RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILATION (ENSO), PRECIPITATION AND MAIZE YIELD IN THE STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL
Abstract
The State of Rio Grande do Sul is the main grain producer in Brazil, responsable for 25% of national grain production. On average, the State has had losses in 3 of every 10 harvest, especially due to droughts and floods. Previous studies have shown a good relationship ' between the variability of rainfall and ENSO. The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of ENSO over rainfall and maize yield in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. We analysed the relationship between rainfall, maize yield, Southem Oscilation Index (I0S) and Sea Surface Temperature (SST) from Pacific Ocean. The results showed that the variability of rainfall in the State of Rio Grande do Sul is associated with ENSO phenomena, and this variability has influence over the variability of maize yields in the State. These information can be incorporated in yield si mulation models in order to identify strategies to mitigate the impacts of the climate variability over maize production.
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