Potential of micro-irrigation systems in sugarcane for achieving higher productivity, sugar recovery and water savings

Abstract

The limits on cultivated area expansion and water scarcity necessitate increased yield and higher sucrose content per unit area in case of sugarcane in coming years. Micro irrigation techniques, especially the drip method has emerged as the most precise, efficient and practical method of delivering water (and nutrients) to crops. More adoption of such technologies in sugarcane cultivation will overcome many of the concern related to productivity, sugar recovery, profitability, ratoon management, water scarcity (and droughts) and labour costs etc.