METEOROLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF OLIVE TREE AREAS IN MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

Olive orchards represent 27% of the total surface with fruit trees in Mendoza, Argentine. Although it is a commercial crop since last century, the climatic characterization of these regions has not been done yet. Because of the undeniable and close relationship between climate and plants, having a zoning of the olive tree areas in the province is considered high-priority. The data from 6 automatic weather stations with daily registries from 2007 to 2011 was used; these weather stations are located in northern (N) and southern (S) districts of Mendoza. Average and extreme temperatures, annual reference evapotranspiration, precipitation, winter-spring frosts data, degree-days and chilling hours were used to characterize the districts meteorologically. The results suggest Las Violetas (N) and La Llave (S) districts are the warmest and coldest, respectively; Russel (N) stands out by the lowest maximum average temperatures. The remaining districts form another area of similar meteorological behavior. All districts have late frost risk and regarding the chilling hours and degree-day, the estimated values cover the requirements indicated for the species (12.5°C threshold). This paper aims to provide a first meteorological description as a starting point for a future agroclimatic zoning.