How much water does sugarcane need during its growing period?

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Sugarcane field — Sugarcane Field of sugarcane (*Saccharum officinarum*) in St. George Parish, Barbados.

To achieve good yields, sugarcane requires 2,000 to 2,300 mm (80 to 90 inches) of water throughout its growing period.1

If natural precipitation is insufficient to meet these requirements, irrigation—applied either through spraying or via furrows—is used to compensate for the deficiency. Conversely, withholding water is a technique used to promote the maturation of the cane.1