Effect of irrigation schedule and trash mulch on growth, yield and economics of sugarcane (Saccharum oflcinarum) ratoon

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during 1998 99 and 1999 2000 at Agricultural Research Station, Rajasthan Agriculture University, Sriganganagar, to study the effect of irrigation schedule and trash mulch on Co 66 17 sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) ratoon. The cane yields of 498.6 and 499.8 qtha recorded, respectively, at IW : CPE of 0.9 (18 irrigations) and 1.2 (23 irrigations) were at par and significantly superior to that of 0.6 ratio and irrigations applied at 21 day interval. Trash mulching at 6 tonnestha resulted in significantly higher cane yield (566.5 qtha) over mulching at 3 tonnestha (493.8 qtha) and no mulch cbntrol (410.8 qtha). Irrigation scheduled at 0.9 1W:CPE along with trash mul ching at 6 tonneslha recorded the highest cane yield (574.0 qtha) as well as 23% saving in irrigation water. The water use efficiency and net return per unit quantity of water applied decreased markedly with an increase of irrigation regime from IW: CPE of 0.6 to 1.2. Benefit :cost ratio, net returns, and water use efficiency increased substantially with trash mulching.