Climate and Agriculture on the Hainan Island, South China: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Climate and agriculture on the Hainan Island is described based on the literature published in the recent years and on the author's study trip in January and February, 1984. First, the synoptic climatological background such as the frontal zones, cloud distribution, stream lines at the 850 mb level, typhoon frequencies and fog distribution are described. The southwesterly winds and northeasterly winds prevail at the surface level to the 850 mb level and the typhoon plays an important role. Secondly, distributions of air temperature, rainfall, and durations of rainy and dry seasons are presented using the climatological records. Climatic division by He Daizhang is introduced to show the eight regions. Thirdly, agriculture in the Hainan Island is reviewed with special reference to climatic conditions. Rubber, rice and tea cultivations are dealt with in detail. In particular, the five areas of rubber cultivation were described in terms of cold and wind damages. The upper limit of rubber cultivation can be 300-350 m a.s.l. in the northern part of the island, but 500 m in the southern part. Of special interest is the recent development of hybridized rice cultivation. They grow in winter, ear and flower normally in middle and later March and mature in middle and later April in the southern part of the island. Then they are brought to the home regions in the other part of China and sown there in the normal growing season. Fourthly, typhoon damage and cold damage are described and damage classes are introduced. Especially, early rice and late rice cultivation and cold damages on rubber trees are dealt with, because they are most striking in the development of tropical crop agriculture on the Hainan Island. Lastly, a perspective is given for further development. © 1984, The Association of Japanese Geographers. All rights reserved.