Evaluation of mosicas sugarcane growth model in Brazil

SUGARCANE computer growth simulation models developed in Brazil were rarely used and their programming became outdated. MOSICAS is a simulation model developed by Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Dévelopment (CIRAD) with successful application by sugarcane farmers and their associated mills and available for research cooperation. The model consists of a carbon balance, with partitioning to roots, leaves and stalk (fibre and sucrose) according to the interception of solar radiation by a given leaf area. This is linked to the water balance by the canopy transpiration. A field trial to test this model was conduced at Piracicaba, one of the main regions for sugarcane growing in Brazil. The model was tested for two local varieties, RB72454 and SP83-2847, in reference to R570 and to NCo376. The simulations for total above ground biomass, millable stalk dry matter, yield, leaf area index, plant height, root density, maximum root depth and soil water balance presented a significant correlation with observed data. These results are promising and MOSICAS has potential for use in research for understanding sugarcane growth and yield under Brazilian conditions. (Résumé d'auteur