Growth, yield and water use in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) under drip fertigation Pawar D.D.1,*, Professor & Head, Dingre S.K.1, Assistant Professor, Surve U.S.2, Associate Professor Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra-413 722 1IDE, Inter Faculty Department of Irrigation Water Management 2Department of Agronomy, MPKV, Rahuri, Maharashtra *Corresponding author Email: ddpawar1@rediffmail.com
Online published on 25 September, 2013. Abstract An experiment was conducted to study effects of drip fertigation on growth, yield and economics of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) on clay soils in western Maharashtra for three consecutive years (2007–2010). The experiment comprised of 100, 80 and 60% of recommended fertilizer dose in water soluble form through drip in two fertigation schedules (A and B) and results were compared with three control treatments. In schedule A, nutrients were applied in 12 equal fortnightly splits, whereas in schedule B nutrients were applied as per growth stage of crop in 26 weekly splits. Drip fertigation @ 100% with schedule B produced maximum cane (187.8 t/ha) and sugar yield (22 t/ha) and it was on par with 100% fertigation with schedule A and 80% fertigation with schedule B. The 100% drip fertigation showed 41.8% increase in yield. Yield increased upto 25.3% by applying only ‘N’ through drip as against conventional method (133.4 t/ha). Fertigation also resulted into 40% fertilizer saving. The drip irrigation used less quantity of water (103.7 mm) and saved 57% water over surface irrigation method. Field water use efficiency was also improved considerably under drip fertigation. Economics revealed higher cost of cultivation involved under drip fertigation than conventional band application. The net income, total income and water productivity over conventional method were also higher in 100% fertigation schedule B but all the economical parameters were on par with 100% fertigation schedule A and 80% fertigation schedule B. Hence, 80% drip fertigation through water soluble fertilizers applied in 26 splits as per growth stages was found suitable for productive sugarcane cultivation in western Maharashtra. Top Keywords Drip irrigation, Fertigation schedule, Split application, Sugarcane, Water soluble fertilizers. Top |