Thermal Dynamics of Air and Soil in Açaí Cultivation in Castanhal, Pará, Brazil

Abstract

The oscillations of air and soil temperatures influence seed germination processes, root system growth, among other processes, and understanding this in açaí palm cultivation is essential for the consolidation of the culture. The objective was to evaluate the correlation between air and soil temperatures in a commercial açaí palm plantation in the municipality of Castanhal – PA, and to correlate the interaction between these variables and their implications for açaí cultivation and crop management. The study was conducted in an area of 0.30 ha during the year 2018. A micrometeorological tower equipped with sensors was set up in the area, and hourly averages were obtained during the dry and rainy periods. During the rainy period, a moderate correlation (r = 0.63) was observed between the air temperatures above and below the canopy, while the correlation between the air temperature below the canopy and the soil temperature was considered strong (r = 0.70). In the dry period, the correlation between air temperatures, both above and below the canopy, and the soil temperature intensifies, indicating a more significant influence of air temperature on soil warming. The study suggests that effective canopy and soil management can mitigate thermal stress and improve açaí palm production conditions, emphasizing the importance of agricultural strategies that consider microclimatic interactions to increase productivity and sustainability of cultivation in the face of climate change.