Agro-climatic onset of cropping season: A tool for determining optimum date of sowing in dry zones of southern Karnataka

Lingaraj Huggi Lingaraj Huggi,Manoj M Lunagaria Manoj M Lunagaria,P Vijaya Kumar P Vijaya Kumar,M.h Manjunataha M.H Manjunataha,H.s Shivaramu H.S Shivaramu,D.v Soumya D.V Soumya

doi:10.54386/jam.v22i3.185

Lingaraj Huggi Lingaraj Huggi, Manoj M Lunagaria Manoj M Lunagaria + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.54386/jam.v22i3.185

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Abstract

 The study was conducted to analyse the rainfall pattern of dry farming zones of Southern Karnataka to arrive at proper date of sowing by considering parameters like threshold rainfall (20 mm), threshold dry day (2.5 mm) and threshold dry spell period (10 days) as a main defining parameters for decision making in sowing of major crops (finger millet, pigeonpea, groundnut, etc.). In all the three zones, the agro-climatic onset of cropping season was earlier as compared to meteorological onset (June 1st week) due to bimodal distribution of rainfall having its peaks in May and September month. In Central Dry Zone, Southern Dry Zone and Eastern Dry Zone, fourteenth June, thirteenth June and twentythird May were the agro-climatic onset dates (average of all stations in each zone), respectively. Station wise analysis of the rainfall revealed different agro-climatic onset dates. Ninth May in central dry zone, eighth May in eastern dry zone and fifth May in southern dry zone were the earliest onset dates. These variations in between zonal and station specific onset dates were due to spatio-temporal variations in rainfall. Therefore, advancements in sowing of crops based on the agro-climatic onset should be taken into account for betterment of crop production.

Highlights

In tropical countries, the economy and food security of the rural population are strongly dependent on farming
The rainy season lasts from April to November and receives between 528 to 1374 mm of rainfall with an average of 914 mm (Venkatesh et al 2016)
Balme et al (2005) defined a “meso-scale” onset date as the first day of a 2-day wet spell when at least 90% of stations record rainfall (>1 mm) at least during one day in a radius of 300 km. This area is related to the mean scale of Meso Convective Systems (MCS)

Summary

Introduction

The economy and food security of the rural population are strongly dependent on farming. In India, a typical tropical country, dryland agriculture occupies 68% of India’s cultivated area and supports 40% of the human and 60% of the livestock population It produces 44% of food requirements, has and will continue to play a critical role in India’s food security (Harish et al, 2004). The rainy season lasts from April to November and receives between 528 to 1374 mm of rainfall with an average of 914 mm (Venkatesh et al 2016) Several climatic factors such as seasonal rainfall amount, intra-seasonal rainfall distribution and dates of onset/cessation of the rains influence crop yields and determine the agricultural calendar (Sivakumar, 1988; Kesava Rao et al, 2013). In this paper an attempt is made to illustrate how rainfall determines the

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