Keywords
effective irrigation
water efficiency
sustainable solution
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted from December 2023 to December 2024 in Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippines, to address the increasing input costs, labor shortages, and water scarcity affecting sugarcane production. This study developed and evaluated an Auto-Drip Irrigation System (ADIS) to improve sugarcane growth, yield, and water productivity. The study assessed data transmission efficiency, growth parameters, and yield per hectare, water productivity, and sugar recovery. Results showed that soil moisture sensors successfully transmitted 97.04% of data points, ensuring effective irrigation control. ADIS improved stalk height (350.56 cm vs. 327.87 cm), stalk diameter (28.59 mm vs. 26.45 mm), and stalk weight (1.55–1.63 kg vs. 1.40–1.42 kg) compared to conventional furrow irrigation. Yield per hectare was significantly higher under ADIS, ranging from 140.41 to 156.49 TC/ha, a 28.77% increase over conventional practice (111.07–122.41 TC/ha). Water consumption was reduced by 42.72% (4,266.81 m³/ha vs. 7,449.57 m³/ha), while water productivity increased by 56.67% (9.56–10.86 kg/m³ vs. 6.25–6.9 kg/m³). Sugar recovery was slightly higher in ADIS (1.61 Lkg/TC vs. 1.58 Lkg/TC), leading to a 32.90% significant increase in sugar yield per hectare (225.35–255.08 bags/ha vs. 155.50–180.89 bags/ha). Statistical analysis confirmed that ADIS has a significant impact on yield and water efficiency. These findings highlight ADIS as a sustainable solution for enhancing sugarcane productivity and optimizing water use.
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