Abstract

HERNANDEZ-PEREZ, Juan Manuel et al. Assessment of estimated real evapotranspiration and yield of sugarcane in Veracruz, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2017, vol.8, n.5, pp.1013-1019. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v8i5.104.

Sugar cane is one of the main crops in tropical and subtropical areas, which have little climatic variation. However, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that agriculture in tropical areas will undergo major changes in the next 100 years as a result of this phenomenon. In the state of Veracruz, Mexico, the average annual rainfall is about 1 500 mm and an annual average temperature of 23 °C. However, in the last 30 years, there have been alterations in the hydrological cycle in the sugarcane areas of the central area of the state of Veracruz (Irrigation District 035 La Antigua), as a result of the phenomenon of climate change, significantly impacting the patterns of Precipitation (Pp), evaporation (Ev) and temperature (T) of the zone. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the estimated real evapotranspiration (ETR) of sugar cane, as a result of the increase in the evaporation rate and temperature, and changes in the precipitation patterns recorded in a period of 30 years (1980-2010); as well as the correspondence between the ETR and sugarcane yields observed during the period in the sugar mill area of La Gloria and El Modelo as a consequence of climate change. The ETR was calculated using the semi-empirical methods Penman-Monteith FAO, Blaney-Criddle, Hargreaves-Samani and the Evaporimeter Tank Type A. A high correlation was found between the Penman-Monteith FAO and Hargreaves-Samani methods (r2= 0.9307). No relationship was found between the ETR and the field yield recorded in the supply area of the referred mills. Finally, it is observed a high correlation between the ETR and the maximum temperature derived from the Penman-Monteith FAO (r2= 0.9445) and Hargreaves-Samani (r2= 0.7773) methods.

Keywords : Blanney-Criddle; evaporimeter tank type A; Hargreaves-Samani; impact of climate change; Penman-Monteith FAO.