Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand


The influence of sugarcane crop development on rainfall interception losses

Full text
Author(s):
Fernandes, Rafael Pires ; da Costa Silva, Robson Willians ; Salemi, Luiz Felippe ; Berteli de Andrade, Tatiana Morgan ; de Moraes, Jorge Marcos ; van Dijk, Albert I. J. M. ; Martinelli, Luiz Antonio
Total Authors: 7
Document type: Journal article
Source: Journal of Hydrology; v. 551, p. 8-pg., 2017-08-01.
Abstract

The expansion of sugarcane plantations in Brazil has raised concerns regarding its hydrological impacts. One of these impacts is related to rainfall interception, which can be expected to vary in response to substantial changes in canopy structure throughout the cropping cycle. We collected field measurements to determine interception losses and interpreted the observations using an adapted Gash model during different stages of a sugarcane ratoon cropping cycle. Cumulative gross rainfall (PG), throughfall (TF) and stemflow (SF) were measured biweekly, along with vegetation structure measurements of leaf area index (LAI) and plant height. For the first 300 days after the first harvest, the cumulative PG of 1095 mm was partitioned into 635 mm TF (58%) and 263 mm SF (24%). The inferred interception loss (I-L) was 263 mm (24%). There was a gradual and clear increase in I-L from 3% to 46% while partitioning between TF and SF also changed during ratoon regrowth. After model parameter optimisation, observed I-L was simulated satisfactorily. Model estimates suggested that evaporation from the saturated canopy is the main I-L pathway, followed by evaporation after storms. Plant architecture, LAI and meteorological conditions during the cropping cycle appeared the main factors determining I-L. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 11/15695-9 - Hydrological and nitrogen fluxes in areas of a watershed covered with cane sugar
Grantee:Rafael Pires Fernandes
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
FAPESP's process: 13/09283-5 - Modelling rainfall redistribution by sugarcane canopy
Grantee:Rafael Pires Fernandes
Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
FAPESP's process: 10/20256-1 - Hydrology and nitrogen and carbon dynamics in watersheds covered with sugar cane
Grantee:Jorge Marcos de Moraes
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants