With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements: 1) A substantial saving in seed material is made when ‘bud chip settlings’ are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main field. 2) When direct planting of setts is done, the germination percentage is better with single-budded setts as compared to setts with many buds. 3) If bad weather conditions prevail when setts are directly planted, single-budded setts have better survival as compared to large setts. 4) Sugarcane can be cultivated using settlings prepared from tissue culture. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Statements 1 and 4 are correct, so the answer is C. Here is why each statement stands or falls.

• Statement 1 is correct. Bud chip settlings are raised in a nursery from small pieces of cane, each carrying one bud. They are then transplanted into the main field. This sharply cuts the seed cane needed per hectare, which is the saving the statement describes.
• Statement 2 is wrong. Setts with more buds carry larger food reserves, so they germinate better. Single-budded setts give a lower germination percentage than multi-budded setts.
• Statement 3 is wrong. Large setts have more stored reserves and moisture, so they survive bad weather such as waterlogging or drought better. Single-budded setts are more vulnerable.
• Statement 4 is correct. Tissue culture plantlets are hardened and transplanted as settlings. This gives disease-free, uniform planting material, and it is used in commercial cultivation.

Core concept: planting material and seed-rate economy in sugarcane. It links to Mains questions on agricultural productivity, seed quality and input efficiency.

Trap: candidates assume that more compact, single-bud material is always more efficient. Efficiency in seed use does not mean better survival in the field.