Zone-wise influence of climatic parameters and residue management on sugarcane ratoon yield and commercial cane sugar in Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Sugarcane ratoon productivity and commercial cane sugar (CCS) recovery are highly sensitive to climatic variability, particularly in tropical agro-ecosystems. The present study evaluated the influence of key weather parameters on ratoon yield and CCS across three distinct sugar recovery zones of Maharashtra, India, under contrasting residue management practices (trash burning and in situ trash management). A field survey involving 370 farmers was conducted during 2022–23 across sixteen major sugarcane-growing districts. Meteorological data (maximum and minimum temperature, rainfall, morning and evening relative humidity) were obtained from authenticated sources, and yield and CCS data were collected from respective sugar factories. Correlation analysis revealed that in high and medium recovery zones, maximum and minimum temperatures exhibited significant positive associations with ratoon yield and CCS. In contrast, in the low recovery zone, higher temperature and erratic rainfall were negatively correlated with yield and sugar recovery. Relative humidity showed a consistent negative relationship with CCS across zones. Trash management practices moderated climatic effects, with in situ management showing relatively stable responses under optimal thermal conditions. The findings highlight zone-specific climatic sensitivity and emphasize the need for adaptive residue management strategies to sustain sugarcane productivity under changing climate scenarios