METEOROLOGICAL KEY FACTORS AFFECTING POTATO GROWING IN A TRADITIONAL AREA

Abstract

In the context of climate changes, influenced by high temperatures and dry periods, potato yield will greatly be affected in many regions of the world. The aim of this study conducted at NIRDPSB Brasov was to observe the influence of climate change on potato in a traditional area, in non-irrigated conditions. Compared to the multiannual average, the temperatures recorded each year compared with the multiannual average differ quite a lot, generally being higher in the summer months (values between +2.6°C and +3.1°C). There is already observed a warming trend and changes in the annual rainfall distribution and total precipitation. Analyzing the volume of rainfall in three of six studied years was observed lower amounts than the multiannual average, the only year with a significant exceedance being 2014 (41.9 mm). One of the big challenges of the next decade is the reduction of any effect of climate change on production, paying greater attention to maintenance yield in thermo-hydric stress conditions.

Keywords

• potato, rainfall, temperature, thermo-hydric stress, yield