Proper Land Preparation Vital For Stronger Sugarcane Crop: Experts
Published September 03, 2026 | 03:30 PM
FAISALABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Sep, 2026)
The agriculture experts called upon sugarcane growers to treat pre-sowing land preparation as the foundation of a productive crop, stressing that timely deep ploughing, proper leveling, effective drainage, and selection of suitable varieties can significantly strengthen root development and improve per-acre yield.
Director Agriculture Extension Chaudhry Khalid Mahmood said that land preparation was one of the most critical stages in sugarcane cultivation and it should not be taken lightly. He urged the farmers to strictly follow recommended agricultural practices to ensure healthy crop establishment and maintain soil fertility.
He advised growers to complete deep ploughing of fields by September 30, explaining that deep ploughing breaks hard soil layers, enables sugarcane roots to penetrate deeper, and improves the availability of water and nutrients to the developing crop. He recommended that the farmers carry out deep ploughing at least once during land preparation to create favorable conditions for the succeeding crop.
He said that the soil should be soft, friable, and properly leveled before sugarcane sowing. After adequate soil preparation, the farmers should use a plank or other suitable agricultural implements to achieve proper leveling of the field, he added.
He further advised the farmers to remove weeds, residues of the previous crop, and other unwanted material from the field before sowing. At every stage of land preparation, the care should be taken to preserve soil structure and avoid practices that could adversely affect its physical condition, he added.
Emphasizing the importance of water management, Chaudhry Khalid Mahmood said that the growers should ensure an efficient drainage system in their fields so that rainwater or irrigation water did not remain stagnant. Standing water could adversely affect root development and ultimately compromise crop growth and productivity, he added.
He also highlighted the importance of selecting quality seed of varieties suited to local conditions for achieving better sugarcane production. He advised the growers to cultivate Agriculture Department-recommended varieties including CP 77-400, CP 72-2086, CP 237, SPF 213, SPF 234, SPF 240, CP 246, CP 247, CP 248, and CP 249 according to the characteristics of their respective areas.
He clarified that all recommended varieties were not equally suitable for every location. The farmers should therefore consider soil type, availability of irrigation water, and prevailing local climatic conditions before selecting a variety, he added.
He said that SPF 234 had been recommended specifically for plain areas of southern Punjab while other recommended varieties had been chosen based on their suitability for other regions.