Determining the impacts of repiquetes on riparian croplands established along the Amazon River

The rapid increase of the Amazon River’s flow, that induces a water elevation rising of at least 0.2-m during the transition from wet to dry season is known as “repiquete”. The inundation of riparian croplands caused by repiquetes in the Peruvian Amazonia could seriously decrease crop productivity and compromise the economy and food security of riverine communities. A study was performed to determine the relationship between the magnitude, frequency and flooding risk of repiquetes along the agricultural riparian zones; and to characterize the climate behavior that precedes repiquetes at the Tamshiyacu gauging station in the Peruvian Amazonia. Results indicated that a repiquete could be observed up to 2 times per year, after the crops are progressively established, while the river stage reaches the lowest elevation used for cropping at the study area (between 83 and 88-m). Risk analysis indicates that repiquetes with an effective magnitude of 1-m and 2-m would flood 16% and 36% of the riparian area available for crops at the beginning of the repiquete, respectively. Analysis of climate behavior indicated that occurrence of repiquetes is related to the increase of moisture flux convergence and precipitation over northern tributary watersheds of the Amazon River (Marañón and Ucayali basins). Determining the potential risk of inundation of riparian corridors based on terrain elevations and the frequency of repiquetes will support farmers in their decision making for riparian crop management along the Amazon River.