Advantages of ratooning cropping:
- Higher yield per unit area in a given period of time;
- Better utilization of growing season, especially in monsoonal climates;
- Can be used in breeding to maintain the same plant of a clone through several seasons;
- Often uses less irrigation water and fertilizer than the main crop because of the shorter growth period;
- Ratoons save time as they setablish early and in general mature early. There for they can be harvested early.
- Reduced cost of production through saving in land preparation and care of the plant during early growth of the clone.
Disadvantages of Ratooning Cropping:
- Nitrogenous fertilizer requirement is more;
- Cane yields are generally lower than plant crop yields;
- In almost all the place, the ratoon crops receive neglected attention. Neglected cultivation makes the ratoon crops more prone to pest and diseases;
- Under some situations in certain varieties, flowering takes place and unusual delay in the harvest and particular conditions might result in the increase of fibre content that might ultimately affect the sugar recovery.