PARC || NSRI

It has been set up in the delta coastal zone of Sindh to conduct research on breeding of improved sugarcane varieties

National Sugar Crops Research Institute was established by PARC at Thatta with the main objective of developing new sugarcane varieties with high yields and desirable agronomic characters. Thatta is the place where many sugarcane varieties flower under natural conditions. However, pollen viability is poor due to low temperature and humidity at the time of flowering for which a glass house will have controlled climate.

Variety Development Programme was started in 1990 with the planting and screening of exotic and indigenous sugarcane fuzz (Seed). The single plant clones were tested and evaluated for 4 years in different cycles and 36 new lines have been identified upto 2001. one line Thatta-10 showed best performance in the experiments as well as in farmer’s field and has been released for commercial cultivation. The variety is high in sugar with early maturity. The variety is drought tolerant with lodging resistance. The area is increasing under Thatta-10 in Sindh and Punjab provinces. Thatta-10 has given average yield of 1500 mds with 12% sugar recovery at many farms in Sindh.

A new variety Thatta-34 has shown good performance and will be released within two years time for commercial cultivation.

The institute has screened and evaluated exotic sugarcane varieties from different countries of the world. Some promising varieties are at final stage of testing. In the current programme Institute is testing 12000 single plant clones 1100, 536, 132, 8 lines in 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th cycles respectively. In the museum 374 varieties of different centers are grown.

The Institute is working on seed multiplication of new varieties in collaboration with progressive sugarcane farmers.

NSCRI is also working on the introduction of sugar beet in Sindh. The crop has shown very good performance in the experiments and the farmer’s field. The yield of more than 1000 mds/acre with recovery of about 12.5% has been achieved in lower Sindh. Sugar industry in Sindh will have additional operation time during April and May as sugarcane finishes by the end of March.

- 36 new varieties developed at the Institute and of which Thatta-10 has been commercialized.

New sugarcane variety Thatta-10 developed by National Sugar Crops Research Institute (NSCRI) of PARC, Thatta was approved by the Provincial Seed Council, Sindh for cultivation in the province on 16th Oct. 2004. The proposal was submitted by Director, NSCRI and presented by the breeder, Dr. Haji Khan Keerio which was unanimously approved by members of the Council.

The members of Sindh Seed Council include prominent growers like Imdad Nizamani, A. Rasool Khoso and Syed Noor Shah; senior scientists of Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA), Tandojam; Agricultural Research Department. Sindh; Pakistan Central Cotton Committee, Southern Agricultural Research Centre (SARC), Karachi; NSCRI Thatta and the representatives of Ministry of Food Agriculture & Livestock (MINFAL); Federal Seed Certification Department; Sindh Seed Corporation and private seed companies also attended the meeting presided over by Provincial Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. Arif Khan Jatoi. Secretary Agriculture, Sindh Mr. Sabhago Khan Jatoi was also present on this occasion.

Thatta-10 variety was developed by PARC scientists from local fuzz of L113 and tested extensively in the Sindh and Punjab Provinces. The variety has potential of producing 200+Tons/ha cane yield and sugar recovery of 14%.

The variety is drought tolerant, resistant to lodging and gives very good ratoon crop. It is very popular among the growers and millers. At present Thatta-10 variety is grown on about 40,000 acres in Sindh and 10,000 acres in the Punjab.

-Germination is good, initial growth is slow which becomes vigorous during August-October, medium in tillering.

-Yield: Yield potential of 2000 mds/acre. Achieved at farmers’ land 1500-1600 mds/acre. Average 1000 mds/acre.

Advantages: The variety is high yielding, high in sucrose content and resistant to drought insect pest and diseases, it will improve the economy of the farmers/growers and millers consequently the country.

Pre-Requisites: Average soil conditions clay loam, silty clay, silty clay loam with 7-8 pH values. Good land preparation with deep tillage.

Comparative Economics: High cane and sugar yield can boost up the economy of growers through out the country, particularly in Sindh, Southern and Central Punjab and Southern NWFP.

Agro Ecological Zones: Thatta-10 variety successfully grows throughout the country, particularly in different agro ecological zones of Sindh, Southern and Central Punjab and Southern NWFP.

NSCRI is also working on the introduction of sugar beet in Sindh. The crop has shown very good performance in the experiments and the farmers’ field. The yield of more than 1000 mds/acre with recovery of 12.5% has been achieved in lower Sindh. Sugar industry in Sindh will have additional operation time during April and May as sugarcane finishes by the end of March.

Sugar beet is being grown in NWFP as commercial crop for many years. Some statistical data is given below:

Sr. No.	Name of Sugar Mill	No. of Sugar Mills	Beet Sliced Tons	Sugar Production Tons	Recovery %	Molasses Production Tons	Recovery %
N.W.F.P.
01.	Frontier	37	45,237	3,722	8.23	1,054	4.32
02.	Khazana	37	72,881	6,121	8.40	3,230	4.37
03.	Premier	38	108,134	7,433	7.21	4,400	4.10
	Total 2000-2001	112	226,252	17,276	7.64	8,684	4.37
	Average	37	75,417	5,759	7.64	2,895	4.37
	Total 1999-2000	32	187,478	14,818	7.80	7,750	4.13

It requires well drained soils. Sandy and water logged soils are not suitable for this crop. It can with stand saline soil. For land preparation deep ploughing is required to break hard pan. Then plough with Gobal or Cultivator followed by planking. Land should be well leveled in order to drain out excess water.

Best sowing time in Lower Sindh is 15^th September to 30^th October, however, it can be planted upto January. Row spacing of 50-60cm and plant to plant distance of 20-25cm should be maintained. Seed should be sown to a depth of 4-5cm. Generally 2-3 seeds are dibbled on top of ridges. Seed rate at 5kg/ha (2kg/acre) is recommended.

Thinning is very important for proper growth of beet. At 4-6 leaves stage a single plant should be left to minimize competition. A plant population of 80-100 thousand per hectare (30-40 thousand per acre) is generally recommended. The thinned seedlings can be transplanted to fill up the gaps.

Recommended dose of NPK is 120-120-000 per hectare. Apply all P at sowing time. Split N application in 3 stages, i.e. 1/3^rd at sowing, 1/3^rd after thinning and 1/3^rd after earthing up upto January.

Number of irrigations varies with climatic conditions. Beet generally requires light and frequent irrigations at an interval of 10-15 days. Avoid heavy irrigations and do not allow to stand water in the field.

Generally weeds are controlled by hand hoeing and inter culturing by labour. Certain weedicides are also available in the market i.e. Dual Gold @ 2 L/ha, Goltix @ 4-5 kg/ha (pre-emergence) and Coltix @ 2.5 kg/ha applied at four leaf stage.

Field crickets: BHC or Sevin dust @ 5kg/ha, apply on top of ridges after planting.

Seedling diseases: Rhizoctonia damping off, black leg (or black root phoma). To minimize/avoid diseases practice shallow planting of seed, manage soil moisture and encourage rapid emergence. Chemical control: treat seed with Diathane M 45 @ 4g/kg of seed.

Foliar disease: Cercospora leaf spot. To control two sprays of Breston 60 @ 1kg/100 litre of water just after appearance of disease.

Root disease: Sclerotium root rot, to control treat seed with Diathane M 45 @ 4-6 g/kg of seed

Bacterial and Viral diseases: beet yellows, beet yellow stunt, beet yellow net and beet leaf curl and curly top. Proper crop rotation or use resistant variety.

Crop is ready to harvest after about 5 months. Remove leaves and then with help of a spade (koder) pick out beet roots. After completing harvesting make a heap of beet roots and cover with leaves. Beet roots should reach mill within 3 days after harvest.

It is suggested to harvest beet roots in moist soil condition as it will facilitate harvesting and avoid root injury.

Dr. Haji Khan Keerio	Director/Principal Scientific Officer
Mr. Yar Muhammad Memon	Principal Scientific Officer