Asian Journal of Bio Science

Nisha Aravind ¹, D. Rakhesh ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Extension, KVK, Pathanamthitta (Kerala), IN
2 Soil Conservation Office, Tiruvalla (Kerala), IN

Abstract

An Agro-climatic zone is a region with a characteristic inter-relationship between agronomy/farming systems and climate. In this study a modest attempt has been made to divide the study area into homogenous climatic zones.The study was conducted in Pathanamthitta district which is a part Western Ghat ecosystem and is situated between 76° 29’ to 77° 01’ E longitude and 90 06’ N to 90 30’ N latitude. Terra MODIS data products i.e., Terra/MODIS Surface Reflectance and Terra/MODIS Land Surface Temperature were used for the study other than ancillary data.Agro-climatic zones were based on criteria of agro-climatic parameters viz. Temperature, Rainfall, Potential Evapotranspiration, Thermal index and Moisture index. Regression analysis to assess the relationship between elevation and temperature indicates strong negative trend and the coefficients were found significant. The data clearly reveals that with increase in elevation there is corresponding decrease in temperature.

Keywords

Agro-Climatical, Zoning, Kerala Gis.

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Nisha Aravind ¹, D. Rakhesh ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Extension, KVK, Pathanamthitta (Kerala), IN
2 Soil Conservation Office, Tiruvalla (Kerala), IN

Abstract

KVK-Pathanamthitta acknowledged the need to move away from top-down instructions and adopted pure technology transfer with a mutimode participatory approach that directly involved farmers in defining and achieving their own development goals. Major constraint faced by the paddy farmers is non-remunerative paddy cultivation and lack of alternative profitable crop. Based on this watermelon is recommended as the best alternative crop in acres of fallow paddy lands of the district after conducting front line demonstration with innovator group of farmers in their field. Average yield/plant was about 30 kg and average yield/acre was nearly 40 tons with an average of two plants per pit. Yield data reveals that crop flowers and yields well in the agroclimatic situation of the district. Rapid transfer of technology was sort through group farming techniques. Productivity of watermelon cultivated by the men groups increased from 18.4 tons/acre in 2002-03 to 24.15 tons/acre in 2003-04. However, Yield of watermelon cultivated by the women groups was 17.08 tons/acre in 2002-03 and 15.72 tons/acre in 2003-04. On Farm Testing (OFT) with manure modification was conducted to study the vegetative as well as reproductive growth of the crop in these innovators field. Growth and yield of the plants supplied with vermicompost was higher compared to the plants supplied with coir pith compost. However, in plots where coir pith compost was applied, soil water retention was high and as a result the number of irrigation was reduced. The reduced cost of production resulted in a higher B:C ratio (3.57:1) for coir pith compost applied plots. Ratio of the spread of technology through master farmers was 1 : 2.7: 8.

Keywords

Water Melon, Kerala, Cultivator Pathanamthitta.

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