Analysis of Effectiveness and Possibility for Improving Sugarcane Yield by Irrigation in Sugarcane Planting Area around E-SAAN Sugar Mill

Abstract

Drought stress is a main problem of sugarcane production in the Northeast of Thailand which causes the low yield. Application of irrigation could influence on sugarcane yield. The objective of this study was to determine appropriate areas for irrigation improvement in sugarcane planting areas in a radius of 60 km of the E-Saan Sugar Industry Co., Ltd., Sam Chai District, Kalasin Province. Sugarcane planting areas overlaid with soil type and climate zone were used to define a simulation mapping unit (SMU) for inputting to the Canegro sugarcane model. Climate data set from year 2000-2009 was used to stimulate model of sugarcane yield in rainfed and irrigated crop areas in past 10 years. Sugarcane cv. KK3 was used in this study. Yield gap between rainfed and irrigated crop areas overlaying with underground water map were calculated by each SMU to find cost and benefit for irrigation method. Increasing of yield and cost of irrigation were analyzed to determine suitable area for irrigation. Results from simulation showed that irrigation could improve sugarcane yield by 1.1- 8.4 ton/rai depending on SMU. For each SMU needed 138-658 mm for irrigation. Irrigated sugarcane production costed higher 815-9,561 Bath/rai than rainfed sugarcane resulting in returns of -331-11,034 Bath/rai. According to the obtained model, 381,359 rai of sugarcane planting area (60.45%) showed the most suitable for improving sugarcane yield by irrigation, whilst 149,133 rai (23.64%) were the lands that moderately suited to irrigation improvement. Irrigation system in another 100,005 rai (15.85%) of sugarcane planting areas in this study slightly increased the sugarcane yield and 418 rai (0.06%) were not suitable for irrigation. This study indicates that irrigation can improve sugarcane yield but different in each area. Thus, determination of suitable area for irrigation can decrease the risk of investment.