Question

Savinder, a farmer in Punjab, has asked you, a student of geography, to advise him on ratooning. What would you say?

Answer 1

• Ratooning is leaving the cane stools and roots after harvesting so new shoots regrow and give a second (ratoon) crop.
• Benefits: ratoons mature earlier and reduce cost (no full replanting), so lower production cost and quicker harvest.
• Key practical points: cut stalks as close to the ground as possible after harvest (this preserves the bud‑zone for regrowth), remove trash, keep the field weed‑free, give timely irrigation and top‑dress fertilizer as needed, and scout/control pests and diseases.
• Avoid ratooning if plants were badly diseased or soils are exhausted, better to replant in those cases.