The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with split plot arrangement having a net plot size of 8 m x 8.4 m at Sugarcane Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan during the year 2016 and 2017. The experiment was replicated thrice. Sugarcane Variety CPF-252 was planted. The factor planting time was kept in main plot and factor seed type was kept in split plot. Bud chips were sown in seedling trays with 50 cells each tray on 01 February during years under study. There were six treatments in the experiment i.e. Transplanting bud chips seedling in field on 15 April, 1 May, 15 May each year & conventional Triple budded setts (TBS) were also planted on same dates. The seedlings were transplanted at 1.5 feet P-P distance in 4 feet apart rows. The experiment was harvested on 20 January 2017 and 10 January 2018. Physio-chemical analysis of soil of growth media for raising of bud chips and experimental site was done before sowing. For this purpose, composite soil samples were collected from site at a depth of 15-30 cm. Soil analysis was carried out at the Soil and Water Testing Laboratory for Research-AARI, Faisalabad and is given in Table 1. Weather data of the experimental location for both crop seasons is presented in Table 2.

Preparation of the bud chips

Bud chips were removed from eight months old seed canes with inter-node length of 15-18 cm. the canes should be healthy, free from disease and pest infestation. Stalks were cut, de-trashed and the sugarcane bud chipper machine was used to remove bud chips from the cane stalks.

Experimental procedure

The soil media for the growth of bud chips were prepared at Sugarcane Research Institute, Farm, Faisalabad. The cells of Plastic seedling tray were partially filled with the well decomposed growth / soil media and the buds were placed in slanting position facing upwards and covered completely with the soil media. The weight of soil filled is 70 g per cell in seedling tray. The tray size is 45 x 20 cm having 50 cells.  Later the trays were placed in Fuzz area at Farm and covered completely with a black polythene sheet. The bud chips trays were remained covered for 30 days to hasten bud chips germination.  Irrigation water was showered two to three times in a day with hand sprinkler depending upon the weather conditions. The data of germinated buds is enlisted in Table-3.

Preparation of soil media

The media was prepared by mixing of berseem Fodder, decomposed animal dung and silt (3:1:1). One bag of urea (50 kg) was also added to enhance decomposition process. Then water was sprinkled daily and mixed thoroughly. The growth media was prepared in 5 months. The analysis report is presented in Table-1.

Crop husbandry 

Buds viability

At sowing time, healthy, disease and pest free buds were selected but 22% bud chips did not germinate because during the month of February, 2016, 2017, temperature was 16.3 ^oC, 16.8 ^oC and during march 2016, 2017, temperature was 21.6 ^oC, 20.7 ^oC. and frost was occurred in first week of February which affect eyes of bud chips. All these factors produced 78% buds viability [10]

Effect of sowing dates on yield and quality of Sugarcane

Sowing dates had no significant effect on germination, tillers per plant, diameter and sugar recovery. But it showed significant effects on cane height, number of cane, cane yield, sugar yield. Highest cane yield (67.38 ha^-1) and sugar yield (8.15 t ha^-1) was achieved in treatment where sowing was done on 15 April. This is because number of height and number of tillers was also high on 15 April. Similarly, Sugar yield was high due to high cane yield and sugar recovery on same date [10].

Effect of Seed type on yield and quality of Sugarcane

Seed types had no significant effect on germination, tillers per plant, diameter and sugar recovery. Out of seedlings that were shifted in field, only 40.25% were succeeded to survive in field and became millable canes and 60% mortality were occurred due to transplanting shock. Seed types had significant effects on cane height, number of cane, cane yield, sugar yield. Highest cane yield (61 ha^-1) and sugar yield (7.15 t ha^-1) was achieved in treatment where setts was sown. Because cane height and number of tillers was seen high in setts planting. Similarly, high sugar yield was due to higher cane yield and sugar recovery on setts planting than bud chip sowing [11].

Effect of Seed type and sowing dates interaction on yield and quality of Sugarcane

The interactive effect of seed type and sowing dates had no significant effects on Sugar recovery but significantly affected germination and tillers per plant, height, cane diameter, number of cane, cane yield and sugar yield. Highest germination percentage (52.25%) was seen where buds were sown on 15 April. Lowest germination percentage 26% was seen where setts sown on 15 May. The reason behind low germination is due to high Temperature that results in mortality in eyes of triple buded setts [6,7] in which he said that increase in temperature effects the viability of eyes of setts.

As regarding with tillers per plant. Highest number of tillers 3.14 per plant was reported in Treatment in which buds were sown on 15 April. Minimum tillers 1.18 per plant was reported where setts sown on 15 May. This is because the survival of seedling was also high in this treatment [12].

Height and diameter of cane are important yield contributing factors in sugarcane crop. Maximum Height 6.23 feet was achieved in setts sown on 15 April. Lowest height 3.03 feet was seen in treatment where buds were sown on 15 May. Height of bud chips transplanted seedling was found maximum 3.73 feet in 15 April. This might be due to transplanting shock that have to bear by every buds chips seedling during transplanting and low quantity of 70 g of growth media in the cells of seedling trays [12].

Number of millable canes was found highest 89 thousand per ha in setts sown on 15 April. While minimum canes were 50 thousand per ha in treatment with buds sown on 15 May. This is due to increase in temperature in the month of May. High temperature reduces the tillering capacity of plants [13].

As regards the cane and sugar yield, setts planted on 15 April produced maximum cane yield (85.25 t ha^-1) and sugar yield of 10.23 t ha^-1. Because other yield contributing parameters were also attained maximum quantity in this treatment. Among bud chip planting, maximum cane yield (49.50 t ha^-1) and sugar yield (6.06 t ha^-1) attained where bud chips seedling sown on 15 April and did not respond better on 1 May and 15 May due to increase in temperature as reported [4].

Economics of bud chips and sett planting

Highest benefit cost ratio of 1.64 was found in bud chips planting than setts planting (1.49). Because 76% seed was saved in bud chips and was used in crushing and milling. It reduces the cost of production to Rs.71591/- per ha in contrast to setts planting having cost of production of Rs. 90016/- per ha. This reduction in cost of production leads to more income and ultimately more BCR than setts planting in sugarcane.

It is concluded from the study that setts planted on 15 April produced more cane and sugar yield than bud chips while bud chips transplanted on 15 April gave higher cane and sugar yield with more BCR of 1.64 than setts planting of Sugarcane and saving 76% cane seed saves that may be used for crushing in Sugar and Jaggery production. Bud chips planting have many benefits but it is not alternate to setts planting to achieve potential yield in farmer field.

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