Physiological bases for advancement of modeling growth and photosynthesis of sugarcane under water deficit

• Grant number: 15/19799-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: June 01, 2016
• End date: October 29, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo Caruso Machado
• Grantee: José Rodrigues Magalhães Filho
• Host Institution: Instituto Agronômico (IAC). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The mathematical models of plant growth (MCP) allow simulate crop productivity under field conditions, as well as the effects of expected climate changes for next decades on agricultural productivity. The MCP is a strategic tool for public and private sector decision makers, assisting in the development of public policies and target investments. Given the importance of sugarcane for our country, the development of reliable MCP for use in sugarcane industry could contribute to agricultural planning, increasing industry efficiency, identifying investments demands and therefore its sustainability. However, a MCP for sugarcane depends on its scientific validation, which is determined by the accuracy of its algorithm to estimate reliably the productivity of stalks, total biomass and sucrose in heterogeneous field conditions. The accuracy of the algorithms depends on the setting of the models from well-sized biological parameters. Detailed knowledge of the physiological processes involved in plant growth in both suitable and limiting growing conditions is essential to develop a reliable model. This project aims to: 1) quantify the effect of different water deficit intensity applied in three different phenological phases on physiological processes related to growth and photosynthesis and to final quality of cane as basis parameters for agronomic modular simulator for sugarcane (SAMUCA) algorithm; 2) studying photosynthesis in different canopy positions to suggest adjustments to the photosynthesis module, aiming its improvement; and 3) determining the levels of N in different canopy positions, growth stage and growing conditions (irrigated and under water deficit) to insert a module in SAMUCA to consider the N content in the simulation. (AU)