Paper Title
Maximizing Water Productivity in Sugarcane through Adaptive Drip Irrigation Management

Abstract
Optimizing irrigation systems is essential for enhancing crop productivity while conserving water resources. Drip irrigation offers an efficient solution for precise water management, particularly in water-limited environments. This study aimed to optimize drip irrigation for sugarcane cultivation using a water balance model to guide irrigation scheduling. A randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted using the 'Khon Kaen 3' sugarcane cultivar. The treatments included: T1: Rainfed (control), T2: Half irrigation, and T3: Full irrigation based on the water balance model. Results indicated no significant differences in shoot number among treatments; however, drip-irrigated plots (T2 and T3) generally showed higher shoot counts than the rainfed control. Leaf nutrient analysis revealed that nitrogen and potassium concentrations were highest in the fully irrigated treatment (T3), while phosphorus and calcium levels, though not significantly different, tended to be higher in the irrigated treatments. Irrigation significantly affected yield and yield components, with the full irrigation treatment achieving the highest cane yield (123 t/ha), stalk length (296 cm), and other yield traits. In contrast, the rainfed treatment recorded the lowest values. These findings suggest that drip irrigation optimized through a water balance model can significantly enhance sugarcane productivity. Full irrigation maximizes yield, while half irrigation offers a viable strategy for conserving water with yield improvement over rainfed conditions. Keywords - Fertigation, Plant nutrients, Soil moisture content, Sugarcane yield.