A Critical Analysis of Effect of Projected Temperature and Rainfall for Differential Sowing of Maize Cultivars Under RCP4.5 and RCP6.0 Scenarios for Punjab

A simulation study was conducted for two cultivars of maize (PMH1 and PMH2) in four agroclimatic zones of Punjab state of India where climate change depicts a consistent rise in temperature and increased variability in amount and distribution of rainfall. The yield assessment was performed for four agroclimatic zones of Punjab comprising of seven locations because variability in temperature rise and rainfall existed from location to location. Corrected ensemble model weather data (temperature and rainfall) for RCP4.5 and RCP6.0 was used as an input in the calibrated and validated CERES-Maize model and yield was simulated for a period of 70 years. The simulated yield for near as well as far-future was statistically assessed to understand the yield trend in Punjab under current dates of sowing and the results indicated a strong negative correlation between the yield and the weather parameters under the two scenarios at the considered four agroclimatic zones of Punjab. An increase in maximum and minimum temperature was observed ranging 0-4°C and 3-8°C, respectively at all the agroclimatic zones except Faridkot (zone V) where the increase in minimum temperature was observed by 0-3°C during the crop growth season while the rainfall variability ranged from 200-800mm under both the scenarios. At agroclimatic zone II and zone III similar results were obtained with higher yields at later dates of sowing and the rainfall at agroclimatic zone III was higher under RCP6.0 (300-600mm) while the yields for agroclimatic zone IV and V (Abohar) with rainfall variation of 270-450mm and 200-400mm, respectively showed no yield increment. Maize at Faridkot performed well with higher yields at early sowing dates. Among the two cultivars PMH1 showed more high yield years than PMH2 for most of the years. The yield under differential sowing dates showed the first fortnight of June and end June to be the best sowing dates for most of the locations as the yield for these dates were higher for most of the years. Thus, the study can be further applied to decide the future sowing window of maize for the agricultural state like Punjab.

Crop yield prediction using CERES-Rice vs 4.5 model for the climate variability of different agroclimatic zone of south and north-west plane zone of Bihar (India)

CERES-rice models are being validated and tested across the world and vigorously used in agrotechnology transfer. Crop growth models have been considered as potential tools for simulating growth and yield of crops. Hence, DSSAT v 4.5/ CERES-Rice (Decision Support System for Agro-technology Transfer / Crop Estimation through Resource and Environment Synthesis) was applied to validate the Rice productivity from Bihar State in India. Long term historical weather data (1980-2011) and (1985-2011) from South and North West Alluvial plane zones of Bihar was used for yield analysis. Genetic coefficients required for running the CERES-Rice vs 4.5 model were derived and the performance of the model was tested under the climate variability conditions experienced by these two agroclimatic zones. Management combinations simulated were three transplanting dates (1st, 15th & 30th July) for rice cultivar Rmansuri under rainfed conditions.The results indicated that both the early and late sowing dates result in lower yields as compared to optimum sowing date of 15th July. The simulated phenology and yield were found to be in agreement with observed data suggesting that the calibrated model may be operationally used with routinely observed soil, crop management and weather parameters for Rice yield estimation from these two regions of Bihar.

Phenophase wise study of parameters controlling water requirement of soybean crop [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] at various agroclimatic zones

Soybean is a major kharif season crop in parts of M.P., U.P., Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana,Maharashtra, Rajasthan, A.P. and Chattisgarh. The present work was undertaken to study the parameters controllingwater requirement of the crop at various phenophases in soybean growing 8 ET- stations (viz., Akola, Bangalore,Banswara, Dharwar, New Delhi, Parbhani, ICRISAT and Rahuri) in various agroclimatic zones. Eight phenophases of thecrop (viz., germination, seedling, vegetative, active vegetative, flowering, pod formation, pod maturity and harvesting)were identified. The data were collected for latest available 3 to 5 years and the mean values were analysed. The study onsoybean crop revealed that the mean total water requirement demand of the crop varied from 294.7 to 559.2 mm indifferent soybean growing ET stations. The ET demand reached the peak mostly at active vegetative stage (which was19.0 to 25.6 % of the total ET demand, at various locations). The computed best – fit ET curves provide ET demand ofthe crop at any point of the phenophases for the specific location. The rainfall during study period was mostly sufficientto meet the crop specific ET demand at various phenophaes of soybean crop. Abundant soil moisture supported goodvegetation cover. The mean Kc value varied widely from 0.61 to 0.98 among different stations studied, which reachedtheir peak mostly at active vegetative to flowering stages, where the values were even more than 1 in most of thosephenophases except 3 stations. The mean soybean crop yield and productivity varied widely agroclimatic zone wise. Thesoybean yield varied from 981.0 kg/ha to 2530.6 kg/ha, while productivity per day varied from 9.0 kg/ha/day to 23.2kg/ha/day. The WUE of the crop laid between 2.1 kg/ha/mm to 6.0 kg/ha /mm at various locations.

A critical study on parameters controlling water requirement or wheat Triticum aestivum L.) at various growth stages in ten different agroclimatic zones

ABSTRACT. The parameters controlling water requirement of wheat and its crop data, at various critical growth stages from ten different agroclimatic zones for five years. were collected and analysed. The study revealed that the total CU-demand for wheat crop in different wheat growing zones varied from 160 to 465 mm of water. In most of the zones, peak CU-demand were either at milk stage (21.0% of the total CU demand or at different stages (19.5% of the total CU-demand). Rabi season rainfall was not sufficient to meet the crop C.U-demand at different growth stages. The soil moisture study revealed that its depletion started around tillering stage indicating thereby, need for irrigation water beyond that stale. Computed average Kc, values (throughout the crop growth period) varied from 0.36 to 1.05 in different agroclimatic zones. Growth stage-wise K, values at or after elongation stage even exceeded one. Wheat yield in various agroclimatic zone varied from 1900 to 4800 kg/ha with the average productivity of 17 to 26 kg/ha/day. The WUE of the crop in different zones lay between 5 to 17 kg of grain/ha/mm of water. Depending upon this study wheat growing areas were divided into six zones.

Weather based prediction of Chickpea Helicoverpa armigera population in Bundelkhand agroclimatic zone of Madhya Pradesh

An attempt was made to find out the impact of rainfall, temperature and growing degree day (GDD) on the larval incidence and peak population of Helicoverpa armigera on chickpea and its growth in the Bundelkhand Agroclimatic zone of Madhya Pradesh. Besides, an attempt was also made to examine the association with weather variables of rising and falling phase of the larval population of Helicoverpa armigera. It was found that there was not any significant impact of monthly (September and October) rainfall on the larval population but the monthly rainfall of January and February significantly influenced the incidence of the pod borer and GDD plays a vital role in increasing and decreasing of its peak population. Minimum temperature and rainfall play a crucial role for larval incidence and its population growth. Growing degree day from 1st January to 15th February were presented in relation to the number of peak larval population in chickpea. The correlation of weather factors with larval population was also presented and different weather parameters were screened for its prediction and management. A multiple regression equation was also developed. It was found that if the cumulative growing degree day from 1st January to 15th February 350 degree day and weekly minimum temperature ranged from 6 to 12 C along with number of rainfall events 5 days, then number of larval population of H. armigera in chickpea is high and vice-versa. This study will be very useful not only for forecasting the peak larval population of H. armigera in chickpea but in formulating effective pest management strategies too.

Agroclimatic zonation of Tigray region of Ethiopia based on aridity index and traditional agro-climatic zones

The aim of this study was to identify the agroclimatic zones of Tigray region based on aridity index and traditional agroclimatic zone using 37-year (1981-2017) spatial climate data downloaded for Tigray region from Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) for rainfall and from Enhancing National Climate Services (ENACTS) data for temperature. Arc map 10.3 was used for mapping of all climatic variables and zonation of agro-climatic zones. Potential evapotranspiration (PET) was computed based on Hargreaves formula and the aridity index was computed. Besides, the digital elevation model was downloaded from ASTER data. The aridity map of Tigray divided into three index zones (0.03-0.2, 0.2–0.5 and 0.5–0.65) and five traditional agro-climate zones (<1500,1500-2000,2000- 2500, 2500-3000, >3000 m.a.s.l.) were overlaid, which divided entire region of Tigray into fifteen agroclimatic zones. Hot semi-arid, warm semi-arid, tepid semi-arid and hot arid were the dominant zones in the region.

Variability of extreme weather events and its impact on crop yield in Bundelkhand Agroclimatic zone of Madhya Pradesh

The Bundelkhand Agroclimatic Zone of Madhya Pradesh has witnessed many extreme weather events in recent decades like excessive hotness, dryness, coldness and number of consecutive drought years. Drought and water scarcity are the major resource limiting factors of this zone. There was sharp increase in numbers of hot days during last decade (2001-10) in Chhatarpur and Datia districts. The numbers of heavy rainfall days sharply decreased at Tikamgarh and Chhatarpur districts while frost days increased in Datia during last decade. The micro level variability of drought was much higher than the temporal scale variability. The occurrence of drought at micro level in the recent decade was much higher. The frequent occurrence of drought during recent past had increased the soybean and paddy yield variability in this zone. This paper attempts to present impact of variability of extreme weather events on paddy and soybean yield and also rural livelihood. The paddy and soybean yield were normally affected by number of heavy rainy days and number of rainy days. The number of heavy rainy days greater than equal to 6 days in Tikamgarh, 7 days in Chhatarpur per year were may be required for sustainable paddy production. It is observed that in those districts where the temporal variation in number of rainy days is decreasing, the decrease in number of rainy days below 5 days per year was crucial for sustainable yield. Whereas in the districts where little temporal variation in number of rainy days observed, a particular number of heavy rainy days is not necessary for adequate crop yield. In Datia and Chhatarpur district, the animal discomfort days increased over the decades.

Variation for caffeic acid and phenolic content in different plant parts of Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. and Wendl. – a commercially important dashmool species

Background Environmental factors have profound effect on quantity vis-a-vis quality of phytochemicals in medicinal plants. Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. and Wendl. is among the 10 dashmool species which is utilized in more than hundreds of Ayurvedic preparations including ‘Dashmoolarishta’. Phenolics are the pharmacologically valuable compounds. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess the total phenolic (TP) and Caffeic acid (CA) contents in four different plant parts i.e., leaves, fruits, stem and roots of S. xanthocarpum sampled randomly from different locations of Madhya Pradesh, a central Indian state. Methods Plant samples were collected from 99 places of 29 districts falling in 11 agroclimatic regions of Madhya Pradesh through random sampling. UV-VIS spectrophotometer and HPTLC were used to determine TP and CA contents, respectively. Phytochemical screening was carried out using standard methods. Results Preliminary phytochemical screening indicates the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, steroids and terpenoids in all plant parts. Quantification of TP and CA contents revealed that both varied significantly between agroclimatic zones as well as within plant parts of S. xanthocarpum. Results revealed that among analysed plant parts, roots and stem harbored highest content of CA while fruits and leaves had the highest TP content. Among agroclimatic regions, accessions of Satpura plateau can be considered rich in CA and TP contents for fruits (0.030%; 28.70 mg CE/g), leaves (0.058%; 27.90 mg CE/g) and roots (0.161%; 5.17 mg CE/g). For stem, highest CA (0.100%) and TP (13.23 mg CE/g) contents were observed in samples of Malwa Plateau and Central Narmada Valley, respectively. Conclusion We conclude that agroclimatic regions have significant effect on studied phytochemicals and Satpura plateau agroclimatic zone may be targeted for conservation and sustainable utilization of this valuable dashmool species if the target plant parts are fruits, leaves and roots. While, Malwa Plateau and Central Narmada Valley zones may be targeted for stem. Further, fruits and roots may be utilized for extraction of TP compounds and CA respectively.

Sensitivity analysis of three pearl millet cultivars to varying temperature and CO2 concentration on summer pearl millet in south Saurashtra Agro-climatic zone of Gujarat using CERES-MILLET model

The sensitivity analysis of three cultivars (GHB 538, GHB 558 and GHB 732) of pearl millet was performed to study the impact of climate change on summer pearl millet in south Saurashtra Agroclimatic zone of Gujarat using calibrated CERES-millet model by changing maximum and minimum temperatures by -4 to +4 °C and increasing concentration of CO2 upto 530 ppm. Results revealed that with increase in maximum temperature by 4 °C, the grain yield was decreased by 11.4 to 19.9 % and anthesis and maturity was decreased by 10 to 13 days in different cultivars. The effect of minimum temperature was also of the similar order to maximum temperature, but the varietal differences were observed. The simulated grain yield increased up to 18.2 %, anthesis increased up to 11 days and maturity increased up to 17 days with elevated CO2 concentration of 530 ppm