Early and mid-season water deficits are a common occurrence in rainfed sugarcane production systems.
In addition, the early to mid-season period has also been targeted in irrigated systems as a time when
irrigation can be withheld to save water, with suggested minimal impact on final harvested yield (Ellis
and Lankford, 1990). A full understanding of the trade-offs between yield and water savings when
irrigation is withheld early in the season would aid in the design of optimal management strategies.
Most previous research on water deficit in sugarcane has concentrated on late season water deficit,
particularly with respect to drying-off management under full irrigation, and its consequences for biomass and sugar production