Edgar Gomes Ferreira de Beauclair

Resposta de genótipos de cana-de-açúcar à aplicação de indutores de maturação

The use of plant regulators as sugarcane ripeners has been in order widely used to induce early harvest and optimize crop planning. However, little information exists about the interactions among new released genotypes, plant regulators and technological quality. This study aimed to evaluate the quality response of sugarcane genotypes IAC87-3396, IAC87-3410, IAC89-3124, IAC91-2195, IAC91-5155, PO88-62 and SP80-1842, to the application of ripeners and by three crop management: sulfomethuron-methyl, 15 g a.i. ha-1; ethephon, 480 g a.i. ha-1 and control. The experiment was installed in March 2004 near Jau, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil in split-plot randomized complete blocks, with four replicates. The technological attributes evaluated were: total soluble solids (o Brix) in the juice, sucrose (pol %) in the juice, juice purity, cane fiber, reducing sugars (AR) in the juice and recoverable total sugar (ATR) in the juice at 0, 21, 42, 63, 84, 105 and 126 days after the application (DAA) of ripeners. It was observed that the use of ripeners anticipated the harvest at least 21 days compared to the untreated control. With ethephon application harvest can be done between 42 and 84 DAA, and with sulfomethuron-methyl between 105 and 126 DAA. The genotypes showed different responses to the application of ripeners. The genotype PO88-62 was highly responsive to sulfomethuron-methyl; IAC87-3396, IAC87-3410, IAC91-5155 and SP80-1842 to ethephon, and IAC89-3124 and IAC91 2195 to both regulators.

Sugarcane maturity estimation through edaphic-climatic parameters

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) grows under different weather conditions directly affecting crop maturation. Raw material quality predicting models are important tools in sugarcane crop management; the goal of these models is to provide productivity estimates during harvesting, increasing the efficiency of strategical and administrative decisions. The objective of this work was developing a model to predict Total Recoverable Sugars (TRS) during harvesting, using data related to production factors such as soil water storage and negative degree-days. The database of a sugar mill for the crop seasons 1999/2000, 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 was analyzed, and statistical models were tested to estimate raw material. The maturity model for a one-year old sugarcane proved to be significant, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.7049*. No differences were detected between measured and estimated data in the simulation (P < 0.05).

Physiological model to estimate the maturity of sugarcane.

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) grows in different weather and management conditions which directly affect crop maturation. These conditions lead to the necessity of quantifying crop response to different stimuli for planning purposes. Forecast models for the quality of raw material are important tools in sugarcane farming, especially the forecast curve of sucrose accumulation in shoots. The goal of these models is to supply yield estimates during the crop cycle, aiming to characterize alternatives and to increase the efficacy for management and strategic decisions. The objective of this project was to develop empiric models capable of obtaining estimates of total recoverable sugar (TRS), for the varieties RB72454, SP81-3250 and SP80-1842 during the crop cycle, using reference data as the production factors. Sugarcane harvest results obtained in Piracicaba, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil were analyzed using the following parameters: maturation, stand age, type of soil, variety, flowering and management for the crops in the years 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02 and 2002/03. Models developed for these years were used to estimate TRS from the 2003/04 cropping season. All the forecast models for ratoon crops were significant indicating that they are an excellent tool to optimize agricultural planning.

Variação espaço-temporal do índice de área foliar e brix em cana-de-açúcar

The goals of this work were to study the spatial-temporal variation of leaf area index (LAI) and soluble solids (Brix) in sugarcane cultived in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo State, in the years of 2003 and 2004. Geoestatistic methodology was used aiming improvement in the simulation of solar radiation interception, and specially adjustment of extinction coefficient. During growth cycle larger values of leaf area index were verified in variety SP 80-3280 than in RB 85 5156. Those values ranged from 6.41 to 4.27 respectively, and were measured in 1/14/2004, with large spatial variation. Higher values for LAI and smaller values for Brix were also observed under high water available, indicating a delay in maturation. The only Brix measurement performed in the varieties SP 80-3280 and RB 85 5156 on 4/29/2004 indicated average values of 12.86 and 17.06 respectively, demonstrating the precocity of RB 85 5156. The use of daily variable values of the extinction coefficient is recommended, improving the simulation of solar radiation interception, minimizing mistakes estimating the productivity when different sugarcane varieties were analyzed.