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Development of an Irrigation Scheduling Software for Sugarcane

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Abstract

Irrigation is vital for sustainable sugarcane production in rainfall-deficient areas. Efficient use of irrigation water remains a major concern because of increasing competition for water and a pressing need to improve productivity. A decision-making tool for the management of different irrigation systems at farm level has been developed to optimize irrigation water use, based on soil water balance and crop water satisfaction models. The software is GIS-based, integrating the biophysical factors related to irrigation at farm level, and has been designed to enable unbiased decision-making in irrigation management. Based on crop susceptibility to water stress, a priority ranking was produced for irrigation application at times of water scarcity. The software calculates soil water deficit from meteorological and soil data and subsequently works out irrigation water requirements. The output is in the form of recommendations for irrigation, giving priorities and water doses. The user can easily visualize the soil water deficit in time or space. The software has been successfully tested on four sugar estates. Feedback has been positive, and training has been provided to several potential users.

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Funding

This study was funded by the European Union through the ACP Sugar Research Programme (Contract Number RPR/009/07).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mauritius Sugarcane Industry Research Institute, MCIA, Réduit, Mauritius

    L. R. Ng Cheong & M. Teeluck

Authors
  1. L. R. Ng Cheong
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  2. M. Teeluck
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Correspondence to L. R. Ng Cheong.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Ng Cheong, L.R., Teeluck, M. Development of an Irrigation Scheduling Software for Sugarcane. Sugar Tech 20, 36–39 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-017-0517-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-017-0517-7

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