Agroclimatic zoning of peanut plants for the Bacia do Alto Paraguai, Mato Grosso State, Brazil

Abstract

The success of a technified, productive and sustainable agriculture is achieved through the knowledge on climate and soil of a place, combined with their appropriate management. This study aimed to determine the agroclimatic zoning of peanut plants for the Bacia do Alto Paraguai, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, by identifying the cities with aptitude for exploring this crop and establishing the times for its sowing. Soil and climate conditions were evaluated for the region, respecting the cycle (90-120 days) and water demands (400-600 mm) of the crop. The water storage capacity (WSC) and water requirement satisfaction index (WRSI) were determined for the types of soil classified according to the clay content. It was possible to conclude that all cities that cultivate peanut plants have more than 50 % of WSC 75 soil type with more than 35 % of clay (Arenápolis, Barra do Bugres, Indiavaí, Lambarí D’Oeste, Nova Olímpia, Rondonópolis, São José dos Quatro Marcos and Tangará da Serra). Such soil favors a late cultivation, which can be performed up to the 7^th ten-days period. For the WSC 30 soil type, with less than 15 % of clay, the cultivation should only start from the 6^th ten-days period, due to its low water absorption capacity.