8+6S+TE is a one-granule NPK product manufactured by rotary steam granulation with high and stable nutrient content. The granules dissolve well, enabling quick absorption. Contains N_ts: 16%; P₂O_5hh: 16%; K₂O_hh: 8% plus balanced secondary and micronutrients. Helps sugarcane grow fast after planting and regeneration, promotes strong rooting and quick tillering.

Southern Fertilizer NPK 15-15-15+TE is produced with rotary steam granulation technology, containing N_ts:15%; P₂O_5hh:15%; K₂O_hh:15% with balanced secondary and micronutrients. It helps sugarcane root strongly, tiller and regenerate well.

Southern Fertilizer NPK 17-5-19+TE contains N_ts:17%; P₂O_5hh:5%; K₂O_hh:19% with balanced secondary and micronutrients. It provides balanced NPK nutrition, helping sugarcane elongate internodes quickly, become stronger, and reduce lodging, while improving yield and sugar content.

Southern Fertilizer NPK 18-8-22+TE contains N_ts:18%; P₂O_5hh:8%; K₂O_hh:22% and balanced secondary and micronutrients. It helps enhance internode elongation, stronger stalks, reduced lodging, and improved yield and sugar content.

2.3. Care

– 15–25 days after planting, or after the previous harvest when cane has 1–2 true leaves, if missing spots > 0.8 m appear, replanting must be done (preferably in the afternoon or in cool weather).
– Replanting technique: Soil must be moist; dig a furrow equal to the original planting depth; place the seedling and cover tightly. Remove some leaves to reduce transpiration. Compact the soil and irrigate immediately if possible.

– Weed control: After planting or after harvest, soil cultivation can be combined with pre-emergent herbicides. If possible, rake weeds away from the base before spraying. Keep fields weed-free until canopy closure.

– In non-irrigated areas, base fertilizer application on rainy-season timing and crop growth stage to ensure timely tillering and elongation.

3. Pests and diseases & control measures

3.1. Harmful pests and diseases

Common insect pests: Striped stem borers, purple stem borer, large pink stem borer, cutworms, brown-headed striped stem borer, shoot borer, white aphids, whiteflies, yellow stem borer, rhinoceros beetles, white grubs.

Common diseases: Sooty mold, smut, red rot, top rot, twisted leaf sheath, shoot-boring sprout symptoms, gum oozing, resin oozing, sap leakage, leaf mosaic, leaf whitening, red rot, alcoholic disease, ring spot, red mite.

3.2. Pest & disease prevention

Integrated prevention with the following measures:

– Use disease-free varieties with pest resistance.

– Plant in the correct season, avoid prolonged planting time, rotate with other crops.

– For first-year cane, deep plowing, ridging, and weed removal combined with removing larvae at the root or inside seed canes.

– Watering: If irrigation is available, flooding for 20–30 minutes can force rhinoceros beetles to emerge for collection. Post-harvest fields can be flooded for 5–6 days to kill larvae.

– Use light traps to catch moths.

– Release parasitic beneficial insects such as Trichogramma (red-eyed wasps).

– Manual methods: The adult beetles emerge massively in April-May-June, manpower can be mobilized for collection.

– Chemical methods: Use approved pesticides to spray and control pests, insects, and diseases.

4. Harvesting

When sugarcane leaves turn yellow, the top leaves become shorter and smaller, leaving only 6–8 tightly packed leaves like a fan shape. The cane stalk stops or slows growth in height and diameter. The stalk surface becomes smooth; when cut horizontally, the cross-section shows silver shine due to parenchyma cells full of sugar. This stage is called cane maturity.

Harvest time depends on the variety for best sugar content (CCS), or use a refractometer (Brix meter) before deciding to harvest.

Burning leaves before or after harvest is not recommended because it may reduce soil quality, reduce beneficial microorganisms, and decrease organic matter from leaf residue. Only burn when pest infestation is severe and required for harvest.

After harvesting, cane should be cleaned, loaded onto transport vehicles and delivered to the factory quickly to reduce sugar loss.

Collected and compiled by

Lê Minh Giang – Danh Trí Tâm