Identification of Appropriate Agri-technologies Minimizing Yield Gaps in Different Sugarcane-Growing States of India

Abstract

In India, five states, viz., Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Bihar, contribute about 84.64% sugarcane production of the country and occupy about 82.46% cropped area. The mean productivity of these states is also higher as compared to remaining states. However, the yield gap up to 33.0 t ha⁻¹ prevails among these states. The performance of technologies in different states also varies depending on constrains and potentials of the region. Thus, the objectives of our study were (1) to assess the yield gap between attainable yield and farmers yield in potential sugarcane-growing states of the country and (2) to determine the long-term relationship between improved technologies and sugarcane yields at various levels. Yield gap analysis revealed that Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest positive correlation between period and sugarcane yield (R² = 0.917/r = 0.96) and showed that technological advancements caused linear increase in sugarcane yield. Out of eight technologies, five technologies, i.e. improved variety, pit method of planting, intercropping, drip irrigation and ratoon management, enhanced sugarcane yield by > 20% and could be placed as top rankers. In Maharashtra, improved variety, ratoon management, intercropping and integrated nutrient management were recorded as top rankers and improved sugarcane yields in the range of 20.44–31.29%, individually. In Karnataka, drip irrigation, intercropping, ratoon management and improved varieties increased > 20% sugarcane yield as compared to state average sugarcane yield. However, wide row spacing and INM could increase yield level in the range of 15.17% and 17.65%, respectively. In Tamil Nadu, the various technologies could increase about 4.35–35.87% higher sugarcane yields as compared to farmers practice. Pit method planting showed the highest improvement in yield (35.87%). Improved varieties, integrated weed management, intercropping and ratoon management showed positive effect in the range of 13.28–19.0% as compared to mean of technologies demonstrated in five states. In Bihar, the improved variety contributed 40.2% yield increase as compared to state average yield (59.25 t ha⁻¹). Ratoon management (35.14%) and intercropping in sugarcane (31.76%) could also be ranked in the top category in increasing sugarcane yields. Thus, it could be recorded that improved variety in Maharashtra and Bihar, pit/trench method of planting in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu drip irrigation and ratoon management in Karnataka are the major technologies contributing in sugarcane yield. Therefore, these technologies need to be promoted in the potential sugarcane-growing states to improve the national average.