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Research Article

Vol. 43 No. 3 (2026): Revista de Ciencias Agrícolas - September - December 2026

Sugarcane canopy influence on the performance of mechanized sprinkler irrigation systems

DOI
https://doi.org/10.22267/rcia.2026433.310
Submitted
October 21, 2025
Published
2026-10-27

Abstract

Sugarcane cultivation is one of the most significant agro-industrial sectors, substantially contributing to the country’s agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Under local conditions, surface irrigation is applied to 90% of the crop, achieving efficiency rates of no more than 50%. Therefore, one of the irrigation systems being implemented to improve application and distribution efficiency, as well as water resource management, is the traveling-cannon mechanized sprinkler system. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the sugarcane canopy on water distribution uniformity and its subsequent effect on water application efficiency. To achieve this, the Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient (CUC), the Coefficient of Statistical Uniformity (CSU), and the Coefficient of Uniformity of Distribution (CUD) were used to evaluate equipment performance in accordance with the ASABE S436.1 standard for field data collection. The trials were conducted at three phenological stages of the crop: 0–3 months, when the plant canopy does not interfere with the distribution of applied water; 3–6 months, when the crop canopy is not expected to significantly affect water distribution; and 6–9 months, when the crop canopy begins to interfere with distribution uniformity. The results showed that irrigation at the 6–9-month stage negatively affected distribution uniformity, with a 40% reduction in uniformity observed under non-overlapping equipment conditions.

 

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