ratoon
/rəˈtuːn
/noun
A new shoot or sprout springing from the base of a crop plant, especially sugar cane, after cropping.Mother pineapple plants produce two types of suckers - ratoons emerge from below the soil; other suckers develop in the leaf axils....
- The plantation would provide seed, ratoons (cane striplings), tools, fertilizer, irrigation, and so on, and would pay a stipulated price for delivered cane.
verb [no object]
1(Of sugar cane) produce ratoons.Farmers can also prevent pests and disease build-up in cotton growing by avoiding ratooning....
- Hybridizations were made using ratooning plants from the selected individuals in each generation.
1.1 [with object] Cut down (a plant) to cause it to produce ratoons: (as adjective ratooned) ratooned plants produce a much earlier crop...
- The practice of ratooning exploits the perennial tendencies of some land-races and cultivars of sorghum.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from Spanish retoño 'a sprout'.