Role of Agrometeorology in agriculture

• Despite of considerable advancement in agricultural technology, the production still depends on weather and climatic conditions to a great extent.
• The knowledge of weather conditions and their expected variations are therefore important in several agricultural decisions. The success or failure of crop and livestock production is determined by patterns and extremes of weather conditions. The knowledge of weather conditions and their expected variations is therefore important in several agricultural decisions.
• Typical examples of agriculture decisions where the knowledge of weather and climate play important roles are:
• Selection of cropping systems and land use
• Selection of types and breeds of livestocks
• Application of agricultural inputs both in terms of time and rate of application
• Scheduling of agricultural operations e.g. date of planting, fertilizer application and harvesting etc. The major roles are illustrated below:

a. In protection of crops: The science of Agrometeorology is of great practical utility in protection against adverse climatic risks. Out of total annual crop losses a great proportion is due to direct weather effects such as untimely rains, floods, droughts, hails etc. Losses in harvest and storage due to parasites, insects and pests are also influenced by weather.

b. In weather monitoring: Correct monitoring of weather attributes and long-term weather data are key to effective agriculture decisions and short term adjustment in agricultural operations. This helps to minimize losses resulting from adverse climatic conditions and improving the yield and quality of agricultural products.

c. In agrometeorological forecast: Another are where the knowledge of Agrometeorology is vital is Agrometeorological forecasting. The forecasting made in agricultural meteorology are:

• Forecast of expected weather condition
• Forecast of incidence of insect and disease attach in the crops
• Forecast of crop development stages and yield
• Forecast of agricultural operations and
• Forecast of advisory related in crop production and livestock raising

The monitoring of weather conditions on regular basis helps in identifying the most critical weather conditions suitable for the occupancy of pests and diseases. Knowing such weather conditions, advisory may be issued to take precautions or execute control measures against the insect or disease occupancy.

d. Evaluating the agriculture production: The knowledge of agriculture meteorology helps to evaluate agricultural production potential of different locations. In a country like ours, numerous microclimatic pockets exist due to variations in shape, aspects, altitude and terrain. It is important to assess the climatic potentials of each of such microclimatic pockets. It gives rise to concept of crop zonation i.e. selection of most appropriate crops and varieties for a given location depending upon the weather and climatic characteristics of the location

e. In climate Control: The knowledge of Agrometeorology is also useful in climatic control if the available weather conditions are not suitable for crops and livestock. The utility of climatic control is more in the area of animal husbandry. If the outside conditions impose stress due to extreme temperature, humidity, wind movement, the animals must be kept in controlled environment. The knowledge of agriculture meteorology in this case helps developing suitable environment control system.