During the period of maximum leaf area index of a sugarcane crop, cv. NA56-79, the coefficients of reflection, transmission and absorption of the incoming solar radiation were function of solar elevation and the waveband considered. The photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was always less reflected and transmitted but more absorbed than the near infrared radiation (NIR). In general, for the wavebands considered, the following radiometric relations were obtained: (1) net solar radiation, NPAR = 1.2 NNIR; (2) reflected radiation, RPAR = 0.1 RNIR; (3) transmitted radiation, TPAR = 0.2 TNIR; (4) absorbed radiation, APAR = 1.6 ANIR.
photosynthetically active radiation; near infrared radiation; reflection coefficient; transmission coefficient; absorption coefficient