An overhead irrigated field experiment was conducted near Komatipoort, South Africa on a shallow, well-drained, sandy clay loam over a four year period (one plant (P) and three ratoon crops (R1, R2 and R3)). Treatments consisted of factorial combinations of variety (N14 and N26), row spacing (single rows spaced at 1.5 m and dual rows spaced at 1.8 m) and soil surface cover (bare soil and crop residue layer). Measurements included tiller population, interception of photosynthetically active radiation (FIPAR), soil water content, and cane yield at harvest. Crop water use (CWU) was estimated using the water balance approach.