Sugarcane water use has been established using reference evapotranspiration and crop coefficients developed based on research conducted at various locations throughout the world, as described in Irrigation & Drainage Paper 56 published in 1998 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Application of this methodology requires that crop growth stages be calibrated for local conditions, and that information be determined for soil moisture holding capacity and rooting depth. Direct soil moisture monitoring over time using capacitance sensors in the semiarid South Texas indicate that sugarcane water use may be substantially less than predicted based on evapotranspiration. While sugarcane is a high water using crop, it may be able to compensate for mild or brief water stress and still be able to produce maximum yields. Optimum soil moisture availability may not be necessary throughout the entire growing period. Water use efficiency by sugarcane as high as 12 t cane/ML of water can be achieved.