Rainfall Characterization for Crop Planning of Bokaro District in Jharkhand

Author: Yellagandula Mani*, Ramesh Kumar, Pragyan Kumari and A. Wadood

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Abstract

Indian agriculture is heavily dependent on monsoons. About 61% of farmers in India rely on rain-fed agriculture (NRAA, 2019). The knowledge of rainfall distribution provided a road map for optimal crop planning and water resources management. Present study has been undertaken to determine the expected amount of rainfall of Bokaro district at different probability levels (90%, 75% and 50%) using Incomplete Gamma Probability distribution in Weather Cock model. Rainfall data of 30 years (1989-2018) has been collected from Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Govt. of Jharkhand to estimate annual, seasonal and monthly rainfall probabilities of Bokaro district. The analysis of 30 years rainfall data revealed that the annual average rainfall of Bokaro is 1063.2 mm. The average annual predicted rainfall at 90%, 75% and 50% probability levels are 717.2 mm, 859.4 mm and 1038.5mm respectively. 33 SMW has the record of receiving highest amount of rainfall at all the three probability levels.

Keywords

Rainfall probability, SMW, Incomplete gamma probability, Assured rainfall and Crop Planning.

Conclusion

Rainfall probability analysis through Incomplete Gamma distribution model predicts the amount of rainfall of the district at different probability levels, i.e. 90%, 75% and 50%. Assured rain on weekly basis at 50% probability was closer to normal rain in all blocks. Weekly, seasonal and monthly predicted amount of rainfall will help the farmers in carrying out different agricultural operations in the field and deciding the cropping system for the same area. Time of sowing of kharif and rabi crops are also decided according to the availability of water. Rabi crops are mainly sown during winter season when rainwater availability is very less and so they take up the water from residual soil moisture. Rainwater need to be stored in water harvesting structures for efficient utilisation during water stress condition in critical stages of crop growth. In uplands pulses can be grown during kharif season and vegetables in rabi season and intercropping of major crops have been found suitable tha

References

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How to cite this article

Yellagandula Mani, Ramesh Kumar, Pragyan Kumari and A. Wadood (2022). Rainfall Characterization for Crop Planning of Bokaro District in Jharkhand. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(1): 1131-1134.