Harvesting scheduling of sugarcane for optimum biomass production.

ABSTRACT SUGARCANE growth was modeled using a physiologically based carbon balance model which used environmental data as inputs. The physiological parameters determined from field data and used in the model compared closely with parameters found in the literature which were computed from gas exchange studies. The model was used to simulate growth of cane planted at different times of the year. These growth data were used at inputs to an optimization model which scheduled harvest such that the harvested biomass was maximized. It was determined that biomass yield could be increased by harvesting twice a year.