Estimating the light conversion efficiency by sugarcane: the segmented approach

The classical method to estimate the light conversion efficiency (epsilon(c)) gives a single value for the whole crop cycle (epsilon(co)) but does not reveal any variation along the growing season. We proposed the segmented approach to uncover such variations along sugarcane (Saccharum sp. hybrid) growth cycle. Our analyses revealed that longer sampling intervals could overestimate epsilon(co) and that the segmented light conversion efficiency (epsilon(cs)) varied between 0.09 and 5.39 g MJ(-1) during the crop cycle. The epsilon(cs) would provide insights on how the environment affects epsilon(c) and how to increase biomass production through crop management practices.