Sugarcane for water-limited environments: Enhanced capability of the APSIM sugarcane model for assessing traits for transpiration efficiency and root water supply

The new APSIM-Sugar features address the limitations of the original module (developed in 1999) for assessing water use related traits, including TE component traits and root growth. Effects of conductance on TE can now be simulated by limiting maximum hourly transpiration at the leaf level or k and specific root length at the root level. The new sugar module will also allow for better discrimination between sugarcane cultivars, now that vigour traits such leaf area development and radiation use efficiency are linked to root water uptake.