Organic Sugarcane Production Technology in The Areas of Suphan Buri and Ratchaburi provinces

Abstract

This study aims to research organic sugarcane cultivation technologies, focusing on the use of organic and biological fertilizers, weed control methods, and suitable sugarcane varieties for organic production. It also involves testing these technologies in the organic farming systems in farmers’ plots, covering five experiments. These include the study of suitable organic and biological fertilizers for organic sugarcane production, suitable weed control methods, which were conducted from 2022 to 2024 at the Suphan Buri Field Crop Research Center, and a comparison of suitable varieties for organic sugarcane production from 2022 to 2024 at the Khon Kaen Field Crop Research Center. Furthermore, technology tests were conducted for organic sugarcane production in 2024 in Ratchaburi Province, and in Khon Kaen Province. The results of the experiments revealed that the optimal fertilizer application was using aerated compost based on soil analysis at a rate of 828 kg per Rai, combined with liquid organic fertilizer at a rate of 1 liter per 100 liters of water, sprayed on leaves when sugarcane is 1, 2 and 3 months old. This resulted in a sugarcane yield of 18.3 tons per Rai. The net income was 20,665 Bath per Rai, with a Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of 2.31. For weed control, the use of agricultural machinery (Use rotary installed at the rear of a 24 or 26 horsepower tractor) weeding is carried out twice when the sugarcane is 1 and 3 months old was the most cost-effective weed control method, with an average yield of 10.1 tons per Rai, an average net income of 9,611 Bath per Rai, and the highest BCR at 1.76. Regarding suitable sugarcane varieties, the varieties tested, four varieties proved suitable: DOA Khon Kaen 3, DOA U-thong 15, DOA Suphan Buri 80, and DOA U-thong 17, with sugarcane yields of 16.6, 15.7, 15.4, and 13.9 tons per Rai, respectively. The net income for each variety was 18,629 17,059 16,777 and 13,960 Bath per Rai, respectively, and the BCR was 2.21, 2.18, 2.18, and 2.06. The expansion of suitable organic sugarcane production technology in Ratchaburi Province by using aerated compost based on soil analysis, combined with liquid organic fertilizer, the use of agricultural machinery for weeding control found that DOA method, with sugarcane yields of 13.6 tons per Rai, the net income at 11,818 Bath per Rai and the BCR at 1.78. The farmer method, with sugarcane yields of 11.3 tons per Rai, the net income of -227 Bath per Rai and the BCR at 0.99 Therefore, it can be seen that this technology can be used as a guideline for organic sugarcane farmers or farmers who wish to change to safe sugarcane cultivation and reduce the use of chemicals.