ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to assess how microclimate variables and irrigation affect the growth of sugarcane. The experiment was conducted using the VAT90-212 cultivar in the Semi-arid region of Brazil. The microclimate was monitored and by quantifying the irrigation depth. Nine campaigns were carried out in the field to collect morphological and biomass data. The data were subjected to descriptive statistics, so as to generate the mean values and/or sum between the campaigns. Using the correlation coefficient, the extent, sign and significance of the relationship between the response and explanatory variables were evaluated. The direct or indirect effects of the explanatory variables on the response variables were identified by path analysis. There was a significant correlation between microclimate variables and the morphological and biomass variables of the sugarcane, with a strong contribution from the intercepted fraction of the photosynthetically active radiation, the wind speed and soil temperature. The negative correlation with irrigation suggests that excess water impaired the growth dynamics of the crop. It is concluded that the growth of sugarcane is closely related to its capacity to intercept radiation, to the wind, thermal regime of the soil and irrigation management.

ABSTRACT The study aimed to determine the evapotranspiration (ETc) of the mango cv. ‘Palmer’ over two productive cycles, analyzing water-use efficiency (WUE) and crop water productivity (CWP) to propose average crop coefficient (Kc) values for improving irrigation management under cultivation conditions in the Low-Middle São Francisco Valley. The study was conducted from July 2019 to May 2021 in a commercial ‘Palmer’ mango orchard in Petrolina, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Micrometeorological data was collected throughout the experimental period. The crop evapotranspiration (ETc) was determined using Bowen ratio energy balance (BREB), and then the Kc, WUE, and CWP were determined. The highest ETc values occurred during the floral induction phase (5.14 ± 0.85 mm day-1), with a Kc of 0.85; however, the lowest values were observed during the fruit maturation phase (3.60 ± 0.73 mm day-1), with a Kc of 0.91. Average water consumption per cycle was 1445 mm, with a daily average of 4.39 mm day-1. WUE and CWP were 16.9 and 24.5 kg ha-1 mm-1, respectively. Average Kc values of 0.81, 0.76, 0.85, 0.90, 0.95, and 0.91 are recommended for the vegetative growth, rest period and shoot maturation, floral induction, flowering, fruit development, and fruit maturation phases, respectively.

RESUMO No Submédio do Vale São Francisco, os principais fatores controladores da evapotranspiração real da Caatinga e da cana-de-açúcar irrigada foram investigados neste estudo. Entre os anos 2015 e 2016, variáveis ambientais foram medidas por sensores acoplados a duas torres micrometeorológicas, uma na Caatinga preservada e outra em um cultivo de cana-de-açúcar irrigada. A umidade do solo e o índice de cobertura vegetal também foram avaliados, e dados biométricos obtidos apenas na cana-de-açúcar. A evapotranspiração real foi determinada com base no fluxo de calor latente, pelo método do balanço de energia. Logo, calculou-se a razão entre a evapotranspiração real e de referência. As variáveis respostas foram compostas pela evapotranspiração real e por sua razão com a evapotranspiração de referência; já as variáveis explicativas incluíram os dados de crescimento e ambientais. Análises de multicolinearidade, canônica e de trilha foram aplicadas. Verificou-se que apenas as variáveis ambientais exibiram correlação com a evapotranspiração real e sua razão com a evapotranspiração de referência. Na Caatinga, a umidade do solo influenciou de modo direto e indireto na ETr, da mesma forma que a radiação solar global alterou a resposta da evapotranspiração real à demanda atmosférica. Na cana-de-açúcar, a ETr foi controlada direta e indiretamente pela radiação fotossinteticamente ativa interceptada e, temperatura do solo, sendo que esta última também afetou a razão evapotranspiração real e de referência.

ABSTRACT In the Sub-middle São Francisco Valley, the main controlling factors of ‘Caatinga’ and irrigated sugarcane ETr were investigated in this study. Between 2015 and 2016, environmental variables were measured by sensors coupled to two micrometeorological towers, one in the preserved ‘Caatinga’ and the other in an irrigated sugarcane crop. Soil moisture and vegetation cover index were also evaluated and biometric data were obtained only in the sugarcane. Actual evapotranspiration was determined based on the latent heat flux, by the energy balance method. Therefore, the ratio between actual and reference evapotranspiration was calculated. Response variables were formed by the actual evapotranspiration and by its ratio with the reference evapotranspiration. Explanatory variables included growth and environmental data. Multicollinearity, canonical and track analyses were applied. It was verified that only the environmental variables exhibited correlation with the actual evapotranspiration and its ratio with the reference evapotranspiration. In the ‘Caatinga’, soil moisture directly and indirectly influenced ETr, as the global solar radiation altered the response of actual evapotranspiration to the atmospheric demand. In sugarcane, ETr was directly and indirectly controlled by the intercepted photosynthetically active radiation and soil temperature, and the latter one also affected the ratio between actual and reference evapotranspiration.