Experts at the University of Agricultural Sciences-Bengaluru, who have conducted experiments on use of drip irrigation system in sugarcane cultivation in the Cauvery basin and standardised protocols, point out that it not only conserves water, but also increases quality and quantity of yield.
University’s Research Director T. Sheshadri said the system increases sugar recovery percentage of the crop, which is a main parameter in deciding the procurement cost. This is in addition to the increase in crop yield and reduction in water consumption by 40 to 45 per cent. Despite benefits, drip irrigation in the Cauvery command area has been poor compared with the Krishna basin. At present, only about 1,000 hectares of sugarcane fields have been covered under drip irrigation in the Cauvery basin. Of this, the university’s demonstration plots account for 250 to 300 hectares, he said.
“In the conventional system, farmers stop giving nutrients to sugarcane crop after 14 weeks. But the drip irrigation system coupled with fertigation (supplying liquid nutrients through drip irrigation) method will help in giving nutrients even after 14 weeks, leading to better quality of crop and increase in sugar recovery percentage,” Mr. Sheshadri said.
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At present farmers are getting an average yield of 45 to 50 tonnes of sugarcane from an acre in the Cauvery basin. It was possible to increase this to an average level of 65 to 70 tonnes through drip irrigation and fertigation, he said.
Drip irrigation in the Cauvery command area has been poor compared with the Krishna basin