Articles
Effect of heat waves in processing tomato yields
Article number
1445_19
Pages
133 – 140
Language
English
Abstract
In the current climate change environment, heat waves are becoming more frequent and more intense because of maximum and minimum temperature increases.
Heat waves are prolonged periods of high temperature and excessive heat with significant impacts on natural and human ecosystems.
In processing tomatoes, a heat wave is considered an episode whenever temperatures exceed 35°C for at least 3 consecutive days.
The aims of the present work, included in the activities developed in the DIGISPAC and ETDROUGHT projects was to study the trends and effects of the heat waves in the main production area of Spain, the Vegas Altas and Vegas Bajas del Guadiana (Extremadura), through the analysis of semi-hourly data from 5 climate stations in the region (years 2018-2023) and the yield of approximately 1,000 field data points.
Thus, it has been observed that over the last 20 years the number of days with maximum temperatures equal to or exceeding 35°C has increased, causing negative effects on the yield of the plots studied.
Based on these results, 5-day climate prediction models and satellite imagery appear to be potentially useful tools to identify areas susceptible to heat waves.
The data obtained from the analysis of the critical moment coincided with the period of abnormally high maximum and minimum temperatures, which occurred in the years considered as heat wave.
This period was identified as critical for the crop, coinciding with the flowering and fruit set phases.
The data indicated that plots where the crop was in the critical period experienced a decrease in production.
In contrast, crops outside this period did not show a significant decrease in production, which makes it essential to know when the crop is in the critical period to carry out historical studies on the effect of heat stress on the tomato crop and to develop mitigation strategies.
Crop phenology, deduced through NDVI, can determine critical moments during thermal stress events.
Therefore, future studies are needed to compare information from a larger number of plots, aiming to establish protocols and implement management techniques that mitigate heat damage in processing tomatoes.
Heat waves are prolonged periods of high temperature and excessive heat with significant impacts on natural and human ecosystems.
In processing tomatoes, a heat wave is considered an episode whenever temperatures exceed 35°C for at least 3 consecutive days.
The aims of the present work, included in the activities developed in the DIGISPAC and ETDROUGHT projects was to study the trends and effects of the heat waves in the main production area of Spain, the Vegas Altas and Vegas Bajas del Guadiana (Extremadura), through the analysis of semi-hourly data from 5 climate stations in the region (years 2018-2023) and the yield of approximately 1,000 field data points.
Thus, it has been observed that over the last 20 years the number of days with maximum temperatures equal to or exceeding 35°C has increased, causing negative effects on the yield of the plots studied.
Based on these results, 5-day climate prediction models and satellite imagery appear to be potentially useful tools to identify areas susceptible to heat waves.
The data obtained from the analysis of the critical moment coincided with the period of abnormally high maximum and minimum temperatures, which occurred in the years considered as heat wave.
This period was identified as critical for the crop, coinciding with the flowering and fruit set phases.
The data indicated that plots where the crop was in the critical period experienced a decrease in production.
In contrast, crops outside this period did not show a significant decrease in production, which makes it essential to know when the crop is in the critical period to carry out historical studies on the effect of heat stress on the tomato crop and to develop mitigation strategies.
Crop phenology, deduced through NDVI, can determine critical moments during thermal stress events.
Therefore, future studies are needed to compare information from a larger number of plots, aiming to establish protocols and implement management techniques that mitigate heat damage in processing tomatoes.
Authors
C. Campillo, A. Vergara, E. Márquez, E. Mendoza, J. Blanco, J. Cristobal, M.V. Alarcón
Keywords
Vegas del Guadiana, climate change, high temperature, NDVI, yield, hot weather, warm up, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill
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