Materials and Methods
The study was conducted by using descriptive type of research design applying ex-post facto approach and the respondents were selected among farmers growing sugarcane in wide row spacing. Sakthi Sugars Ltd., is a private sugar mill in Tamil Nadu state in South India and is a harbinger in introducing the latest technologies in cane cultivation. The study was purposively carried out in Sakthi Sugars Ltd Unit IV since it has a sizeable area cultivated under wider row spacing. The average cane yield level recorded in the reserved area of Sakthi Sugars was 116.00 t/ha as against the state average yield of 105 t/ha during 2007–2008.There are three zones viz., Avalpoondurai, Modakurichi and Erode comprising five cane divisions. Thirty registered cane growers practicing wider row (150 cm) spacing were selected at random from the three zones for conducting the study. An interview schedule was developed for this purpose and pilot tested with non-sample farmers. Detailed survey was undertaken by personal interview using the pre-tested interview schedule during 2008–2009. The yield data of the plots was recorded from the individual farms and the sociological appraisal was done through personal interview. Their responses were tabulated and the data were analyzed using mean, simple percentage analysis, percentage mean score and rank analysis as the statistical tools to analyze the collected data in this study.