Study on the effect of different irrigation and fertilizer application methods on yield and water use efficiency in sugarcane

Field experiment was conducted to find out the effect of surface and sub-surface methods of irrigation and the method of fertilizer application on movement of nutrients in sugarcane at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar, Tamil Nadu. The experiment was laid out in strip plot design in plot size of 45 m2 with 2 main plot treatments viz M1 (Drip irrigation at 80% PE once in two days with 1.5 m lateral) and M2 (Sub-surface irrigation at 100% PE) and 5 sub-plot treatments viz S1 (Absolute control), S2 (Manual – band application of N, P and K fertilizers), S3 (Manual – hole placement application of N, P and K fertilizers), S4 (Application of N and K through irrigation water and P as basal) and S5 (Application of nutrients through water soluble fertilizers N, P and K), treatments replicated thrice. The results of the experiment revealed that sub-surface irrigation at 100 per cent PE with manual – hole placement application of N, P and K fertilizers was superior in enhancing the growth and yield attributes and yield of sugarcane as compared to other treatment combinations. Maximum water use efficiency was achieved in drip irrigation at 80 per cent PE once in two days with manual – hole placement application of N, P and K fertilizers.