Water management in Sugarcane crop through Micro Irrigation

Water management in Sugarcane crop through Micro Irrigation

Date: 1-1-2021

In India, major water resources are from river, lakes, canal, reservoir, tank and groundwater. It is estimated that around 88% of the freshwater resources are currently being used for agriculture and the remaining water is fulfilling the industrial and domestic requirements. Now, all the sectors of the economy are demanding larger quantities of fresh water and at the same time to enhance the total production. This could be achieved by improving productivity with increased water use efficiency.

The erratic and uncertain monsoon, poor recharging of groundwater table and ever depleting soil water levels because of excessive groundwater lifting, the water has become the most scarce and costlier input in sugarcane agriculture. Under canal and lift irrigation command because of excessive irrigation the problems of waterlogging, salinity and alkalinity have been aggravated. This has not only degraded the soil health but also reduced the cane yields substantially. Under the well-irrigated area, there is an acute shortage of irrigation water especially during the summer season resulting in a decline in cane yield substantially. The fertilizer use efficiency is also low under conventional irrigation.

Water and nutrients are the most crucial production factors in sugarcane cultivation and their availability in appropriate quantity at right time throughout the crop growth period have become a major constraint in achieving sustainable sugarcane production. Adoption of micro-irrigation in sugarcane offers an opportunity for placement of fertilizers in the soluble form at the root zone of the crop along with irrigation water increase land, water and fertilizer use efficiency.

Promotion of Micro-irrigation in Sugarcane and future perspectives

To promote micro-irrigation in sugarcane at farmer’s level needs to organize development programs at the village level to educate the farmers. To tap the full potential of the micro irrigation systems, appropriate policies are to be adopted. This invites integrated approach and endeavours on the part of Sugar Factories, State Government and Central Government agencies. Needs some major steps as:

• Motivation to all potential sugarcane growers by state and central Government and the Sugar Factories for the adoption of these micro-irrigation systems to save irrigation water and increase the productivity and production per unit of land and water.
• Supply of standard material – ISI quality material only. To maintain the quality at ground level.
• Prompt after-sales services for maintenance.
• Development of skills and confidence in farmers about micro-irrigation systems.
• Operation research studies to prepare the ready reckoner of daily water requirement considering the age of crop, season and soil type of major locations in sugarcane producing states in the country.
• Fertigation schedules as per crop growth stages through micro irrigation systems needs to be developed and fertigation should be made an essential component of micro-irrigation system.

At Kothari Group we plan to bring the total area under sugarcane under micro-irrigation in a phased manner, there is no need for a horizontal increase in the area under sugarcane for production of sufficient to suffice the installed capacity of all the sugar cane Factories. However, the saved 50% of irrigation water can be diverted to other crops and total irrigated area and productivity will be increased substantially. Our manufacturers and dealers believe that irrigation is the best source of water for sugarcane

VijaykumarSarur
M.Sc. Agro-chemical & Pest Management
Chief-Agronomist