ALL INDIA COORDINATED RESEARCH PROJECT ON AGROMETEOROLOGY

162 Pages·2008·2.82 MB·English

ALL INDIA COORDINATED RESEARCH
PROJECT ON AGROMETEOROLOGY
Annual Report
2006-2007
Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture
Santoshnagar, Hyderabad – 500 059
Andhra Pradesh
Coordinating Cell Staff
Scientific
Dr. G.G.S.N. Rao, Project Coordinator (Agrometeorology)
Dr. V.U.M. Rao, Principal Scientist (Agrometeorology)
Shri A.V.M. Subba Rao, Scientist, Senior Scale (Agrometeorology)
Technical
Mr. I.R. Khandgonda, T-5
Secretarial
Mrs. Y. Padmini
Supporting
Mr. A. Mallesh Yadav

Prepared & Edited by
GGSN Rao, VUM Rao, AVMS Rao and US Saikia
Printed at
Balaji Scan Private Limited
A.C. Guards, Hyderabad-4.
Tel : [phone] / 25
CONTENTS
Preface
Acknowledgement
1. Introduction .. 1
2. Weather during 2007 .. 8
Rabi 2006-07
3. Crop Weather Relationships .. 13
4. Crop Growth Modelling .. 49
5. Weather Effect on Pests and Diseases .. 51
6. Agroclimatic Characterization .. 60
Kharif 2007
7. Crop Weather Relationships .. 73
8. Crop Growth Modelling .. 94
9. Weather Effects on Pests and Diseases .. 101
10. Economic Impact of Agromet Advisory Services .. 110
11. Climate Change Studies .. 116
Research Publications .. i
Staff position .. vii
Budget sanctioned to AICRPAM centers for the years .. viii
2004-05 and 2005-06
(cid:2)(cid:3)

Preface
Despite the development of many best-bet practices in agriculture, weather
elements still cause lot of uncertainty in production. The recent extreme weather events and
its impact on Indian agriculture are evident from steep decline in food grain production during
2002 due to drought and reasonable harvest during 2007-08 due to even distribution of
rainfall. Recent trends indicate that many key climatic parameters are likely to show more
extremes in near future with continued emission of green house gases. All these factors
make weather one of the key factors influencing the success of Indian agriculture.
In this endavour, the role of All India Coordinated Research Project on
Agrometeorology (AICRPAM) is significant in finding regions vulnerable to climate change
and to provide the necessary agro advisories to mitigate its affects. Towards achieving this
goal, the project focuses on research programs such as finding out the impacts of higher
temperature and change in rainfall etc. on crops through modeling work out the probabilities
of extreme weather events, prepare contingency crop plans for different climate change
scenarios, to find out the optimum weather requirements in preparation of weather insurance
products, developing suitable decision support systems and forewarning of pests and
diseases. Modern technologies like remote sensing, GIS and Information Communication
Technology (ICT) in expanding the horizon and information of research dissemination
activities of AICRPAM will play increasing role in coming years.
The efforts of the Cooperating Centres of AICRPAM in pursuing the above research
programs are appreciable, but more needs to be done in the areas of simulation modelling
and climate change research. There is a need for strong linkages between AICRPDA and
AICRPAM to improve the production and minimize risks in dryland agriculture. The Annual
Progress Report of 2006-07 contains results of research carried out during Rabi 2006-07
and Kharif 2007 across 25 centres in the country. I take this opportunity to congratulate the
effects made by the agrometeorologists of all the centres and the Project Coordinator, Dr.
GGSN Rao and his staff at the Coordinating Unit in compilation of this valuable report.
(B. Venkateswarlu)
Director

Acknowledgement
I wish to place deep sense of gratitude to Indian Council of Agricultural
Research for its continuous and generous help during the period under study. The
encouragement and guidance from Hon’ble Director General and Secretary, DARE,
Dr. Mangla Rai; Deputy Director General (NRM), Dr. A.K. Singh and Assistant
Director General (Agronomy), Dr. A.K. Gogoi, is gratefully acknowledged. The
encouragement and guidance received from the Director, Dr. B. Venkateswarlu,
CRIDA in running the Project and preparing this Annual Report is acknowledged
with sincere thanks.
The sincere efforts of the Agrometeorologists of all 25 Cooperating Centres
in brining useful results and made it possible to compile a comprehensive report.
Help rendered by my colleagues, Drs. VUM Rao and AVM Subba Rao in compiling
the results of the reports are highly appreciated. Thanks are also due to
Shri I.R. Khandgonda and Smt. Y. Padmini in preparing necessary diagrams and
typing the manuscript. Also the continuous support from the Shri Satyanarayana,
N. Manikandan, Ms. Harini, Ms. Pallavi, Mr. Mallesh Yadav and Mr. Mahesh is
acknowledged.
(G.G.S.N. Rao)
Project Coordinator (Ag. Met.)

Annual Report 2006-07
1. INTRODUCTION
The All India Coordinated Research Project on Agrometeorology was initiated
by ICAR in May 1983 with the establishment of Coordinating Cell at the Central
Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad and 12 Cooperating Centers at
various State Agricultural Universities. After evaluating the progress made by the
project and realizing the importance of agrometeorological research support for
enhancing food production, ICAR had extended the Cooperating Centers to the
remaining 13 Agricultural Universities of the country w.e.f. April 1995. The network of
25 Agrometeorological Cooperating Centers are Akola, Anantapur, Anand, Bangalore,
Bhubaneswar, Bijapur, Dapoli, Faizabad, Hisar, Jabalpur, Jorhat, Kanpur, Kovilpatti,
Ludhiana, Mohanpur, Palampur, Parbhani, Raipur, Rakh Dhiansar, Ranchi,
Ranichauri, Samastipur, Solapur, Thrissur and Udaipur. The Quinquinnial Review
Team has reviewed the research progress of the project in 1992, 1998-99 and
recently in 2006.
1.1 OBJECTIVES
(cid:2) To study the agricultural climate in relation to crop planning and assessment
of crop production potentials in different agroclimatic regions
(cid:2) To establish crop-weather relationships for all the major rainfed and irrigated
crops in different agroclimatic regions
(cid:2) To evaluate the different techniques of modification of crop micro-climate for
improving the water use efficiency and productivity of the crops
(cid:2) To study the influence of weather on the incidence and spread of pests and
diseases of field crops
1.2 TECHNICAL PROGRAMME
The Technical Program for the years 2006-07 for different centers of the
Project and a common core program decided for all the centers are as given below
with emphasis on location-specific research needs.
1