Guangdong Xuwen County, located on the southern tip of the Leizhou Peninsula, experiences a tropical marine monsoon climate. As one of the county's key sugar cane production bases, it has recently seen a shift in rural agricultural practices. To boost income and improve land utilization, many local farmers have started intercropping peanuts and melons alongside traditional sugarcane, achieving remarkable economic results.
One of the most effective methods is intercropping spring peanuts with sugarcane. This technique offers several advantages. First, it increases the multiple cropping index. Peanuts are short-statured crops, while sugarcane grows tall and requires more space. By planting them at different times and using the available space efficiently, farmers can maximize their yields and profits.
Second, the method is easy to manage. Farmers can easily dig trenches between peanut rows to plant sugarcane, which helps stagger the busy seasons and reduces labor pressure. This also allows for better time management during planting and harvesting.
Third, the practice enriches the soil. After the peanut harvest, the vines, roots, and residue are incorporated into the sugarcane fields, acting as organic fertilizer. This not only improves soil fertility but also enhances sugarcane yield.
In terms of technology, proper site preparation is essential. Both peanuts and sugarcane require loose, deep, and fertile soil. Land should be plowed thoroughly using tractors or oxen to reach a depth of about 35 cm, ensuring good aeration and root development.
The planting schedule is crucial. Spring peanuts are usually sown around the "Great Cold" period or late January, when temperatures rise above 16°C. Planting too early may expose them to harsh weather, while planting too late could lead to competition with sugarcane. Sugarcane should be planted 32–40 days after the peanuts, typically from late February to early March, to avoid overlapping growth periods.
Choosing the right sugarcane variety is also important. High-yield, narrow-leaf varieties that grow slowly at first but accelerate later are ideal. They produce more tillers and are easier to manage.
Proper spacing and fertilization are key. For peanuts, plants should be spaced 35 cm apart within rows and 45 cm between rows, with 9,000–9,500 holes per acre, each containing two seeds. A mix of organic and inorganic fertilizers should be applied, including 2,500 kg of high-quality compost, 30–40 kg of nitrogen fertilizer, 40–60 kg of superphosphate, and 10–15 kg of potassium sulfate per acre.
For sugarcane, the spacing should be 75–100 cm, with 3,000 sprout pairs per mu. The base fertilizer should consist mainly of organic material, supplemented by inorganic nutrients such as 2,500 kg of compost, 100 kg of superphosphate, 25 kg of urea, 50 kg of compound fertilizer, and 3 kg of carbofuran.
Finally, field management plays a vital role. After harvesting peanuts, farmers apply additional fast-acting fertilizer, such as 25–40 kg of urea per mu, and perform weeding and furrow cultivation. The peanut residue is buried in the sugarcane area to further enrich the soil. If the soil is dry, irrigation is necessary to promote healthy sugarcane growth and early development.
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