Climate change and its influence on planting of cassava in the Midwest region of Brazil

Climate change is the main cause of biotic and abiotic stresses on plants and has adverse effects on agriculture in a region. Cassava is fundamental for the socioeconomic development of the region Midwest of Brazil. Establishing the appropriate places for planting in future climate change scenarios collaborates in the planning of public policies and adaptation measures. The objective of the study is to carry out the agroclimatic zoning of cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) for the Midwest region of Brazil in future scenarios of climate change. We analyzed information on the relationship of climatic needs with the development of plants and establish the adaptive capacity of cultivation in the region. We used data corresponding to the historical series of 1988–2018 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources—NASA/POWER, referring to average air temperature daily (ºC) and annual rainfall (R mm ). We consider areas suitable when T AIR was between 20 and 27 °C and R mm between 1000 and 1500 mm. The air temperature was increased by 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 °C, and the rainfall change scenarios at −30, −15, + 15 and + 30% R mm were carried out as adopted by Pirttioja et al. The potential cultivation area of cassava will be reduced in most scenarios in relation to the current scenario, which has 44% of the suitable region, except in scenario 1 (−30% R mm ) and scenario 2 (−15% R mm ) with an increase of + 12% and + 20% in the adequate area, respectively. It is essential to adapt management systems to mitigate climatic changes’ effects on cassava growth, development and productivity, with the introduction of genes tolerant to biotic and abiotic stress in cassava varieties to increase their production, regardless of changes in climatic conditions. It appears that in addition to global awareness of climate change, agriculture must seek criteria based on science that meet the sustainable development of cassava.