Effects of weather conditions on the 2019/2020 Apple harvest in Santa Catarina

Abstract

The apple crop production showed a 20% reduction in total production in 2019/2020, with 80% of this loss occurring in the São Joaquim region. Thus, the objective of this work was to study the climatic conditions in Santa Catarina to understand the impacts on apple production. In 2019, the accumulation of chill hours was below average in all producing regions (55% of the historical average in Caçador and 70% in São Joaquim) and the spring temperatures were 4°C higher than the average. This crop was characterized by a period of drought that worsened in late spring, reaching greater intensity in March and April/2020. Studies show that despite the low accumulation of cold that has occurred, artificial sprout induction is already known to minimize this problem. Spring temperatures, despite being high, were still below temperatures considered harmful to fruit formation and development. The main variable that resulted in losses in production was low rainfall during the crop period. The water deficit increased from the spring, reaching its peak in the region of São Joaquim in March and April, after the Gala harvest, reaching the cv. Fuji. This explains the difference in crop losses between the main producing regions of Santa Catarina.