High-yielding sugarcane in tropical Brazil – Integrating field experimentation and modelling approach for assessing variety performances

•Outstanding yields by cane varieties were obtained under unlimited conditions in large field experiments in tropical Brazil.•Guadalupe, PI State, is a more favourable production environment for sugarcane than São Romão, MG State.•The radiation use efficiency was similar between varieties up to 6–8 months regardless of site.•The radiation use efficiency declined differently among varieties after the onset of the growth slowdown.•Traits such as stalk fraction and growth slowdown with ageing were derived for use in modelling with the APSIM-Sugar model.