Air temperature trends in the Niš-South Morava vinegrowing area and recommended grapevine cultivars

Climatic changes in the last two decades on global level are presenting the fact that the planet Earth is getting warmed up. Significant temperature increasing on global level has consequences in air temperature changing on even smaller proportion. The aim of this paper is to analyze trends in air temperature, as a very important meteorological element for successful grapevine growing. Trend analysis was done based on data collected throughout the Niš-South Morava region, which was by last viticulture regional division of Serbia in 1976, separated into six sub-regions. In each sub-region, data from no less than one meteorological station were analyzed. Zone, which was named "Niš-South Morava" by the authors, includes parts of south and south-east Serbia. According to the last viticulture regional division of Serbia, 50% of area in Serbia under vineyards are situated in this Niš-South Morava region. Trend of significance on 95% level of confidence, was obtained for mean annual air temperature in all six sub-regions. Trend of mean annual air temperature during the vegetation period is significant in five vinegrowing areas. Significant trends in the whole region are increasing, which was determined by linear regression equation. Obtained equations are used to create a new list of recommended grapevine cultivars in conditions of higher mean air temperature. .