Improving sugarcane productivity and yield through single-bud planting in dryland smallholder systems for sustainable agriculture

Limited soil moisture is a major constraint in dryland sugarcane cultivation, reducing crop growth and productivity. The Single Bud Planting (SBP) system is expected to enhance millable canes productivity and crystal sugar yield by improving plant establishment under water-limited conditions. This study evaluated the effects of different transplanting systems on sugarcane productivity and sugar yield in Andong District, Boyolali, Indonesia, over two growing seasons (2023–2025), using a randomized block design with three treatments: SBP with polybag seedlings, SBP with bare-root seedlings, and the conventional planting method. Yield components, stalk characteristics, sugar recovery, and crystal sugar yield were analyzed using ANOVA and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Results showed that SBP with polybag seedlings produced the highest cane productivity in the plant cane (115 t ha ^–1 , p  < 0.05), while SBP with pulled seedlings achieved the highest productivity in the first ratoon (134 t ha ^–1 , p  < 0.01). The superior performance of the pulled SBP system was associated with improved root development and plant vigor. Both SBP systems significantly increased stalk weight, internode number, internode length, and millable canes weight compared with the conventional system, resulting in higher millable canes productivity. Although brix and sugar recovery were not significantly affected, SBP systems significantly increased crystal sugar yield (8.15–9.5 t ha ^–1 , p  < 0.05) due to enhanced cane productivity. Overall, these findings indicate that SBP-based transplanting systems represent a sustainable agronomic strategy to improve sugarcane productivity and crystal sugar yield under water-limited dryland conditions.