Abstract
The global distribution of potato area is described using country-level statistics and a new geo-referenced database. There are two main peaks in global potato distribution by latitude. The major peak is between 45°N and 57°N and represents potato production zones in the temperate climates where potato is a summer crop. The other peak is between 23°N and 34°N, and mainly represents production zones in the subtropical lowlands, where potato is a winter crop. Between 1950 and 1998 potato production area increased at low latitudes and decreased at high latitudes, particularly around 53°N (this zone includes parts of Belarus, Germany, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine). The northern limit of potato production coincides with the boundaries of agriculture and the presence of human population. The peak between 23°N and 34°N coincides with the area of highest population density (per area of land and per area of arable land). About 25% of the global potato area is in the highlands (above 1000 m).
Resumen
Para describir la distribución mundial del área de cultivo de papa hemos usado estadísticas a nivel de país y una nueva base de datos georreferenciada. Hay dos picos principales en la distribución global de papa de acuerdo a su latitud. El mayor está entre 45°N y 57°N y representa las zonas de producción de papa en los climas templados, donde la papa es un cultivo de verano. El otro pico se ubica entre los 23°N y 34°N, y representa principalmente la producción en zonas de las tierras bajas subtropicales, donde la papa es un cultivo de inverno. Entre 1950 y 1998 el área de producción de papa se incrementó en las latitudes bajas y decreció en las altas, particularmente alrededor de los 53°N (esta zona incluye partes de Bielorrusia, Alemania,
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Hijmans, R.J. Global distribution of the potato crop. Am. J. Pot Res 78, 403–412 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02896371
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02896371