The selection of the irrigation system should be based on the texture of the soil, the speed of infiltration of the water, the topography of the terrain, the availability and quality of the water and the labor force.
The systems used in sugar cane are: furrow irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and irrigation variants such as drip irrigation, irrigation with reduced flow.
The soils where sugar cane is cultivated in the Cauca River valley are, in general, of alluvial origin, of high fertility and with good physical properties. Most of them have medium to fine texture, with a well developed structure in the form of subangular blocks. The range of usable water in these soils is narrow and its moisture retention capacity varies between 1 and 2 mm of water for each centimeter of depth. Most have a high infiltration rate, greater than 30 mm / hour.
