ratooning

Ratooning is an agricultural practice in which a crop is harvested while leaving the base of the plant and its underground organs intact to enable regrowth and a subsequent harvest, known as a ratoon crop. The regrowth develops from buds in the stump, crown, or roots and does not require replanting. This method is commonly applied to perennial crops that can produce new shoots after harvest.

Sugarcane is the classic example, and bananas and plantains are also frequently ratooned. Some pineapple systems and other perennial crops use ratooning as a way to obtain multiple harvests from a single planting. In sugarcane, several successive ratoon crops can be produced, with each cycle lasting roughly 9 to 18 months depending on variety and climate, though yields typically decline with each successive ratoon.

Advantages of ratooning include lower establishment costs, reduced labor, and a shorter time to first harvest after field preparation. Drawbacks can include lower yields over time and the buildup of pests and diseases in the residual plant material. Successful ratooning relies on proper management, including adequate nutrition, irrigation, weed control, and monitoring for diseases and pests. Stubble management and selective pruning can influence the vigor of regrowth and the quality of the ratoon crop.

In agricultural planning, ratooning is weighed against replanting with high-yield cultivars after a certain number of ratoons to balance potential savings with long-term crop health and profitability.