THE DSSAT4.5 CANEGRO MODEL: A USEFUL DECISION SUPPORT TOOL FOR RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT OF SUGARCANE PRODUCTION

THE NEW DSSATv4.5 Canegro model allows users to combine the latest advances in sugarcane modelling with the latest DSSAT functionality to address production and research problems. The objectives of this poster are to (1) describe the main features of the model, (2) report on its accuracy of simulating biomass, cane and sucrose yields in different parts of world, and (3) highlight potential applications in sugarcane research and management. The model uses daily weather data to simulate canopy development, interception of radiation, biomass accumulation and partitioning. It simulates the effect of water stress and lodging on photosynthesis, growth and sucrose storage. Eighteen cultivar parameters are used to simulate genetic control of crop response to environmental factors. Simulated green leaf area index, aboveground biomass, stalk mass and sucrose mass were compared with observed data from Australia, Brazil, South Africa, Thailand and Zimbabwe. The model performed remarkably well for these widely different cropping situations and cultivar types. In some cases, the simulated biomass accumulation rates declined too rapidly in winter leading to an underestimation of yields. This needs further investigation. The DSSATv4.5 Canegro model is now easily accessible and may be applied, after thorough testing, to support research and management world-wide.