Editing Avocado (section)

=== Requirements ===
[[File:Avocado Seedling.jpg|thumb|upright|''Persea americana'', young avocado plant (seedling), complete with parted pit and roots]]

As a [[subtropical]] species, avocados need a climate without frost and with little wind. High winds reduce the humidity, dehydrate the flowers, and affect pollination.{{original research inline|date=December 2022}} When even a mild frost occurs, premature fruit drop may occur; although the '[[Hass avocado|Hass]]' [[cultivar]] can tolerate temperatures down to −1&nbsp;°C.{{original research inline|date=December 2022}} Several cold-hardy varieties{{specify|date=December 2022}}{{which|date=December 2022}} are planted in the region of [[Gainesville, Florida]], which survive temperatures as low as {{convert|-6.5|C|0}} with only minor leaf damage. The trees also need well-aerated soils, ideally more than 1 m deep.{{original research inline|date=December 2022}} However, Guatemalan varieties such as "MacArthur", "Rincon", or "Nabal" can withstand temperatures down to {{convert|-1.6|C|0}}.<ref>Hessong, Athena.
[https://homeguides.sfgate.com/much-coldness-can-avocado-trees-take-55142.html How Much Coldness Can Avocado Trees Take?]. [[SF Gate]]. Retrieved on Dec. 4, 2022</ref>

According to information published by the [[Water footprint#Water Footprint Network (WFN)|Water Footprint Network]], it takes an average of approximately {{convert|70|L|USgal impgal|0|abbr=off}} of applied fresh ground or surface water, not including rainfall or natural moisture in the soil, to grow one avocado ({{cvt|283|L/kg|USgal/lb impgal/lb|disp=sqbr}}). However, the amount of water needed depends on where it is grown; for example, in the main avocado-growing region of Chile, about {{convert|320|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}} of applied water are needed to grow one avocado ({{cvt|1,280|L/kg|USgal/lb impgal/lb|disp=sqbr}}).<ref name="Danwatch2019">{{cite web |title=How much water does it take to grow an avocado? |url=https://old.danwatch.dk/en/undersogelseskapitel/how-much-water-does-it-take-to-grow-an-avocado/ |website=Danwatch.dk |access-date=7 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007172453/https://old.danwatch.dk/en/undersogelseskapitel/how-much-water-does-it-take-to-grow-an-avocado/ |archive-date=7 October 2019 |date=2019}}</ref>

Increasing demand and production of avocados may cause [[Water scarcity|water shortages]] in some avocado production areas, such as the Mexican state of [[Michoacán]].<ref name="footprint">{{cite journal | last1=Sommaruga | first1=Ruben | last2=Eldridge | first2=Honor May | title=Avocado production: Water footprint and socioeconomic implications | journal=EuroChoices | date=2020-12-13 | volume=20 | issue=2 | pages=48–53 | issn=1478-0917 | doi=10.1111/1746-692x.12289 | s2cid=230594487 | url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1746-692X.12289}}</ref><ref name="cbc">{{cite news |title=How green are avocados? (Yes, that's a trick question) |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/what-on-earth-newsletter-avocados-road-salt-light-pollution-1.4991627 |access-date=11 April 2021 |work=CBC |date=25 January 2019 |quote=Producing avocados is very water-intensive. The Water Footprint Network estimates it takes an average of 2,000 litres of water to produce one kilogram of avocados}}</ref> Avocados may also cause environmental and [[Socioeconomics|socioeconomic]] impacts in major production areas, illegal [[deforestation]], and [[Water conflict|water disputes]].<ref name=footprint/><ref name=cbc/> Water requirements for growing avocados are three times higher than for apples, and 18 times higher than for tomatoes.<ref name=cbc/>