Thumbnail Image

Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi

Browse

20221
Reset filters
Subject: Agricultural Meteorology × Author: Ashish Alois Minj × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    SOIL AND RAINFALL CHARACTERIZATION FOR SUITABLE CROP PLANNING OF PAKUR DISTRICT
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2022) Ashish Alois Minj; Ramesh Kumar
    Rainfall is the most important climatic factor for crop production in rainfed agriculture. The variation of monsoonal and annual rainfall in space and time are well known, and the variability of monsoonal rainfall considerably affects agricultural production. Around 60 percent of Indian agriculture is rain-dependent, distress prone, and vulnerable to climate. Therefore, establishing the start, end and length of the growing season and the patterns of dry and wet spells throughout the season is relevant information for the agricultural crop planning. In Jharkhand, agriculture depends on the onset of monsoon and rainfall distribution during the crop growing season. Therefore, its amount, and spatial variability govern the agricultural practices adopted in the rainfed region. Keeping these facts in view, the present study was undertaken to plan the crop based on soil and rainfall characteristics for Pakur district of Jharkhand. Soil samples collected from upland, medium land, and lowland from all six blocks of Pakur district from 0-30cm depth were analyzed for physical properties (viz. soil texture, bulk density, field capacity, permanent wilting point, available water capacity) and chemical properties (pH, organic carbon, available N, P and K). Daily rainfall data for 22 years (1998-2020) of 6 blocks of district collected from Pakur were analyzed for weekly, monthly, seasonal and annual distribution and other analyses, viz. Meteorological drought, Initial and Conditional probabilities, Agricultural drought, and Incomplete gamma probability, were made using software (Weather Cock v1.0) developed by the coordinating unit of AICRP on Agrometeorology CRIDA, Hyderabad. The soils were majorly loam in texture, Sandy clay loam to sandy loam in upland, Clay loam to loam in midland, and Clay loam to loam on lowlands. Bulk density and other soil moisture retention parameters (FC, PWP and Av. water) followed the trend of mechanical separates and the textural class. Wide fluctuations in soil reaction were observed among the blocks. It varied from highly acidic (5.5) to alkaline (7.3) in the blocks of Pakur. Fertility level in terms of organic matter was in medium to high (5.6 – 9.6 g kg-1), available N was in the medium range (325 – 525 kg ha-1), available P were in medium to high (10.2 – 35.0 kg ha-1) range, and available K was noticed in the range of 95.0 to 278.5 kg ha-1 (i.e., low to medium) in all the block. Annual and Monsoonal rainfall showed a decreasing trend ranging from -32.5 to - 70.2 mm yr-1 and -25.2 to -55.4 mm yr-1 in all the blocks, respectively. Among the seasons, monsoon received maximum rain (79.9%), and only 20.1 % of rain was received in the remaining three seasons (Post monsoon, winter & summer). Rainfall variability in (CV%) was noticed maximum in rabi season (137-185%) than in Kharif (55-85%). Initial and conditional probability in terms of P(W) and P(W/W) above 0.5 level for 20 mm rain has been observed from 22 to 42 SMW in most blocks. The 50 mm limit has been observed from 24-39 SMW in Pakur, Littipara, Pakuria and the rest of the blocks have a limit of 25-40 SWM. The meteorological drought severity analyzed for all six blocks indicated that Hiranpur and Maheshpur faced only one year of severe drought while other blocks did not have severe drought. Moderate drought was observed maximum of (7 years) in Littipara and Amarapara, while (4-5 years) moderate drought was observed in the rest of the blocks. During the period, no drought was observed between 14 to 18 years in the blocks. Early (22-28 SMW), middle (29-35 SMW) and late (36-42 SMW) season agricultural drought was observed maximum in Hiranpur (i.e. 63.6%), Littipara (54.5%) and Maheshpur (50%). The rest of the blocks have (22-40%) early, middle, and late agricultural drought. Mid-season agricultural drought was noticed in Hiranpur, Mahespur and Pakuria. Late season agricultural drought was noticed in all the blocks of the Pakur district. Gamma distribution of rainfall at five levels (90, 75, 50, 20 & 10 %) clearly indicated that annual rain is close to 50 percent probability in all blocks of Pakur. Crop growing environments in terms of soil characteristics and weather variables were analyzed separately for all six blocks. Planning of crops with suitable varieties was identified for normal, early and late drought conditions based on rainfall characteristics, temperature, humidity, and soil parameters for Kharif and early season rabi crops. Under the crop plan, besides the improved and hybrid rice varieties, some local and promising varieties have also been incorporated as the farmers are well satisfied with the varieties. Some crops like fodder crops (Blackgram, Greengram, Cowpea, Rice bean (Moth bean), Lady's Finger) have also been incorporated in some blocks depending upon the farmers' needs. On uplands, Pigeonpea, Blackgram, Sesame, Horsegram, Niger, Finger millet, Little millet (Gundli), Tomato, Chilli, Sweet potato, Dolichos Bean, French Bean, Sorghum, Pearl millet, Chara badam, Tomato, Dolichos Bean, French bean, Cabbage, and Cauliflower have been suggested to grow as a sole crop or in combinations as intercrop.