Evaluating climatic potential for palm cultivation in Iran with emphasis on degree-day index

Climate is one of the major factors that affect all aspects of life. Realistic crops cultivation depends on proper understanding of climatic condition. Among agricultural products, date-palm has been a case of interest for scholars of agricultural sciences especially agro-climate researchers due to its importance in regard to nutritious elements and being full of carbohydrate materials. Date-palm has a product of great significance for Iran in economic, political, cultural and biological views. Therefore, in this research, it has been attempted to investigate and identify appropriate environment for cultivating this crop in Iran based on agro-climatology perspective while emphasizing climatic index of degree-day. For this purpose, the climatology data from year 1997 - 2007 have been used. These include the data of day temperature, mean of coldest month in a year, number of frosty days, number of cloudy days, mean of monthly precipitation and degree-day index for 60 meteorology stations of Iran. At the end, based on calculation of degree-day index for the investigated area, these results have been obtained: Birjand, Gorgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorramabad, Manjil, Naeen, Maravatapeh and Sirjan do not have the minimum degree-day index; therefore, they do not have the required favorableness and appropriate potential for palm cultivation. But on the other hand, the most ideal stations for palm cultivation based on degreeday index are: Bam, Zabol, Kangan, Tabas, Lar, Booshehr and Dogonbadan cities and the consideration of further investment and attention to palm cultivation in these regions is suggested.