Project Number: 5320-21000-012-09
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 19, 2011
End Date: Aug 18, 2016

Objective:
To determine plant growth, water use, and carbon footprint of sugarcane and/or other energy plants in the HC&S croplands in Maui, Hawaii.

Approach:
Eddy covariance systems will be installed to measured crop ET and net CO2 exchange. On-site sensor maintenance including sensor replacement if needed, repositioning sensor height as plant grows, switching batteries as system power reserve will be performed. Measurements of fraction of ground canopy cover and canopy height will also be carried out on satellite overpass days. A plot study will be carried out to develop and validate algorithms for detecting and determining water stress and water use efficiency using thermal remote sensing. Periodic ground measurements will include canopy temperature, leaf stomatal conductance, fraction of ground canopy cover, canopy height, leaf area index, and final yield. Soil core samples for carbon stock assessment will be taken from multiple depths and locations near planting and after harvest. Soluble organic carbon and total soil carbon and nitrogen will be analyzed. Plant parameters needed for ALMANAC model simulation will include documentation of green-up, faction of intercepted PAR, leaf area index, within season try weight and nutrient concentrations, and final dry weight.