AGROCLIMATIC ZONING FOR GRAPEVINE CULTIVATION FOR MADEIRA ISLAND – PORTUGAL

Abstract

The cultivation of the vineyard has a high importance in the production of quality wines in Madeira Island. However for the production of the crop to produce in a more satisfactory way it is extremely necessary the knowledge of the most favorable places for the development of the culture. The objective of the present work was to carry out an Agroclimatic Zoning for the grapevine culture in the Island of Madeira, aiming to provide data for the decision making of producers and technicians in the selection of new places for implementation of the crop. For this purpose, data from 11 conventional meteorological stations located throughout the Island of Madeira were used with observation periods from 1961 to 1990. The water deficit was obtained through the water balance proposed by Thornthwaite & Mather. For the cultivation of grapevines on Madeira Island, all the southern coast of the Island, as well as much of the North, are areas conducive to the development of culture; however on the southern coast, additional irrigation is necessary to meet the water needs of the crop. In the North coast, it is necessary to have some care with possible appearance of fungal diseases.