Association of Agrometeorologists

Rainfall analysis and crop planning in lower Shiwalik foothills of Punjab

PARVENDER SHEORAN, SOM PAL SINGH and VIRENDER SARDANA

Daily rainfall data of 21 years (1984-2004) recorded at RRSKA, Ballowal Saunkhri, District Nawanshahr, Punjab was examined for long term averages of annual, seasonal, monthly and weekly rainfall and its temporal variability. Coefficient of variation of 27.1 per cent indicated that the annual rainfall was more or less stable over the years. The season-wise per cent contribution to annual rainfall was 7.2, 13.2 and 79.6 per cent of summer, rabi and kharif seasons, respectively. With in the rainy season, August was the highest rainfall contributing month (35.8%) followed by July (35.4%). Mean weekly precipitation amount and its assurance reaches the peak (>50 mm/week) during 27th SMW to 36th SMW and again declined thereafter. The earliest onset of rainy season occurred in 24th SMW. The normal onset of rainy season was observed as 26th SMW with CV of 5.2 per cent. There is an ample scope for rain water harvesting from July to September which can be utilized as crop saving irrigation as well as pre-sowing irrigation for succeeding rabi crops which are generally sown on residual soil moisture.

Rainfall pattern, probability analysis, crop planning