Temperature and Precipitation Synergistically Affect Yield, Harvesting Time and Post-Processing Quality of Tropical Macadamia Nuts

In response to climate change challenges and to ensure stable macadamia nut production, this study analyzed empirical data on macadamia nut yield, climate factors, harvesting time, and post-processing quality from 2020 to 2022. Key findings include: (1) During the flowering to fruit growth stage, 20...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yifan Li, Hong Zhao, Tao Zhong, Haibing Wu, Wenhong Peng, Ziqiang Li, Weirong Huang, Shuaifeng Huang, Bing Shi, Yu Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/11/1299
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850267258812628992
author Yifan Li
Hong Zhao
Tao Zhong
Haibing Wu
Wenhong Peng
Ziqiang Li
Weirong Huang
Shuaifeng Huang
Bing Shi
Yu Li
author_facet Yifan Li
Hong Zhao
Tao Zhong
Haibing Wu
Wenhong Peng
Ziqiang Li
Weirong Huang
Shuaifeng Huang
Bing Shi
Yu Li
author_sort Yifan Li
collection DOAJ
description In response to climate change challenges and to ensure stable macadamia nut production, this study analyzed empirical data on macadamia nut yield, climate factors, harvesting time, and post-processing quality from 2020 to 2022. Key findings include: (1) During the flowering to fruit growth stage, 2020 had the highest average temperature, followed by 2021, and then 2022. Conversely, 2022 had the highest precipitation, followed by 2021, and then 2020. (2) Lower temperatures and higher precipitation during the flowering to fruit growth stage contributed to a significant increase in macadamia nut yield, which indirectly extended the harvesting time. In 2022, the average yield of the eight macadamia growers was 8.04 t ha<sup>−1</sup>, significantly higher than the yields of 6.60 t ha<sup>−1</sup> and 6.16 t ha<sup>−1</sup> in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Furthermore, the average harvesting time for the eight macadamia growers in 2022 was 8.88 days longer than that in 2021, and 12.50 days longer than that in 2020. (3) Temperature and precipitation had a significant impact on the post-processing quality of macadamia nuts. Lower temperature and higher precipitation during the flowering to fruit growth stage significantly increased the proportion of first-grade fruit, as well as the incidence of mildewed and insect-infested fruits. In conclusion, although a lower temperature and higher precipitation can improve macadamia nut yield, they also lead to delayed harvesting and decreased post-processing quality. Given the observed yield sensitivity to temperature and precipitation, targeted water supplementation strategies during peak heat periods emerge as vital. This approach should be integrated with broader climate resilience planning, including the timing of pest control and disease management, to safeguard macadamia nut production against the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change.
format Article
id doaj-art-af73aacde0e2452b8cbdd8111dee8c35
institution OA Journals
issn 2073-4433
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Atmosphere
spelling doaj-art-af73aacde0e2452b8cbdd8111dee8c352025-08-20T01:53:52ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332024-10-011511129910.3390/atmos15111299Temperature and Precipitation Synergistically Affect Yield, Harvesting Time and Post-Processing Quality of Tropical Macadamia NutsYifan Li0Hong Zhao1Tao Zhong2Haibing Wu3Wenhong Peng4Ziqiang Li5Weirong Huang6Shuaifeng Huang7Bing Shi8Yu Li9Yunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, Xishuangbanna 666100, ChinaYunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, Xishuangbanna 666100, ChinaYunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, Xishuangbanna 666100, ChinaYunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, Xishuangbanna 666100, ChinaYunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, Xishuangbanna 666100, ChinaYunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, Xishuangbanna 666100, ChinaYunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, Xishuangbanna 666100, ChinaYunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, Xishuangbanna 666100, ChinaYunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, Xishuangbanna 666100, ChinaYunnan Institute of Tropical Crops, Xishuangbanna 666100, ChinaIn response to climate change challenges and to ensure stable macadamia nut production, this study analyzed empirical data on macadamia nut yield, climate factors, harvesting time, and post-processing quality from 2020 to 2022. Key findings include: (1) During the flowering to fruit growth stage, 2020 had the highest average temperature, followed by 2021, and then 2022. Conversely, 2022 had the highest precipitation, followed by 2021, and then 2020. (2) Lower temperatures and higher precipitation during the flowering to fruit growth stage contributed to a significant increase in macadamia nut yield, which indirectly extended the harvesting time. In 2022, the average yield of the eight macadamia growers was 8.04 t ha<sup>−1</sup>, significantly higher than the yields of 6.60 t ha<sup>−1</sup> and 6.16 t ha<sup>−1</sup> in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Furthermore, the average harvesting time for the eight macadamia growers in 2022 was 8.88 days longer than that in 2021, and 12.50 days longer than that in 2020. (3) Temperature and precipitation had a significant impact on the post-processing quality of macadamia nuts. Lower temperature and higher precipitation during the flowering to fruit growth stage significantly increased the proportion of first-grade fruit, as well as the incidence of mildewed and insect-infested fruits. In conclusion, although a lower temperature and higher precipitation can improve macadamia nut yield, they also lead to delayed harvesting and decreased post-processing quality. Given the observed yield sensitivity to temperature and precipitation, targeted water supplementation strategies during peak heat periods emerge as vital. This approach should be integrated with broader climate resilience planning, including the timing of pest control and disease management, to safeguard macadamia nut production against the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/11/1299macadamia nutstemperatureprecipitationclimate changeyield
spellingShingle Yifan Li
Hong Zhao
Tao Zhong
Haibing Wu
Wenhong Peng
Ziqiang Li
Weirong Huang
Shuaifeng Huang
Bing Shi
Yu Li
Temperature and Precipitation Synergistically Affect Yield, Harvesting Time and Post-Processing Quality of Tropical Macadamia Nuts
Atmosphere
macadamia nuts
temperature
precipitation
climate change
yield
title Temperature and Precipitation Synergistically Affect Yield, Harvesting Time and Post-Processing Quality of Tropical Macadamia Nuts
title_full Temperature and Precipitation Synergistically Affect Yield, Harvesting Time and Post-Processing Quality of Tropical Macadamia Nuts
title_fullStr Temperature and Precipitation Synergistically Affect Yield, Harvesting Time and Post-Processing Quality of Tropical Macadamia Nuts
title_full_unstemmed Temperature and Precipitation Synergistically Affect Yield, Harvesting Time and Post-Processing Quality of Tropical Macadamia Nuts
title_short Temperature and Precipitation Synergistically Affect Yield, Harvesting Time and Post-Processing Quality of Tropical Macadamia Nuts
title_sort temperature and precipitation synergistically affect yield harvesting time and post processing quality of tropical macadamia nuts
topic macadamia nuts
temperature
precipitation
climate change
yield
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/11/1299
work_keys_str_mv AT yifanli temperatureandprecipitationsynergisticallyaffectyieldharvestingtimeandpostprocessingqualityoftropicalmacadamianuts
AT hongzhao temperatureandprecipitationsynergisticallyaffectyieldharvestingtimeandpostprocessingqualityoftropicalmacadamianuts
AT taozhong temperatureandprecipitationsynergisticallyaffectyieldharvestingtimeandpostprocessingqualityoftropicalmacadamianuts
AT haibingwu temperatureandprecipitationsynergisticallyaffectyieldharvestingtimeandpostprocessingqualityoftropicalmacadamianuts
AT wenhongpeng temperatureandprecipitationsynergisticallyaffectyieldharvestingtimeandpostprocessingqualityoftropicalmacadamianuts
AT ziqiangli temperatureandprecipitationsynergisticallyaffectyieldharvestingtimeandpostprocessingqualityoftropicalmacadamianuts
AT weironghuang temperatureandprecipitationsynergisticallyaffectyieldharvestingtimeandpostprocessingqualityoftropicalmacadamianuts
AT shuaifenghuang temperatureandprecipitationsynergisticallyaffectyieldharvestingtimeandpostprocessingqualityoftropicalmacadamianuts
AT bingshi temperatureandprecipitationsynergisticallyaffectyieldharvestingtimeandpostprocessingqualityoftropicalmacadamianuts
AT yuli temperatureandprecipitationsynergisticallyaffectyieldharvestingtimeandpostprocessingqualityoftropicalmacadamianuts