Potential areas for the cultivation of Actinidia chinensis var. delicious in temperate regions of Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To identify the potential zones with edaphoclimatic characteristics in municipalities of the state of Veracruz, Mexico, for the cultivation of kiwifruit through modeling.

Design/methodology/approach: With the zoning methodology of edaphoclimatic variables and the Kriggin projection algorithm of the GIS ArcMap, the municipalities of the state of Veracruz, with edaphoclimatic potential for growing kiwifruit adapted to tropical highland conditions were determined. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to validate the zoning and determine the similarity of the municipalities with edaphoclimatic potential; a cluster analysis was applied to assess the similarity between the variables studied.

Results: The municipalities of Hueyapan de Ocampo, Ixhuatlán del Café, Jalacingo, Magdalena, Mariano Escobedo, Tehuipango and Texhuacán presented average edaphoclimatic characteristics for the establishment of kiwifruit, while Chumatlán and Huatusco presented the greatest edaphoclimatic similarity for cultivation of this fruit.

Limitations of the study/implications: This information supports decision-making to establish kiwi and increases knowledge of the species, since the almost null information limits the establishment of its cultivation.

Findings/conclusions: Twenty-nine percent of the total Veracruz territory shows edaphoclimatic characteristics to introduce kiwi cultivation; its establishment would represent a support for food and socioeconomic sovereignty for producers, since, according to the present study, its establishment is viable in various geographical points of Veracruz, Mexico.