Parameterization and evaluation of predictions of DSSAT/CANEGRO for Brazilian sugarcane.

The DSSAT/CANEGRO model was parameterized and its predictions evaluated using data from five sugarcane experiments conducted in Southern Brazil. Some parameters whose values were either directly measured or considered to be well-known were not adjusted. Ten of the 20 parameters were optimized using a Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) algorithm using the leave-one-out cross-validation technique. Model predictions were evaluated using measured data of LAI, stalk and aerial dry mass, sucrose content, and soil water content, using bias, root mean squared error (RMSE), modeling efficiency (Eff), correlation coefficient and agreement index. The DSSAT/CANEGRO model simulated the sugarcane crop in Southern Brazil well, using the parameterization reported here. The soil water content predictions were better for rainfed (mean RMSE=0.122mm) than for irrigated treatment (mean RMSE=0.214mm). Predictions were best for aerial dry mass (Eff=0.85), followed by stalk dry mass (Eff=0.765) and then sucrose mass (Eff=0.17). Number of green leaves showed the worst fit (Eff=-2.300).CBA 2011