Agroclimatic zoning and multicriteria analysis of teak (Tectona grandis L.) in the Central Coastal region of Ecuador

The cultivation of Tectona grandis L. is of global importance due to its high commercial value, resistance and durability, being widely used in the luxury timber industry, especially in Asia, Africa and Latin America. This study analyzes teak cultivation behavior through climatic zoning and cartographic variables, with the objective of identifying potential areas for crop establishment and management. Through the processing of 20 years of meteorological data (2000 - 2021) from an INAMHI weather station and using CLIMWAT software, variables such as temperature, humidity, effective precipitation, solar radiation and evapotranspiration were analyzed, in addition GIS tools and multicriteria analysis were used to evaluate climatic, edaphic, land use and geomorphological factors that determine potential crop areas. The results show a minimum temperature between 22.7 °C and 25.8 °C and a maximum between 24.9 °C and 26.9 °C, indicating thermal stability favorable for teak, the average relative humidity is 76%, with peaks of 80% between August and November, which helps reduce crop water stress, in terms of water availability, an annual effective precipitation of 1549.4 mm was identified, concentrated in the rainy season (January to April), the average solar radiation of 14.2 MJ/m²/day is within the optimal range for photosynthesis and teak growth. Through multicriteria analysis, the territory was segregated into three suitability levels: high (20.22%), medium (71.89%) and low (7.89%), potential areas for cultivation have well-drained soils and moderate topography, while low suitability areas have steep slopes, low fertility soils or flood risk. The results provide a technical basis for sustainable teak plantation planning, allowing the development of soil conservation and water management strategies in restricted areas to ensure long-term crop viability.