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Evaluating
climatic potential for palm cultivation in Iran with
emphasis on degree-day index
Ali Shakoor1, Gholamreza Roshan2* and Ali Akbar Najafi
Kani3
1Department of Geography, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht
branch, Marvdasht, Iran.
2Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Geography,
University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
3Department of Geography, University of Golestan, Golestan,
Iran.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
ghr.rowshan@gmail.com
Tel: +989171350305, +98 21 6696 6552. Fax: +98 21 6640
4647.
Accepted 12 May, 2010 |
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Climate
is one of the major factors that affect all aspects of life.
Realistic crops cultivation depends on proper understanding
of climatic condition. Among agricultural products,
date-palm has been a case of interest for scholars of
agricultural sciences especially agro-climate researchers
due to its importance in regard to nutritious elements and
being full of carbohydrate materials. Date-palm has a
product of great significance for Iran in economic,
political, cultural and biological views. Therefore, in this
research, it has been attempted to investigate and identify
appropriate environment for cultivating this crop in Iran
based on agro-climatology perspective while emphasizing
climatic index of degree-day. For this purpose, the
climatology data from year 1997 - 2007 have been used. These
include the data of day temperature, mean of coldest month
in a year, number of frosty days, number of cloudy days,
mean of monthly precipitation and degree-day index for 60
meteorology stations of Iran. At the end, based on
calculation of degree-day index for the investigated area,
these results have been obtained: Birjand, Gorgan, Ilam,
Kerman, Khorramabad, Manjil, Naeen, Maravatapeh and Sirjan
do not have the minimum degree-day index; therefore, they do
not have the required favorableness and appropriate
potential for palm cultivation. But on the other hand, the
most ideal stations for palm cultivation based on degree-day
index are: Bam, Zabol, Kangan, Tabas, Lar, Booshehr and
Dogonbadan cities and the consideration of further
investment and attention to palm cultivation in these
regions is suggested.
Key words:
Climatic potential, agro-climate, climatic evaluation,
degree-day index, date-palm, Iran.
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