Advancing sugarcane sustainability: integrating gamma-irradiated chitosan as a tool for climate resilience

Sugarcane is vital crop for sugar and biofuel production, faces escalating threats from climate change and unsustainable farming practices. Conventional practices, heavily reliant on chemical inputs, have led to soil degradation, environmental pollution, and diminished soil fertility. This study explored the potential of gamma-irradiated chitosan (GIC) at 100 kGy as a biostimulant to bolster climate resilience and sustainability in sugarcane cultivation. Trials were conducted on the sugarcane variety Co 86032 at Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune, and the Central Sugarcane Research Station, Padegaon, with eight treatments and three replications. Trials were carried out over two plant crops and one ratoon crop. The application of 50 ppm GIC, involving sett dipping followed by foliar sprays at 30, 60, and 90 days, resulted in remarkable agronomic improvements including in significant increase in cane height (17.18%), the number of millable canes (9.75%), and the number of internodes (16.77%). Additionally, cane yield (20%) and sugar recovery (28.40%) were significantly improved. Economic analysis showed a cost : benefit ratio of 1 : 1.65, with an average yield enhancement of 22.9 t/ha. Large-scale adaptive trials across diverse agroclimatic zones of Maharashtra validated these findings, with an average yield increase of 18 t/ha. In conclusion, the integration of the GIC application presents an eco-friendly approach for climate-resilient sugarcane farming. The adoption of these innovations can help sugarcane farmers and industries effectively adapt to climate-related challenges, enhance crop productivity, and reduce environmental impact, paving the way for a sustainable agricultural future.