Authors:
Félix- Valencia Pedro, Ortiz-Enríquez José Eliseo, Fuentes-Dávila Guillermo, And Torres-Cruz María
Monserrat ,Mexico |
Abstract:
Maize is the second most important crop in southern Sonora, Mexico, so it is an asset for the
economy of the region, and it is highly relevant for the fall-winter crop pattern. The Fuerte-Mayo
region is conducive for maize high grain yield potential; however, farmers used to establish the
crop in a period of high frost occurrence. Therefore, the objective of this work was adjust the
sowing date in order to optimize grain yield per hectare and escape the frost and heat risks.
Experiments were established in the Fuerte-Mayo region which is located in the southwestern
part of Sonora, during the crop season 2016-2017. Five commercial fields sown on different
dates and in different areas of the region were selected for a follow up of the different
phenological stages. Climatic information was taken close to the crop, by placing digital sensors
within three of the fields; also, temperature data was taken from the automated weather stations
from Module 01 and Zapata which belong to the weather network of the National Water
Commission (CONAGUA), from October to June during the years 2015 to 2017, in order to
identify months with high probability of frost and heat risks. Based on the temperature recorded
by the digital sensors and the development of maize in those fields, three climatic zones were
detected for avoiding the possible frost and heat risks: from November 15 to December 15 for
early hybrids in a cold zone (central and northwest of the region), intermediate hybrids in the
intermediate zone (central and east), and late hybrids in the warm zone (southeast and west).
From November 15 to 30 for intermediate hybrids in the cold zone, and late hybrids in the
intermediate zone, and from November 15 to December 31 for early hybrids in the intermediate
and warm zones, and intermediate hybrids in the warm zone. |
