Edapho-climatic characterization of the LIFE-RID Experimental Station.
Researches
Dennis Zavala, Juan Delgado and Andrés G. Castillo A.
Date
July, 2020
Edapho-climatic characterization of the LIFE-RID Experimental Station.
Two essential components of agricultural production systems are the soil and the atmosphere. Characterizing the soil
allows us to know the physical, chemical and biological properties that plants will tolerate (in case of the existence of limiting
conditions) and/or take resources from. Knowing the atmosphere behavior we can determine the elements under which the
crop has to develop, and when limiting scenarios can appear with more probability. The LIFE-RID Experimental Station has soil
with fluvial origins, loamy textures, high base contents, low acidity, and low phosphorus contents. Its taxonomic classification
(based on a reference study 900m away from the station) is a Fluventic Eutrudepts, an Inceptisol with a fluvial origin, high base
saturation and a udic regimen (less than 90 cumulated dry days). The weather station recorded a maximum of 36°C and a
minimum of 18.2°C and an average of 27.1°C annual air temperatures. Cumulated rainfall during 2019 was 2 720mm, mainly
distributed from May to December, being the latest a transition month to the dry season. January and February present rainfall
events regularly, but with less intensity and frequency; March and April are the driest months in the year with some isolated
rains. Air relative humidity reaches minimum values of 50-60% and a maximum of 100%. The air movement (wind) is mainly
from the southeast (160°) reaching wind speeds of 14 km h-1 and wind gusts of 32km h-1 during the hottest and driest months of
the year. Total solar radiation reached maximum values above 1000 W m-2 and increased its oscillation during the rainy season
months due to cloudiness. The greatest amount of cumulated photosynthetic active radiation normally occurs during the first
four months of the year (transition and dry season). Changes in the influence of the ENSO phenomenon considerably modify
the “normal” behavior of the weather, increasing the dry season intensity of 2019, meanwhile during 2020 January and February
registered a higher number of rainy days and cumulated rainfall. Although the soil characteristics don’t change in the short and
medium-term, some agronomic practices modify temporally some properties, so key moments analysis is important to make
decisions. Monitoring and analysis of weather data is also important, variations influenced by climate change bring limiting
scenarios more frequently and the productivity of the agricultural system can be compromised.