With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements:
- A substantial saving in seed material is made when ‘bud chip settlings’ are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main field.
- When direct planting of setts is done, the germination percentage is better with singlebudded setts as compared to setts with many buds.
- If bad weather conditions prevail when setts are directly planted, single-budded setts have better survival as compared to large setts.
- Sugarcane can be cultivated using settlings prepared from tissue culture.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — 1 and 4 only
This question tests knowledge of modern sugarcane cultivation techniques in India. Statements 1 and 4 correctly describe cost-effective and scientifically advanced methods of sugarcane propagation, while statements 2 and 3 incorrectly characterize the performance of single-budded setts.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The bud chip method involves raising settlings in a nursery from individual buds before transplanting, resulting in substantial savings in seed material (up to 75-80% reduction) compared to conventional sett planting.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Multi-budded setts have better germination percentage than single-budded setts because multiple buds increase the probability of successful shoot emergence, providing redundancy if one bud fails.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Under adverse weather conditions, large multi-budded setts have better survival rates because they contain more stored nutrients and moisture reserves, making them more resilient than single-budded setts which are vulnerable to stress.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Tissue culture technology is successfully employed in sugarcane cultivation to produce disease-free, genetically uniform settlings that ensure higher yields and rapid multiplication of elite varieties.
📝 Short Notes: Modern Sugarcane Cultivation Methods
| Method | Key Features | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Bud Chip Method | Single buds raised in nursery, then transplanted | 75-80% reduction in seed material; cost-effective; better disease control |
| Tissue Culture | In-vitro propagation of disease-free plantlets | Rapid multiplication; genetic uniformity; disease-free planting material |
| Conventional Sett Method | 3-budded setts directly planted in field | Better germination and survival under stress; traditional and simple |
| Single-budded Setts | Individual buds planted directly | Some seed saving but lower germination and survival compared to multi-budded setts |
- Seed Material Requirement: Conventional method requires 6-10 tonnes/hectare; bud chip method reduces it to 1.5-2 tonnes/hectare
- Germination Factor: Multi-budded setts provide redundancy—if one bud fails, others can sprout
- Stress Tolerance: Larger setts with more buds store more nutrients and moisture, ensuring better survival under drought or pest attack
- Indian Context: India is the second-largest sugarcane producer globally; adoption of modern techniques like bud chip and tissue culture is being promoted to reduce costs and increase productivity
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