Microclimatic measurements (solar radiation, wind speed, air temperature and relative humidity) were taken on a daily and hourly basis, from October, 2001 to September, 2002 in a coffee crop (Coffea arabica L.) cv. Icatu Verrmelho IAC 4045, grown in two different conditions: shaded by banana (Musa sp AAB) 'Prata Anã' and unshaded. The experiment was carried out at Mococa, São Paulo State, Brazil (21º 28' S, 47º 01' W, altitude 665 m). The microclimatic measurements were taken in one position of the unshaded coffee crop and in two different positions of the shaded coffee crop the first being close to the nearest point to banana plants and the second at the center of the shaded crop plot. The banana plants reduced the incoming solar radiation to the coffee crop, showing a higher reduction at the nearest point to banana plants. The wind speed was reduced by 48% at the shaded crop, this value being influenced by the season of the year and pruning of the banana plants. Differences were found only for the maximum air temperature at the central point of the shaded crop, showing higher averages in relation to the unshaded crop during the summer and autumn, and also in relation to the nearest point to banana plants during the spring, summer and autumn, showing higher differences on sunny days and with low wind speed.
microclimate; Coffea arabica; solar radiation; air temperature; intercrop
