Optimizing Irrigation Management Strategies for Energycane Production Using Decision Support System.

High biomass yield is one of the desirable characteristics of feedstocks determining the efficiency of biofuel production. The growth and yield of energycanes (Saccharum spp. hybrids) are highly dependent on the genotype, soil characteristics, nutrient supply, and irrigation. As irrigation water is one of the limiting factors of crop production in the Texas Rolling Plains, optimal use of irrigation water plays a vital role in determining the suitability of growing energycane in the region. A field study was conducted in Chillicothe, TX during 2015 to 2017 using four energycane genotypes. The Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT), a software program with cropping system models (CSM) for simulating the growth and development, was used to model the growth and input management. CANEGRO- Sugarcane model was evaluated for energycane and used to simulate and compare biomass yield at different irrigation treatments. Simulation results showed that irrigation was critical during the active tillering and early vegetative growth phases. Additional 100 mm irrigation above 800 mm cumulative water supply increased the total dry biomass yield by about 10%. The biomass yield gain after 1300 mm cumulative growing season water supply was not significant.