1- Department of Irrigation and Drainage Research, Khuzestan Sugarcane Research and Training Institute, Ahvaz, Iran , ez1357h@yahoo.com
2- Department of Agronomy Research, Khuzestan Sugarcane Research and Training Institute, Ahvaz, Iran.
3- Department of Irrigation and Drainage Research, Khuzestan Sugarcane Research and Training Institute, Ahvaz, Iran
4- Deputy of Agricultural Monitoring and Research, Sugarcane Research and Training Institute of Khuzestan, Ahvaz, Iran.
Abstract: (74 Views)
Background and Objective: The application of soil organic amendments such as biochar and compost can influence plant evapotranspiration and water productivity. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of biochar and compost application on evapotranspiration, crop coefficient, and water productivity of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L. CP57-614 cultivar).
Methods: This experiment was conducted at Amirkabir Sugarcane Agro-Industry, Khuzestan, using drainage-type volumetric lysimeters in a completely randomized design with three treatments: (1) control, (2) application of sugarcane residue compost at 30 t ha⁻¹, and (3) application of sugarcane residue biochar at 10 t ha⁻¹, each with three replications. In one lysimeter, grass was grown as the reference plant, and sugarcane was cultivated in nine other lysimeters. Daily actual evapotranspiration was estimated using the water balance method in the lysimeters, reference evapotranspiration was calculated using grass, and the crop coefficients (Kc) were determined for different months of the growing period.
Results: Results indicated that the application of biochar and compost reduced the crop coefficients during different months compared with the control treatment. On average, biochar and compost reduced the crop coefficient of sugarcane var. CP57-614 by 7.2% and 6.6%, respectively, compared with the control. Moreover, biochar and compost application significantly increased cane yield by 19.3% and 12.3%, sugar yield by 21.4% and 12.9%, irrigation water productivity for cane yield by 24.7% and 17.6%, respectively, and for sugar yield by 24.0% and 16.0%, respectively. Water productivity was also significantly improved by 25.7% and 17.3% for cane yield, and by 27.2% and 18.2% for sugar yield, under biochar and compost treatments, respectively.
Conclusion: Overall, the findings revealed that the application of organic soil amendments such as biochar and compost can effectively enhance irrigation water productivity and water productivity in sugarcane CP57-614 cultivar.