Resumen

BARRIOS MAESTRE, Renny et al. Effect of water deficit on the productive cycle of oil palm in Monagas state, Venezuela. Agronomía Trop. [online]. 2011, vol.61, n.3-4, pp.267-274. ISSN 0002-192X.

The unimodal distribution of rainfall in the producing region of oil palm at Monagas State generates water deficit periods and moisture excess periods, which are reflected in the production of oil palm, Elaeis guineensis Jacq. To determine the effect of water stress on the productive cycle of oil palm correlation between water availability and production of oil palm was studied the. The study was carried out on oil producing area Vuelta Larga-La Hormiga. The climate is tropical humid forest, landscape corresponds to Guarapiche River alluvial terraces and Ultisols and Entisols are predominant soils. Water balances were estimated at intervals of 5 days by using the Thornthwaite and Mather method. Weather data were obtained from San Agustin de la Pica weather station (latitude 09º46´34.2´´ N, longitude 63º03´21.4´´ W; altitude 24 m above mean sea level). Records of production were obtained at the local palm oil extraction plant from yield of oil palm bunches from 18 farms during the period 2000-2004. Oil palm area presented a water deficit of 450 mm per year, concentrated between January and May. Three critical periods in which water defi cit had a negative impact on production were identifi ed, corresponding to the fruit filling stage, state of the central arrow and sexual differentiation of inflorescences. The decrease in production was worsened by the superposition of the effects of water stress on the critical stages identified.

Palabras clave : Elaeis guineensis Jacq; water deficit; phenology.

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