SYSTEM PRODUCTIVITY OF TROPICAL SUGARBEET INTERCROPPED WITH SUGARCANE

ABSTRACT: An experiment was conducted at experimental farm of Panchagarh sugar mills, Panchagarh under Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain Soils (AEZ 1) at northern region of Bangladesh during cropping season 2014-2015 to evaluate the effect of inter-cropping of sugarbeet with sugarcane with respect to attributes of yield, quality and economic benefits of both the crops. Four tropical sugarbeet genotypes, namely Shubra, PAC 6008, Aranka and SZ 35 were used along with the variety of Sugarcane (Isd 39). Results implied that maximum germination percentage (89.37), beet length (20.46 cm), beet diameter (8.05 cm), average beet weight (1.30 kg), beet yield (90.50 t ha-1) and brix (19.28 %) were found in Shubra genotype while the highest tiller population (221.25× 103 ha-1)), millable cane (102.86×103 ha-1), stalk height (3.36 cm), stalk diameter (2.28 cm) and cane yield (96.48 t ha-1) were found from sole sugarcane. However, inter-node, average cane weight and brix percentage of cane provided no significant variations. Maximum income was recorded in single row sugarcane with sugarbeet Shubra (268381.30 Tk.ha-1) and the highest benefit cost ratio 3.00 was found from same treatment combination. The maximum profit was found in sugarcane-sugarbeet inter-cropping system than sole sugarcane and also sole sugarbeet. Considering the total cost and economic return, different factors associated with production of sugarbeet intercrop with sugarcane might be a profitable package in Northern region of Bangladesh. 

Keywords: Sugarcane, sugarbeet, intercrop, yield, brix%, benefit cost ratio