Articles
The impact of climate changes in the last 50 years on the main fruit tree species from southern Romania
Article number
1449_70
Pages
525 – 532
Language
English
Abstract
The studies were carried out at the Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, Romania, using a climate database from 1973 to 2022. The representativeness of the Pitesti temperature trends for the entire Southern area of Romania was verified and validated, using the National Meteorological Administration data for 29 other localities.
It was established that the most pronounced increasing trends of the climatic elements in the last 50 years were recorded for the average, maximum, and minimum air and soil surface temperatures, sunshine duration, and potential evapotranspiration.
Increasing trends in monthly temperatures were irregular.
The best statistically ensured was only the increase of summer temperatures (P≤0.001). In the last 50 years, the annual rainfall deficit has almost doubled from 86 to 164 mm today, of which 98 mm were registered only in July and August.
Significant increases in maximum and average temperatures in February, March, and April, were also noted (P≤0.05). Meanwhile, the minimum temperatures remained almost unchanged, creating increasingly larger thermal amplitudes at the beginning of the growing season.
However, no increases in air temperatures were reported in January and May.
The increasing temperatures in November and December determined the earlier satisfying of the chilling requirements for most fruit species by 10-15 days.
The frequency and amplitude of thermal oscillations during dormancy have increased, and trees’ cold early deacclimation was followed by floral buds` frost in 2004, 2014, and 2015. Two-week earlier onset of vegetation season, driven by increasing maximum and average temperatures in February, March, and April, caused higher frequency and severity of late frost damages.
In 10 years (2008-2017) there were 8 climatic accidents caused by frosts, winter temperature fluctuations up to 40°C in 3-7 days, and late frosts.
It was established that the most pronounced increasing trends of the climatic elements in the last 50 years were recorded for the average, maximum, and minimum air and soil surface temperatures, sunshine duration, and potential evapotranspiration.
Increasing trends in monthly temperatures were irregular.
The best statistically ensured was only the increase of summer temperatures (P≤0.001). In the last 50 years, the annual rainfall deficit has almost doubled from 86 to 164 mm today, of which 98 mm were registered only in July and August.
Significant increases in maximum and average temperatures in February, March, and April, were also noted (P≤0.05). Meanwhile, the minimum temperatures remained almost unchanged, creating increasingly larger thermal amplitudes at the beginning of the growing season.
However, no increases in air temperatures were reported in January and May.
The increasing temperatures in November and December determined the earlier satisfying of the chilling requirements for most fruit species by 10-15 days.
The frequency and amplitude of thermal oscillations during dormancy have increased, and trees’ cold early deacclimation was followed by floral buds` frost in 2004, 2014, and 2015. Two-week earlier onset of vegetation season, driven by increasing maximum and average temperatures in February, March, and April, caused higher frequency and severity of late frost damages.
In 10 years (2008-2017) there were 8 climatic accidents caused by frosts, winter temperature fluctuations up to 40°C in 3-7 days, and late frosts.
Publication
Authors
E. Chitu, M. Coman, M.F. Calinescu, I.C. Mazilu
Keywords
climatic linear trends, late frosts, winter temperature oscillations, chilling hours
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