Agroclimatic Zoning for the Palm Euterpe edulis M. in São Paulo State, Brazil

The Juçara palm is native to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and has significant commercial and environmental potential. Its multiple end-uses have encouraged studies on its climatic requirements, especially in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, where its presence is currently limited due to illegal exploitation. The objective of this study was to conduct an agroclimatic zoning of the Juçara palm tree in São Paulo. Meteorological data from 110 government stations, the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and ArcGIS® 10.4 geotechnical tools were used to show temperature, precipitation, and water deficit data in map-like visualizations for reclassified an agroclimatic zoning. A significant proportion of São Paulo State is considered suitable and viable for the Juçara palm, mainly in the south-central and eastern parts of the state and including regions adjacent to large population centers. Considering sufficient economic return, irrigation can be used in regions that are at the lowest limit of the plant’s water demand. For areas where the upper-temperature limit exceeds the recommended temperature for the plant, its cultivation/management should be explored as part of agroforestry systems. Based on our analysis, the CAR environmental registry is effective in identifying areas for the implementation of agroforestry systems.