Agroclimatic Aptitude for Cotton Cultivation in Three Municipalities in Mato Grosso State, Brazil

Abstract

Climatic elements such as air temperature and precipitation directly influence agricultural crops, especially cotton, determining their adaptation to different places. The aim of this study was to determine the agroclimatic adaptability and the probability of rainfall for cotton cultivation for the municipalities of Rondonópolis, Tangará da Serra and Campo Novo do Parecis, state of Mato Grosso. Historical daily data on precipitation and air temperature, provided by the National Meteorological Institute (INMET), were used. Based on the climatic requirements of the cotton crop, adaptability in the regions during the year was classified in a ten-day period. The empirical probability and risk classification of rainfall occurring less than or equal to ETc during the crop cycle were calculated. The average air temperature recorded in the municipalities was within the range indicated for the crop (≥ 18 to ≤ 30 °C). The municipalities studied can be considered suitable for growing cotton in the off-season (sowing carried out from December to February), considering the local average temperature and rainfall. The risks of occurring precipitations less than or equal to cotton ETc, varied according to the phenological stage of the crop.

Keywords
adaptability; water balance; probability; Gossypium hirsutum L