Selection of appropriate growth model for projection of sugarcane area, production and productivity in Maharashtra state

Growth models are useful in understanding relationship between time and growth. Present study was undertaken to formulate various non-linear models to project area, production and productivity of Sugarcane in Maharashtra state during 1983–84 to 2014–15. Various growth models (linear, quadratic, cubic, exponential, compound, logarithmic, inverse, power) were employed for this purpose. The study revealed that cubic growth model was most suitable. The area under cultivation of sugarcane showed increasing trend, while its productivity decreased. It may be due to soil salinity in sugarcane growing areas of Maharashtra.