ARC Home I SJAR Home I About SJAR I Article Order Info. I Contribution to SJAR

Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research

 Determination of sugarcane crop water requirements at Elguneid Sugar Scheme
 

F.S. Mergani^1, A. E. Mohamed¹, H.A. Mohamed¹ and E. Y. Mohamed¹
 

Abstract:

This study was conducted at Elguneid Sugar Scheme during the period September, 1989 to February, 1991 with the objective of quantifying sugarcane crop consumptive water use for the various growth stages and to increase the irrigation efficiency. Measurements included the determination of soil moisture, actual evapotranspiration (ET), evaporation (E), crop factors (CF) and crop water requirement (CWR) for sugarcane at the various growth stages. The consumptive water use (CWU) for the crop increased from 3.5 mm/day at the initial stage to 5.0 mm/day at the development stage, reached a maximum of 10 mm/day at mid stage and then declined to 6.3 mm/day at the late season stage. The ET of the ratoon crop followed a similar trend and increased after the first irrigation from 6.5 mm/day to 9.6 mm/day at mid season and decreased thereafter due to maturity and ripening to only 4.6 mm/day. The quantity of water supplied to the crop at the initial and late season stages was more than the plant requirement and excess water was wasted. Water supplied at mid stage was less than the crop requirement and the crop suffered from lack of water. An approach based on actual water requirement was recommended.

Keywords:

Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 1(1998) PP. 27-29