Precision Nutrients Management Through Drip (Fertigation) Irrigation in Sugarcane

A field experiment was tried to develop precision nutrient and water management techniques to sugarcane for higher yield and economic returns. The study area lies between 16°26’ 52.9" N latitude, 75° 28’ 28.00" East longitude and located at research farm of Nandi Sahakari Sakkare Karkhane (NSSK) Niyamit, Galagali. The soils are medium to deep black with pH and EC ranging from 7.32 to 8.36 and 0.17 to 1.13 dS/m, respectively. The soils are low to medium in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium content. Fertigation with 300 kg N and 195 kg K per ha at fortnightly interval and soil application of 32 kg P per ha as basal, recorded higher sugarcane yield (167 tonnes ha^”1) as compared to 124 tonnes ha^”1 obtained with soil application of 250 kg N, 32 kg P and 156 kg K per ha and flood irrigation asper the package recommended by the University package of practice. Fertigation of N and K at weekly interval recorded highest NDVI value (0.354) and soil application of nutrients as per package of practice resulted in the lowest NDVI of 0.219.