Enhancing Sugarcane Productivity through Scientific Irrigation Water Management in Western India

Abstract

Sugarcane productivity is declining in western India. To meet the domestic demand for sugar, jaggery, juice (beverage), and other diversified uses (ethanol, biomass, etc.), there is a need to enhance cane productivity to around 150 t ha⁻¹ by the year 2030 from the present 78.3 t ha⁻¹ in view of the constraint on the availability of more water for cane growing. Increased adoption of moisture stress management practices like deficit irrigation is required in view of the increased frequency of droughts and paucity of irrigation water. Drip irrigation along with proper irrigation scheduling have increased and sustained yields and hence, their increased usage is important. The prerequisite for irrigation scheduling through drip, the crop coefficient for semiarid Indian conditions area are now available. Emphasis needs to be on situation specific crop management practices. This includes integrated approaches to nutrient management, micro irrigation with fertigation, particularly with wide row planting techniques. Reclamation of salt affected soils and improving drainage in ill drained soils will bring dramatic yield increases and hence need special attention and investments. Intercrops and residue utilization will improve and sustain productivity.