Abstract
The occurrence, distribution of rainfall and the knowledge of crop water demand are essentials to irrigation planning. Thus, the determination of probable rainfall can contribute substantially to suitable irrigation projects. This work aimed to determine the probable rainfall for Uberlândia, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, in order to evaluate its contribution to coffee water demand. Daily precipitation data from 1975 to 2010 were summed in a 30-day period (monthly) and applied to Gamma distribution. The probable rainfall was estimated to different probability levels (%): 40, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, and 95. With 75% of probability of exceedance (considered suitable to irrigation purposes) the probable rainfall in Uberlândia overcomes the coffee evapotranspiration only in December and January, suggesting a supplementary irrigation for vegetative growth and fructification periods (from October to April-May). During the entire dry-season the probable rainfall does not overcome the coffee evapotranspiration.
Highlights
Brazil is the major world coffee producer (Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora)
Uberlândia is located in the Cerrado Biome, Triangulo Mineiro region – currently an important region in the Brazilian agribusiness
This work was carried out from daily rainfall data acquired from the Brazilian National Water Agency – ANA (ANA, 2012) from a weather stationlocatedat18°59’18’’S and 48°11’25’’W, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, climate Aw (Köppen’s classification) and altitude of 800m
Summary
Brazil is the major world coffee producer (Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora). For 2014, a production is estimated between 46 and 50 million bags. Uberlândia is located in the Cerrado Biome, Triangulo Mineiro region – currently an important region in the Brazilian agribusiness. In this region, the coffee has been cultivated on 27,000 hectares with production estimated at 2014 of 6 million of bags and productivity of 36 bags ha–1. The use of irrigation on Cerrado coffee areas is one of the practices that contribute to increase the productivity and quality of crop (Matiello et al, 2010). In Brazil, irrigated coffee crops cover around 300,000 ha, concentrated for the most part in the Triangulo Mineiro region, considered an irrigation-dependent and responsive area (Matiello et al, 2010)
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