Agricultural zoning of climate risk for Physalis peruviana cultivation in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this work was to elaborate the agricultural zoning of climatic risk (ZARC) for Physalis peruviana, through the thermal and water requirements of the crop in Southeastern Brazil. Air temperature (TAR) and precipitation (PANO) data from 1,530 meteorological stations covering the entire region were used. Regions climatically favorable to physalis were considered when TAR was between 13 and 18ºC, and PANO between 1,000 and 2,000 mm per year. Regions where TAR was above 30ºC, or less than 13ºC, were considered inapt. Maps were created with this information, through the use of mapping technologies to identify the climatic characteristics, and establish the agricultural aptitude classes, such as apt, inapt, and marginal for the cultivation of physalis. Southeastern Brazil showed a thermal variation from 16.5 to 22.6°C, and water amplitude from 800 to 2,800 mm. ZARC shows that 10% of Southeastern Brazil is climatically apt for the cultivation of Physalis peruviana, corresponding to the following regions: central and southern Minas Gerais, western Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, and eastern and southern São Paulo.