European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience

Authors
R Jayasankar, T Ramsundar, R Muthukumar

Abstract
Sugarcane is one of the main cash crops of India. From its juice, sugar, gur, alcohol etc. are produced. After the extraction of the juice the fibrous mass left behind is used for making paper and sound insulating board. In villages it is also used as fuel. India ranks second in the world in sugarcane production. Tamil Nadu ranks first in India in highest yield per hectare, followed by Karnataka. SSI is the best tool in the hands of cane growers and is an innovative set of agronomic practices that involves using less chipped buds, raising seedlings in a nursery and following new planting methods with wider spacing, better water and nutrient management to increase cane yields significantly. The profile characteristics of the SSI farmers play a vital role in determining their knowledge level on recommended practices. The zero-order correlation co-efficient and linear multiple regression analysis were employed to study the relationship and contribution of characteristics with knowledge level in SSI practices. The study was taken up in the sugarcane predominant district of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu State (India) with a sample size of hundred and twenty cane growers selected based on the random sampling method. The findings revealed that out of fifteen independent variables, eight variables were found to be positive and significant relationship with knowledge level in both correlation and regression analysis.