Increasing water and fertilizer use efficiency through rain gun sprinkler irrigation in sugar cane agriculture
Date
2007-10
Authors
Shinde, P. P., author
U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, publisher
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Abstract
Water and fertilizers are two major inputs in sugarcane productivity. The micro irrigation techniques like drip and rain gun sprinkler irrigation (RGSI) have an advantage over the surface method of irrigation to increase the water and fertilizer use efficiency. Two experiments were conducted at Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune during 1999 to 2006 for performance evaluation of RGSI and to optimize the dose of NPK fertilizer through RGSI for sugarcane crop. Both the experiments were conducted for one plant cane and two ratoon crops. In first experiment the performance of RGSI was studied in comparison with drip and surface irrigation. The RGSI has recorded 32% water saving, 15% increase in cane yield, and 1.70 times more water use efficiency as compared to surface irrigation. In second experiment the NPK fertilizer levels of 125%, 100%, 75% and 50% of recommended dose were applied through RGSI and the results were compared with 100% recommended dose of fertilizers under surface irrigation as a control. A fertilizer level of 75% has recorded 151.79 t/ha cane yield which is significantly superior to control, while 50% level has recorded 137.36 t/ha of cane yield, which is non-significant as compared to control. There was 25% NPK fertilizer saving in RGSI as compared to surface irrigation. From both the studies it is concluded that the rain gun sprinkler irrigation was effective in sugarcane crop for 32% water saving, 25% NPK fertilizer saving, 15% increase in cane yield, and 1.70 times more water use efficiency as compared to surface irrigation.
Description
Presented at the Role of irrigation and drainage in a sustainable future: USCID fourth international conference on irrigation and drainage on October 3-6, 2007 in Sacramento, California.