Agrarian (Nov 2020)

Initial development of sugarcane under rescue irrigation depths

  • Thallita de Sousa Ferreira,
  • Fernando França da Cunha,
  • Lucas Borges Ferreira,
  • Franklin Martins Costa,
  • Eliziario da Silva Neto

DOI
https://doi.org/10.30612/agrarian.v13i50.10909
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 50
pp. 493 – 503

Abstract

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Sugarcane is one of the main agricultural products in Brazil, generating sustainable food and energy for the world. In the Goiás state, the water deficit is one of the limiting factors for biomass accumulation, given the low soil moisture during almost all autumn and winter. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different rescue irrigation depths on the initial development of rainfed sugarcane, during the first 30 days. The experiment was carried out in the Farm Isaura from São Martinho Plant - Boa Vista Unit, in the municipality of Quirinópolis, GO. Harvesting was completed on September 18, 2019, and irrigation occurred 7 days after harvesting (Lead Time), on September 25, 2019. A randomized block design organized in strips was used. Five irrigation depths (20 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm and 60 mm), one control treatment (without irrigation) and six replications were used. The following biophysical parameters were evaluated: number of tillers per linear meter, plant height, and fresh mass of tillers. The number of tillers per linear meter, plant height, and fresh mass of tillers exhibited significant response due to the increase of irrigation depths in all periods evaluated after planting. The linear regression model showed the best fit. As long as it does not exceed the soil water storage capacity, the increase in irrigation depth provides an increase in tillering, average plant height and fresh mass of tillers. The rescue irrigation depth of 60 mm was the optimum amount to enhance sugarcane tillering.

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