Impact of aerosol on climate and productivity of rice and wheat crop in Bihar

Abstract

Interactions among aerosol optical depth (AOD), maximum temperature, minimum temperature, rainfall and solar radiation for different agro-ecological zones of Bihar in different seasons were examined during 2001-2012. There was significant negative correlation between aerosol and maximum temperature, in post monsoon season in zone I and II and in winter season in zone III B. There was significant negative correlation between aerosol and minimum temperature in pre monsoon and winter season in zone IIand III A respectively. In monsoon season, there was negative correlation between rainfall and aerosol for all the zones but statistically not significant. There was significant positive correlation between aerosol and rainfall in pre monsoon season. There was significant negative correlation between aerosol and solar radiation in post monsoon season in zone II. There was significant negative correlation between aerosol and rice yield in zone III A and III B and significant positive correlation between aerosol and wheat crop in zone III A. The effect of aerosol on rice yield was predicted to be in the range of -28 to +44 per cent decrease or increase in yield depending on sky condition. Similarly, the wheat yield also depends on the sky condition during the growing season and ranges from -29.4 to +40.9 per cent decrease or increase due to aerosol.