Sunil G Dalvi and Ashok D Kadlag
Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Manjari (Bk), Pune, Maharashtra, India
Sugarcane, a vital sugar and biofuel production crop, faces escalating threats from climate change and unsustainable farming practices. Conventional practices, heavily reliant on chemical inputs, have led to soil degradation, environmental pollution, and diminished soil fertility. This study explored the potential of gamma-irradiated chitosan (GIC) treated at 100 kGy as a biostimulant to bolster climate resilience and sustainability in sugarcane cultivation. Trials were conducted on the sugarcane variety Co 86032 at Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune, and the Central Sugarcane Research Station, Padegaon, with eight treatments and three replications. Trials were carried out over two plant crops and one ratoon crop. The application of 50 ppm GIC, involving sett dipping followed by foliar sprays at 30, 60, and 90 days, resulted in remarkable agronomic improvements through an increase in cane height (17.18%), number of millable canes (9.75%), and the number of internodes (16.77%). Additionally, cane yield (20%) and sugar recovery (28.40%) were also improved significantly. Economic analysis showed a cost:benefit ratio of 1:1.65, with an average yield enhancement of 22.9 t/ha. Large-scale adaptive trials across diverse agroclimatic zones of Maharashtra validated these findings, with an average yield increase of 18 t/ha. In conclusion, the integration of GIC application presents an eco-friendly approach for climate-resilient sugarcane farming. By adopting these innovations, sugarcane farmers and industries can effectively adapt to climate challenges, enhance crop productivity, and reduce environmental impact, paving the way for a sustainable agricultural future.