Modelagem do crescimento de cana-de-açúcar em um sistema agrofotovoltaico

Abstract

Sugarcane plays a crucial role in Brazilian economy, serving as the primary source of sugar and ethanol, and contributing significantly to the country’s energy matrix and employment generation. This study investigated the impacts of the agrophotovoltaic system (SAF) on sugarcane crop growth, as well as the use of the DSSAT/CANEGRO model to simulate sugarcane development in two environments: the SAF system and a reference environment without the effects of solar panels on the crop (REF). The study was conducted in a commercial cultivation experimental area at the Santa Clotilde Mill, located in Rio Largo, Alagoas, where a structure with photovoltaic panels is installed above the sugarcane crop (SAF). The evaluation period extended from September 19, 2022, to September 30, 2023. The results indicated positive impacts of SAF on crop growth. The partial shading provided by the solar panels resulted in a higher leaf area index (IAF) and greater plant height compared to the unshaded area. The DSSAT/CANEGRO model demonstrated satisfactory precision and accuracy for IAF in the SAF system (r2 = 0.89, RMSE = 0.55, and d = 0.94), but showed lower accuracy in height estimation (RMSE = 101.23, d = 0.78). In the reference system (REF), height prediction by DSSAT was more accurate (r2 = 0.81, RMSE = 56.57, and d = 0.89), while IAF estimation showed slightly lower accuracy (d = 0.81, RMSE = 0.88). For the number of tillers, the model performed poorly in both systems, with r2 values close to zero and d values below 0.6. Regarding sugarcane yield, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the mass of leaves, apical meristem (heart), and stalks (TCH) between the evaluated systems, highlighting the influence of solar panel shading on sugarcane crop performance.