DSSAT and SALUS crop model calibration for sugarcane

• Grant number: 19/19247-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: February 03, 2020
• End date: February 02, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: José Eduardo Corá
• Grantee: Samara Martins Barbosa
• Supervisor: Bruno Basso
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Michigan State University (MSU), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 18/24141-6 - Improving nitrogen use efficiency in sugarcane using remote sensing data linked to crop modeling and yield mapping technologies, BP.PD

Abstract

Long-term field experiments cannot be conducted with sufficient detail in space and time to find the best land management practices suitable for sustainable crop production. Crop and soil simulation models, when suitably tested in reasonably diverse space and time, provide a critical tool for finding combinations of management strategies to reach multiple goals required for sustainable crop production. Integration of crop models with remote sensing data can improve N management, leading to increased profitability and reduction of environmental impacts. The overarching goal is to develop new knowledge that can lead to improvements inassessment of sugarcane yield variability and sugarcane nitrogen management. To achieve these goals, we will monitor nitrogen treatment field experiments with UAVs to validate vegetation indices used to assess N uptake by sugarcane and to link proximal sensing datawith crop modeling. Crop modeling will provide an integrated approach to calculate optimal variable nitrogen rate applications using weather forecasts. It is hoped that this study will be able to subsidize scientific information and practical decisions in the choice of management for the sugar cane culture based on the knowledge and experience acquired in the training by Dr. Basso's research group. This work proposal represents an opportunity for scientific, technological and methodological collaboration between UNESP and Michigan State University, contributing to strengthen Brazilian research and our higher education through the development and establishment of international partnerships. (AU)