Geostatistics applied to the environmental mapping of aviaries

ABSTRACT Spatial variability analysis of meteorological elements and precise identification of possible causes of thermal stress in poultry housing help producers in the decision making process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the internal environment of poultry houses in the downtime (sanitary void) and in the production phase, to characterize spatial thermal variability and to identify critical control points. The study was carried out in the Alluvial Valley of the Mimoso River, municipality of Pesqueira, PE, Brazil. The data of air temperature, wind speed and illuminance were recorded in November (spring season), at 155 points within each poultry facility (10 x 90 m), spaced in a 3.0 x 2.5 m grid and subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and geostatistics. There was a strong spatial dependence for the variables air temperature, wind speed and illuminance. The ranges obtained for the air temperature in the facilities were from 48.22 to 114.52 m, while for the wind speed and illuminance were less than 10 m, thus revealing the need for greater homogeneity of the studied variables and meeting of the thermal requirement of the poultry.