Optimization of Irrigation and Fertigation Scheduling for Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) through Subsurface Drip Irrigation in Western Zone of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) under Sub Surface Drip Irrigation (SSDI) is gaining momentum among the farmers because of more output with less input. Even though the benefits of SSI under SSDI are realized by farmers, development of optimal irrigation and fertigation schedule is need of the hour for Western Agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu. Field trials were carried out at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar from 2014 to 2017 to develop an optimal irrigation and fertigation schedule for SSI for Western Agro-climatic zone. The experiment was taken in a randomized block design with three replications. The experiment consisted of eight treatments of which six treatments comprised of SSDI with three irrigation regimes of 100, 80 and 60 percent pan evaporation and two fertigation levels of 100 and 75 percent of recommended N & K and two treatments in surface drip irrigation (SDI) with 100 percent pan evaporation (PE) + 100 percent RD and 100 percent PE + 75 percent RD of N&K through fertigation. The results of this study revealed that SSDI with 60 per cent PE + 100 per cent RD of N&K through fertigation recorded lower water use (1004 mm) and higher WUE (113 kg/ha-mm). However, significantly higher and comparable yield of sugarcane (148 t/ha) was recorded in SSDI with 100 per cent PE + 100 per cent RD of N&K through fertigation and surface drip irrigation with 100 per cent PE + 100 per cent RD of N&K through fertigation. The net return (Rs. 2,09,405 per ha) and B:C ratio (2.6) was higher in SSDI with 100per cent PE + 100 per cent RD of N&K through fertigation treatment.

Strategies to Enhance Input Use Efficiency and Productivity of Sugarcane through Precision Agriculture

“…It is observed that, area under micro-irrigation in sugarcane crop is increasing day by day. However, application of WSF (Water Soluble Fertilizer) through micro-irrigation system is not adopted by many farmers due to lack of knowledge and unavailability of research information on usage of 100% solid soluble fertilizers (Manikandan et al, 2019). Introduction of drip fertigation increases the yield of crops by three times and saving of fertilizer by 30 per cent (Deshmukh et al,.1996, Sivanappan andRanghaswam 2005) Sub Surface Drip Irrigation (SSDI) is becoming popular nowadays because most favourable moisture and nutrient environment can be maintained in the root zone in SSDI.…”

“…Because of the long-standing crop, SSDI is being increasingly adopted to sugarcane (Manikandan et al, 2019). Though benefits of SSI under SSDI are realized by farmers, very limited research work has been carried to optimize irrigation and fertilizer levels for SSI under SSDI.…”