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Go back to Agricultural
meteorology in the Caribbean
Examples of applications of agricultural meteorology in the
Caribbean
Citrus
is a major crop in Belize. There were once two factories processing the fruit
into concentrate, but these have now been amalgamated into one. A port facility
was erected nearby exclusively for the shipment of the concentrate. One disease,
which affects the citrus crop, is the premature fruit drop disease. Light rain
and cool temperatures (mid 60s) are conducive for the development of this
fungus, which causes the fruit to fall off the tree before they are mature. This
can be prevented if fungicide is applied before these conditions occur.
Therefore, special citrus weather forecasts are prepared and transmitted to the
citrus industry so timely applications of the fungicide can be planned. Instead
of regular and costly applications of the fungicide, spraying is done when
weather conditions are forecast to be favourable for the fungus to develop. In
addition, if wind conditions are optimum, the spray can be applied by aircraft.
This service reduces losses, but also increases the profit margin by reducing
unnecessary application of fungicide. (Text by Mr Carlos Fuller, Chief Meteorologist, Belize
Meteorological Service.)
Bananas are also a major crop in Belize. However,
our latitude and location on the mainland make the country susceptible to strong
cold fronts that can cause temperatures to dip into the 40s and even the high
30s on occasion. When temperatures fall to 55 degrees Fahrenheit for more than
two hours, it causes the fruit to blacken. Farmers employ preventative measures
such as heaters or spraying water to keep the fruit warm. They also shield the
fruit with double bags to keep them warm. The Met. Service tries to assist the
farmers by providing a special banana weather forecast so that they can prepare
their crop for these conditions. Weather stations have been placed in their
fields to provide data on conditions as the crop is developing. This data is
used in preparing these specialized weather forecasts. (Text by Mr Carlos Fuller, Chief Meteorologist, Belize
Meteorological Service.)
In,
Cuba, as in many other parts of the world, there has in the past 20 years been
an increasing amount of forest fires. This has pointed to the need to take
measures to prevent and control such disasters. Forest fires are closely related
to dry weather periods and drought. Cuban experts therefore use certain models
which take into account actual precipitation, atmospheric evaporation and soil
and vegetation characteristics that directly or indirectly influence the
humidity content of the living vegetation and of dead parts of this vegetation.
Together, they determine an agrometeorological risk index for forest fires,
which makes it possible to issue long-term early warnings. The index was
evaluated with information from 435 days of reported forest fires in the western
part of the country in 1999 and 2000, and it was able to account for some 97
percent of the forest fires that started during the period under consideration.
It is valuable long-term (10-days or more) indicator of the risk of forest fires
in the tropical conditions found in Cuba.
Solano,
O., E. Perez, A. Planas, R. Vazquez, A. Menendez, P. Fuentes, A. Figueroa, R.
Hoyos, M. Gonzales, J. Marin, C. Lopetegui, and T. Gutierrez, The Cuban
experience in Developing Agrometeorological Bulletins for the Agricultural
Sector, in Improving Agrometeorological Bulletins - Proceedings of the
Inter-Regional Workshop 15-19 October 2001, Bridgetown, Barbados, AGM-5, WMO/TD
No. 1108, pp. 169-181.
Cubans have developed models for the forecast of yields in the sugar cane
industry based on a large volume of yield data. The sugar concentration process
was studied, and simple regression outlines were drawn up to express the
dependence of industrial yield on environmental factors. In Cuba, precipitation
during the vegetation season is the limiting factor for sugar cane biomass
growth. The requirements of the sugar crop in respect of this factor have been
determined on the basis of a vast collection data records of precipitation and
sugar cane production., using physical and statistical parameters. These
"Climate - Sugar Cane Industrial or Agricultural Yield" regression
models are used in operational work, to draw up bulletins during the sugar cane
harvest months (November to April). The analyzed agrometeorological information
is presented every ten days and is promptly provided to decision-makers in the
Ministry of Sugar.
Solano,
O., E. Perez, A. Planas, R. Vazquez, A. Menendez, P. Fuentes, A. Figueroa, R.
Hoyos, M. Gonzales, J. Marin, C. Lopetegui, and T. Gutierrez, The Cuban
experience in Developing Agrometeorological Bulletins for the Agricultural
Sector, in Improving Agrometeorological Bulletins - Proceedings of the
Inter-Regional Workshop 15-19 October 2001, Bridgetown, Barbados, AGM-5, WMO/TD
No. 1108, pp. 169-181.
Blue
mold rot monitoring by trajectory model calculations in Cuba
The agrometeorological bulletin service that is provided to tobacco companies
monitors blue mold rot, with an atmospheric trajectory model. The model is used
to evaluate and forecast the possible arrival of spores at Cuba and its
subsequent dissemination throughout the country. Future trajectories can
be calculated from suspected foci of the disease. Once the trajectories are
calculated, the user receives a special notice where possible arrival of spores
is announced, so that the user can take preventive measures against the disease.
Solano,
O., E. Perez, A. Planas, R. Vazquez, A. Menendez, P. Fuentes, A. Figueroa, R.
Hoyos, M. Gonzales, J. Marin, C. Lopetegui, and T. Gutierrez, The Cuban
experience in Developing Agrometeorological Bulletins for the Agricultural
Sector, in Improving Agrometeorological Bulletins - Proceedings of the
Inter-Regional Workshop 15-19 October 2001, Bridgetown, Barbados, AGM-5, WMO/TD
No. 1108, pp. 169-181.
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