The data regarding tillers m-2 (Table 3) that sowing techniques and weed-crop
competition periods significantly affected the tillering ability of cane crop during both the
years. The trench sowing technique produced significantly more number of tillers (20.29
and 21.75) as compared to flat sowing technique (17.86 and 19.82) in 2005-06 and 2006-
07, respectively. Regarding weed-crop competition periods, zero competition although
gave statistically the same number of tillers as produced by crop facing weed competition
up to 60 days, but significantly surpassed rest of the competition periods. The similar
trend was observed in second year of study.
The sowing techniques although significantly affected the number of millable canes
during 2005-06, but both the techniques had non-significant effect on number of millable
canes during 2006-07. Trench sowing by producing 9.95 and 9.94 millable canes m-2
proved significantly better in both the years than flat sowing technique. Weed-crop
competition up to 60 days after sowing did not significantly affect the millable canes
compared with zero competition. However, prolonged weed-crop competition period
resulted in suppression of the millable canes to a significant extent with minimum
number in weedy check.
The data regarding plant height of sugarcane is given in table 3, which revealed that
sowing techniques and weed-crop competition periods affected the plant height
significantly during both the years. The significantly highest (2.93 m) plant height of
sugarcane was recorded in trench sowing technique while least (2.84 m) plant height was
recorded in flat sowing technique in 2005-06. The similar trend was recorded in 2006-07.
In 2005-06, significantly maximum plant height of sugarcane (3.48 m) was recorded in
zero competition. It was followed by 45 DAS with 3.13 m plant height. The lowest (2.14
m) plant height was recorded in weedy check (full season weed-crop competition). The
similar trend was observed in second year.
Sowing techniques though did not affect significantly the cane length during 2005-
06, however, difference among sowing techniques during 2006-07 was significant as
trench sowing technique gave 2.29 m and flat sowing technique gave 2.17 m lengthy
canes (Table 3). Weed-crop competition periods significantly affected the cane length
during each year of investigation. Cane length of 2.64 and 2.68 m was recorded in crop
kept weed free throughout the season (zero competition), which was significantly more
than that of any other treatment. The shortest cane was produced by the crop subjected to
weed competition throughout the season (weedy check).
Table 3 showed that trench sowing technique produced heavier cane than flat sowing
technique during each year of investigation. Cane weight of 865.57 and 889.00 g given
by trench sowing technique was significantly higher than that of flat sowing technique
(829.57 and 845.29 g cane-1) during 2005-06 and 2006-07, respectively. Prolonging the
weed-crop competition periods also significantly reduced the cane weight during both the
years of study. The results of two years confirmed the same trend as the heaviest canes of
1066.50 and 1101.00 g were produced by crop, which was kept weed free though out the
season (zero competition) in both the years, while significantly the lightest cane of
474.50 and 512.50 g was given by crop, which faced weed competition throughout the
season (weedy check) in both the years.