Radiation interception and biomass accumulation in a sugarcane crop grown under irrigated tropical conditions

Abstract

Little quantitative information relating yield accumulation in sugarcane to climatic factors is available to allow the maximum yield in different seasons and locations to be determined. By comparison of actual yield with the climatically determined maximum yield for a given crop, the extent of yield limitation due to management and soil and pest factors can be assessed. This paper analyses the relationship between radiation interception and biomass accumulation for an autumn-planted sugarcane crop grown under irrigated conditions at Ayr, Qld (lat. 19.5� S.). Crop samplings were conducted from 167 to 445 days after planting (DAP). Less than 60% of the seasonal incident solar radiation was intercepted by the crop. A radiation extinction coefficient of 0.38 was estimated from the relationship between green leaf area index and the fraction of the radiation intercepted (fi). A maximum crop radiation (SW, 0.35-2-5 8m) use efficiency (RUE) of 1.75 g MJ-1 was determined. The maximum crop growth rate over a 140 day period was 41.1 g m-2d-1. However, this value is dependent on fi and the incident radiation ( S ) , and accordingly would be expected to vary across locations. In contrast, the RUE value of 1.75 g MJ-1is independent of fi and S, and can be used as a baseline value to assess the extent of yield limitation and the scope for yield improvement at different locations. The maximum biomass production was 72 t ha-1and the maximum fresh cane yield was 201 t ha-1. However, these maximum yields were attained up to 4 months before the final sampling. Future research should examine the wider applicability of this early yield plateau, and focus on the factors responsible for the early cessation in yield accumulation.

Growth indices ans productivity in sugarcane

“…The BMT accumulation results in both cropping seasons, adjusted as a function of DAC, are presented in Figure 3. BMT accumulation for the entire area had its behavior described by Magalhães (1985), and was also obtained by Muchow et al, (1994), Gava (1999), and Pellegrino (2001) in sugarcane. The behavior is characterized by an initial stage with slow growth and little biomass accumulation; the assimilation of photosynthates is directed toward sugarcane tillering, yielding a large number of plants per meter, which can be verified in the data analysis for number of plants per linear meter (Figure 2).…”

“…In the specific case of sugarcane, some growth analysis studies have been developed for the crop, with a number of applications in mind, such as fertilization management (Gava, 1999), irrigation management (Teruel, 1995), growth models (Machado, 1981& Machado et al, 1982, Muchow et al, 1994, remote sensing and yield prediction (Pellegrino, 2001). However, further in-depth studies are still needed to provide detailed information on the crop's evolution and on the list of agronomic variables, such as number of plants per meter (NPM), LAI, and agricultural productivity, that is, the number of tons of sugarcane stalks per hectare that are suitable for processing (TSS).…”

Regional based estimates of water use for commercial sugar-cane in South Africa

“…It has provided a benchmark for several subsequent research studies related to sugar-cane water use and biomass production (e.g. Coombs, 1984;Schulze, 1995;Lumsden et al, 1998;Singels and Bezuidenhout, 2002) and has since been widely referenced and acknowledged by researchers all over the world, including Brazil (Scarpari and De Beauclair, 2004), Australia (Muchow et al, 1994;Robertson et al, 1996;Evensen et al, 1997), Thailand (Brzesowsky andVan Vilsteren, 1988), the USA (Legendre and Burner, 1995) and Mauritius (Cheeroo-Nayamuth et al, 2000). Regional production data from 1979 to 2002 were collated for the 15 sugar mills that were operational in 2002 (data courtesy of the SA Cane Growers Association).…”

Water and radiation use efficiency of sugarcane for bioethanol production in South Africa, benchmarked against other selected crops

“…, although there is sufficient evidence that RUE varies considerably because of variation in temperature, soil fertility (leaf nitrogen content), crop age, crop class, lodging, and culm death (Muchow et al 1994, Robertson et al 1996, Park et al 2005, Donaldson et al 2008). Sugar beet is considered a crop that is relatively efficient in transforming solar radiation into dry matter, higher than durum wheat, but lower than maize and sorghum (Tanner and Sinclair 1983 (Muchow 1989, Rosenthal et al 1993).…”