Intercomparison of sugarcane simulation models and its use to evaluate yield gap and irrigation impacts in different Brazilian regions

O sistema de produção da cana-de-açúcar é altamente complexo e a expansão do cultivo tem ocorrido para locais com considerável déficit hídrico (DH). Nesse contexto, o DH e o manejo agrícola são os principais fatores determinantes das quebras de produtividade da cana-de-açúcar, sendo a irrigação uma das alternativas para minimizá-las. Modelos de simulação podem ser utilizados para avaliar a quebra de produtividade e os impactos da irrigação na cana-de-açúcar. Assim, o presente estudo teve por objetivos: i) avaliar e ajustar os modelos MZA-FAO, DSSAT/CANEGRO e APSIM-Sugarcane e propor um fator de manejo (kdec); ii) avaliar a magnitude da quebra de produtividade e suas causas (DH e manejo); iii) avaliar os impactos da irrigação na produtividade da cana-de-açúcar e; iv) estimar o número de dias de suspensão da irrigação antes da colheita. Comparando-se com dados de produtividade de cana de 12 meses com diversos cortes e sistemas (sequeiro e irrigado) para diversas regiões brasileiras, o desempenho de todos os modelos foi fraco com grande erro absoluto médio (EAM > 29 t ha-1) e baixa precisão (R2 29 t ha-1) and low precision (R2 < 0.54), once the models does not take into account crop management aspects. The introduction of kdec increased the models\' performances, with MAE < 14 ta ha-1 and R2 &ge; 0.63. When the average yield of the three models was used, the precision and accuracy improved and MAE decreased. The YG was calculated by the difference between simulated values of 12-months plant cane under optimum management in a multi-model approach and data from IBGE for 30 locations. The average YG total (YGT) was 121 t ha-1, which were mainly caused by WD (YGWD), followed by sub-optimal CM (YGCM). The YGWD accounted for about 72% of YGT (&sim; 87 t ha-1). The YGCM is dependent on the region and practices adopted by growers, and it represents, in average, 28% of the YGT (34 t ha-1). YGCM can be related mainly to monoculture and mechanization of high impact. Since the WD is the main cause of YG, the impact of irrigation on sugarcane yield was estimated by simulating 12-month plant cane in three soil types and 12 planting dates with MZA-FAO model for a long-term period (30 years). The results showed that the yield increases depend on the interaction between weather conditions, soil type, planting date and irrigation level. The simulations showed that irrigation is a practice with great potential to increase the sugarcane yield in several Brazilian locations. When sugarcane is irrigated, the drying-off is a strategy to increase sucrose content and yield; however, there are no recommendations about it for Brazilian conditions. In order to address this issue, simulations were conducted with APSIM-Sugarcane model for 12-month plant cane under optimum management in three soil types and 12 Brazilian locations for a long-term period (30 years). The harvest dates were simulated from May to November, which is the common harvesting season in sugarcane mills in the evaluated regions. The number of drying-off days varies according to location, soil type and harvest date, with the median ranging from 15 to 115 days