Koppen’s Classification

no heat constraints to NPP in the year

A: Tropical Rainy Climates

severe water constraints to NPP, at least part of

year

B: Dry Climates

heat constraints to NPP, part of year

C: Temperate Rainy Climates

heat constraints to NPP most of the year

D: Cool Snowy Climates

heat constraints to NPP, all of year

E: Polar Climates

Af: no dry season

• no water constraints to NPP (soil stays wet)

• Unrestricted cropping seasons, multiple

• Perennials: rubber, oil palm, banana,

  lowland coffee, cocoa

• Annuals: root crops: yams, cassava,

  taro

• Grain production hampered by lack of

  dry season for weed control, harvesting

• Livestock limited by diseases, lack of

  grasslands, except for pigs, goats

Am: short dry season (monsoon)

• only minor water constraint to NPP (soil stay mosit)

• 2 long rainy seasons, 2 short dry seasons

• 2 reliable cropping season

• Perennials: coffee, tea, bananas, oil palms,

  cocoa

• Annuals: yams, cassava ,maize, rice,

  pulses, cotton

• Livestock hampered by lack of natural

  grasslands (managed possible)

Aw: distinct dry season

• greater water constraint to NPP (soil dry out)

• Two short or one long rainy season and

  long dry season

• Only 1 reliable croping seasin

• Perennials: sisal, cashew, coffee, tea

• Annuals: maize, sorghum, finger millet,

  groundnut, pulses, cotton

• Managed pastures possible if P a > 75 cm

A: Tropical Rainy Climates Problems

• Variable, high intensity rainfall: runoff,

  erosion, leaching

• poor structure, low permeability, hard

  pans

• low nutrients (N, P, cations), OM, pH

• Plant nutrients: mostly in vegetation

• High humidity causes plant diseases, quality

  problems during storage

• Soil conservation methods necessary for

  sustained land use

Soil conservation methods

• protection of soil surface using trees,

  mulches

• cultivation practices that stabilize water on

  the soil surface: e.g., tie-ridging

BS: Steppe

• One short rainy season, one long dry season

• Cropping season variable

• Drying winds from adjacent deserts

• Soils often have low WHC, and OM, high salinity

• unsuitable for perennials

• Annuals: short-term, drought resistant: sorghum, bulrush millet, groundnut if >30cm

• Intense solar radiation: irrigated agriculture highly productive

• Low carry capacity

Dry Climates Problems

• Grazing, cultivation increased during wetter

  years: population pressure

  • increased soil disturbance, compaction

  • increased removal of NPP

  • depleted soil fertility

Water Conservation

• furrow, tie-ridging, drip irrigation

• Crop species and varieties

Cs: dry summer (Mediterranean)

• hot dry summer

• Soils fertile, good pH but low WHC,

  sometimes saline

• Intense rainfall

• Perennial crops: deep-rooted: olive, vines, irrigated citrus, avocado

• Annual crops: barley, wheat, pulses during winter

Cfb: humid, warm summer

• Soils leached, with low pH, OM, fertility, highly erodible

• conservation important (cover crops, countor ect

• Crops: rice, maize, soybean, Groundnuts

• mutiple croping possible

Cfc, Dfc: cool summer

• Precipitation distributed throughout year, but more in summer

• Low Ea : drought uncommon, unless low WHC

• Most soils have high WHC, OM, fertility

• Pastures: well suited to permanent pasture, hay to support dairy

• Native: coniferous forest, heaths, moors