Optimizing irrigation and planting techniques for improved water productivity and sucrose content in sugarcane under arid conditions of upper Egypt

This study investigates the impact of transitioning from flood to drip irrigation on sugarcane cultivation in Upper Egypt. It evaluates how planting methods—cane stalks and plantlets—affect sugar quality under both systems. A selected set of crop samples was analyzed for sucrose content in the official laboratory of the Ministry of Irrigation. The results offer insights into the economic benefits of drip irrigation, highlighting its role in enhancing sugar quality and returns. Drip irrigation, particularly with plantlets, achieves a maximum sucrose content of 14.3%, a 21.2% improvement over the 11.8% under flood irrigation. This sugar quality enhancement is accompanied by a substantial yield increase: up to 9,895.6 kg/acre with drip irrigation vs. 5,351.9 kg/acre with flood irrigation—an 84.9% increase. Drip systems also show higher water-use efficiency, generating 1.45 kg of sugar per cubic meter of water, compared to 0.46 kg/m³ for flood. Application efficiencies range from 85% to 90% for drip, versus 45%–50% for flood. The study highlights the potential of drip irrigation in arid regions like Upper Egypt, where water scarcity is a major concern. Integrating modern irrigation with local conditions enhances both production and sustainability. These findings emphasize the dual benefits of higher yield and water savings, maximizing returns and reinforcing agricultural resilience under climate and water stress.