Sugarcane Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Thiruvalla, Kerala, 689 102
1Present address: Cropping System Research Centre, Karamana, Kerala 695 002
An experiment was conducted during 1998–99 and 1999–2000 to standardize the methods of irrigation with and without trash mulching. All furrow irrigation positively influenced all yield attributes and nutrient uptake and appreciably increased the cane yield. It was comparable with alternate furrow irrigation with trash mulching. The cane growth as well as cane production was reduced under skip furrow irrigation with or without trash mulching. Since the combination of trash mulching with all furrow and alternate furrow irrigation recorded comparable values for cane yield, it could be possible to economize the use of irrigation water to the tune of 41% by following alternate furrow irrigation during the formative phase of sugarcane. It also recorded the highest water-use efficiency, energy-use efficiency and productivity, indicating the effective and efficient utilization of resources with better conservation.
All furrow, Alternate furrow, Skip furrow, Trash mulching, Cane Yield
