Department of Agricultural Meteorology

Department of Agricultural Meteorology

Agricultural Meteorology

 

Genesis

 

The Department of Agricultural Meteorology is a statutory department and established in 1988. Two-year - postgraduate Programme “M.Sc. (Ag.) in Agricultural Meteorology” was commenced during the academic year 1994-95 with an intake capacity of two students, including one reserved for ICAR. Later, the intake capacity has enhanced to four from 2018-19 onwards (three state and one ICAR). So far, twenty one students were awarded the PG Degree from this department. Out of twenty one, sixteen students qualified in the NET, conducted by ICAR

 

Vision/ Objective

To impart and maintain quality in education, research and extension activities in the field of Agricultural Meteorology

Mandate

·  To impart teaching in Agricultural Meteorology at the Graduate level

·  To undertake Post Graduate Programme in Agricultural Meteorology

·  To initiate and augment agromet database

·  To carry out research on basic and applied aspects of agroclimatology, including climate change impacts

·  To study the influence of weather on insect pest and diseases of major crops

·  To disseminate weekly agromet advisory bulletin based on Medium Range Weather Forecast

·  To provide short term training in basic meteorological observations and applied meteorological aspects to agricultural service personnel and farmers

 

Facilities

·  Principal Agromet Observatory: The principal Agrometeorological Observatory was established on 18.10.1979 under the Department. The observations (Rainfall, Maximum and Minimum temperature, Dry and wet bulb temperature, Sunshine hours, Wind speed and direction, Relative humidity, Soil temperature, Evaporation, Dew etc.) are taken in four times a day viz. 0700 hrs LMT, 0830 hrs IST,1400 hrs LMT and 1730 hrs IST. The complete set of weather data is available from 1983 onwards

·  Agromet Lab: The lab maintains agromet instruments for the research and education

·  Class room: With audio-visual aids

 

Faculty strength:

Sl. No.	Name	Designation
1	Dr. B. Ajithkumar	Associate Professor and Head
2	Dr. P. Lincy Davis	Assistant Professor
3	Mr. Arjun Vysakh	Assistant Professor

 

 

Awards / Recognitions:

·      Young Scientist Award in the 22^nd Swadeshi Science Congress held at CPCRI Kasaragod during November 6-8, 2012 (Ms. Karthika).

·      Award for the very good work of the observer and very good grade award for the observatory during 2013-14 and 2014-15 (Mr. T. P. Gangadharan).

·      First runner-up award for poster presentation-NASA 2014(International symposium) held at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, during October 16-18, 2014 (Dr. B. Ajithkumar).

·      Award for the excellent work of the observer and very excellent grade award for the observatory during 2015-16 ((Mr. T. P. Gangadharan).

·      Best paper award for the paper presentation at AGMET 2016 at TNAU, Coimbatore (Ms. Aswathy C.).

·      Best poster presentation award during the National Seminar – AGMET-2017 held at CCS HAU, Hisar during 12-14, October 2017 (Arjun Vysakh).

·      Haritham Krishi Jwala Award for the best Agrometeorologist during 2017-18 (Dr. B. Ajithkumar)

·      Best oral presentation award during the National Seminar at SH College, Thevara, Kochi in 2019 (Arjun Vysakh).

·      Best oral presentation award during the International Seminar – INAGMET-2019 held at JNU, New Delhi during 11-13, February 2019 (Ms. Harithalekshmi V.).

·      Nominated for the International Agriculture and Rural Development (IARD) short course to be held during October 2018 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York (Ms. Anunayana T. John).

·      Best paper presentation award for “Effect of date of planting and mulching on phenological aspects of tomato in the central zone of Kerala” authored by Aswathy, C. and Ajithkumar, B. in the National Seminar (AGMET 2020) held at CoA, KAU, Thrissur during 20-22, January 2020.

·      Best paper presentation award for “Yield and phenophase duration in relation to agrometeorological indices and effect of sowing dates and planting methods on Heat use efficiency of fingermillet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) in Central Zone of Kerala” authored by Anunayana, T. J., Ajithkumar B., Lincy D. P., Laly, J. C., and Anitha, S. in the National Seminar (AGMET 2020) held at CoA, KAU, Thrissur during 20-22, January 2020.

·      Best paper presentation award for “Assessment of extreme weather events for planning agricultural operations in Kerala” authored by Aswathi, K. P., Ajithkumar, B., Harithalekshmi, V., Vinu, K. S., Vysakh, A., and Ratheesh P. K. in the National Seminar (AGMET 2020) held at CoA, KAU, Thrissur during 20-22, January 2020.

·      Best paper presentation award under the theme “Strategies for management of aberrant weather stresses in crops and livestock” during the Virtual national Conference (V-AGMET 2021) organised by PAU, Ludhiana during 17-19 March 2021 (Ms. Harithalekshmi V).

·      Best paper presentation award under the theme “Recent advances in science based assessment of climate change and impacts” during the Virtual national Conference (V-AGMET 2021) organised by PAU, Ludhiana during 17-19 March 2021 (Ms. Riya K. R.).

·      Best poster presentation award under the theme “Recent advances in science based assessment of climate change and impacts” during the Virtual national Conference (V-AGMET 2021) organised by PAU, Ludhiana during 17-19 March 2021 (Mr. Abin Divakaran A.).

·      Best poster presentation award for “Irrigation scheduling in rice using agrometeorological indices and NDVI (MOD12Q1) ” during the Regional Seminar of ISAE 2021 (online) held during 11-12 Novemer, 2021 (Ms. Chinnu Raju).

·      ICAR-SRF 1^st rank (2020) in Agricultural Meteorology for Ms. Harithalekshmi V.

·      The Principal Agromet Observatory has been placed under excellent category, during the years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 & 2019 by the Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai.

 

Achievements / Major Accomplishments

·      Daily recording of different weather parameters from the Principal Agrometeorological Observatory of the Department and a sound database is maintained since 1983.

·      Preparation of Agromet Advisory Bulletins and timely dissemination to farmers.

·      Agro climatic resource characterization of Kerala has completed.

·      Agro climatic atlas for Kerala has been prepared.

·      Crop weather relationships studies were conducted for major crops viz. rice, black pepper, cauliflower, tomato, cowpea etc.

·      Genetic coefficients were developed for rice varieties viz. Jyothi, Kanchana, Athira and Vysakh and Jaya by using the crop weather model CERES-Rice (DSSAT).

·      The relationship of weather on pest and disease in rice and cowpea was studied.

 

ACADEMICS

 

List of Courses offered

 

Under graduate level

 

Catalogue No.	Course Title	Credit
Agmt 1101	Introductory Agro-meteorology and climate change	1+1
Bass 1208	Climate Science [B.Sc.(Hons.) Forestry]	1+1
Ssac 2104	Environmental Studies & Disaster Management	1+1

 

 

 

Post graduate level

Catalogue No.	Course Title	Credit
AGM 501	Fundamentals of Meteorology and Climatology	2+1
AGM 502	Fundamentals of Agricultural Meteorology	2+1
AGM 503	Micrometeorology	2+1
AGM 504	Agro-meteorological measurements and instrumentation	1+2
AGM 506	Crop weather models	1+2
AGM 507	Weather modification and risk management strategies	2+0
AGM 508	Principles of remote sensing and its applications in agriculture	2+1

 

EXTENSION SERVICES:

·      Dissemination of Agromet Advisory Bulletins to the farmers of four district viz., Thrissur,Palakkad, Ernakulam and Malappuram using medium range weather forecasting

·      Agromet Advisory bulletins for Kerala are preparing and sending to IMD and ICAR

·      Regular field visits to the farmers field

·      Conducting of farmer’s awareness programme on Climate change and Agriculture through out Kerala to educate farmers as well as to the students community

·      Installation of raingauges at different farmers’ house to educate them about rainfall variability and climate change

·      Installation and inspection of agromet instruments in other stations of KAU

·      Distribution agricultural implements viz. Coconut climbing machine, single wheel barrow, sprayers, spade, rubber baskets, felling knife etc. to SC farmers of Thrissur district under the SC-SP programme of AICRPAM and AICRPAM-NICRA projects.

 

Projects:

Completed Projects (State Planning Board):

 

Name of project	Name of PI	Funding agency	Budget (Lakhs)	Period
Crop weather relation studies in banana (Nendran) under the changing climate (Central Region)	Dr. B. Ajithkumar	State Planning Board	0.87 Lakhs	2018-19
Indigenous technical knowledge of weather and climate in relation with agriculture and forecasting in northern and high range zone of Kerala	Dr. B. Ajithkumar	State Planning Board	1.6 Lakhs	2018-19
Establishment of pest and disease surveillance and forewarning units in the central zone	Dr. B. Ajithkumar	State Planning Board	1.7 Lakhs	2018-19

 

 

 

 

Ongoing Projects (State Planning Board):

 

Name of project	Name of PI	Funding agency	Budget (Lakhs)	Period
Intensification of Agromet Advisory Services in the central zone of Kerala	Dr. B. Ajithkumar	State Planning Board	4.0 Lakhs	Continuing

 

Ongoing Projects (external aided):

 

Name of project	Name of PI	Funding agency	Budget (Lakhs)	Period
AICRP on Agrometeorology	Dr. B. Ajithkumar	ICAR-CRIDA	19.61 Lakhs (75% of total) (ICAR share)	Continuing
AICRPAM-NICRA (National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture)	Dr. B. Ajithkumar	ICAR-CRIDA	6.40 Lakhs	Continuing
Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva (GKMS)	Dr. P. Lincy davis (Principal Nodal Officer – Dr. B. Ajithkumar)	MoES-IMD	11.34 Lakhs	Continuing
Forecasting Agricultural Output using Space Agrometeorology and Land based observations (FASAL)	Dr. P. Lincy davis (Principal Nodal Officer – Dr. B. Ajithkumar)	MoES-IMD	4.2 Lakhs	Continuing
Setting up of Lightning Detection Sensor System (LDS) Network	Dr. B. Ajithkumar	ISRO Project	1.00 Lakhs	Continuing

 

Important Publications (last five years)

Research papers (38 Nos.)

1.        Ajithkumar, B., Savani, M. B., 2007. Assessment of phasic development model for cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) cv. Snowball 16 using thermal indices. Journal of Agrometeorology, AAU, Anand. pp.

2.        Ajithkumar, B., Savani, M. B. and Dakhore,K,K. 2008. Periodical changes and diurnal variations of stomatal conductance and leaf temperature in cauliflower. Journal of Agro meteorology. 10 (1) : 86-88

3.        A.L. Nihalani, B. Ajithkumar, K.K. Dakhore and M.B. Savani 2008. Testing of BRASSIC model on mustard GM-2 under South Gujarat. Journal of Agrometeorology (Special Issue – Part 2) : 455-456.

4.        C. Laly John and B. Ajithkumar. (2015). Probability models for weekly rainfall at Thrissur. Journal of tropical agriculture 53(1):56-62.

5.        B.Ajithkumar, G.Subramanyam and ArjunVysakh. (2015).Rainfall analysis for crop planning in Thrissur district. Green Farming 6(3):650-652.

6.        B. Ajithkumar and P.P. Sreekala. 2015. Rainfall variability over Kerala. J. of Agric. Meteorology. 17(2): 273-275 (December 2015)

7.        Naziya, B.Ajithkumar, Laly John C. and K. V. Ajayan. (2015). Weather induced changes on yield and yield components of rice in central zone of Kerala. Journal of Agricultural Physics 15(1): 74-81.

8.        Arjun Vysakh, B. Ajithkumar, Naziya and Laly John C. (2016).Response of rice (O.sativa) to changing weather conditions. Green Farming.7(5):1232-1235.

9.        V.P.Karthika, B. Ajithkumar, and Laly John C. (2016). A fundamental study to identify the suitable cropping period for cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) and to assess the impact of various weather parameters on its cultivation in central Kerala. Res. J.of Agric.Sci. 7):783-786.

10.    Arjun Vysakh, B. Ajithkumar and A.V.M.Subbarao. (2016). Evaluation of CERES rice model for the selected rice varieties of Kerala. J. of. Agrometeorology. 18(1):120-123.

11.    B. Ajithkumar, P.P.Sreekala, M.A.S.Chandran and V.M. Sandeep. (2017).Temporal and spatial variability of drought in Kerala. Contemporary Res. in India. 7(1):11-17.

12.    B. Ajithkumar, Arjun Vysakh and P. P. Sreekala. 2017. Effect of El Nino on Rainfall and thermal regime of Kerala. Contemporary Res. in India. 7(2):279-285.

 

13.    Jasti Venkata Satish, B. Ajithkumar, Laly John C. and Arjun Vysakh. 2017. Heat units requirement for different rice varieties in the central zone of Kerala. Contemporary. Res. in India. 7(3):1-6.

 

14.    Arjun Vysakh, B. Ajithkumar and J. Venkata Satish. 2017. Effects of dates of planting on crop water requirement of rice in Kerala. J. of. Agric.Meteorology Agmet 2016 Special Issue. 51-54.

 

15.    Sushna K and B Ajithkumar. 2017. Influence of Weather Parameters on Growth of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.). Contemporary. Res. in India. 7(2):169-173.

16.    Sushna K and B Ajithkumar. 2018. Influence of Weather Parameters on the productivity of Black Pepper. Res.J.of Agric.Sci. 9(1):09-13.

17.    B. Ajithkumar and Arjun Vysakh. 2018. Trends in seasonal and annual rainfall and rainy days (1991-2012) over Kerala. Contemporary Res.in India.8(2): 64-69.

18.  Arjun Vysakh and B. Ajithkumar. 2018. Length of growing period: A comparative study with normal and drought years in Kerala. J. of Agric. Meteorology. 20 (Special Issue): 216-220.

19.  S. Navyashree and B. Ajithkumar. 2018. Assessment of agricultural and meteorological drought and agricultural planning using incomplete gamma distribution in Kerala. J. of Agric. Meteorology. 20 (Special Issue): 262-265.

20.  Athira Ravindran, B. Ajithkumar, Arjun Vysakh and S. Navyashree. 2018. Crop weather calendar for paddy: A useful tool for crop planning. J. of Agric. Meteorology. 20 (Special Issue): 213-215.

21.    B. Ajithkumar and Arjun Vysakh. 2018. Validation and assessment of agro advisories issued based on medium range weather forecast for Thrissur district of Kerala. Int. J. Agric. Sci. 10(15): 6824-6828.

22.    B. Ajithkumar and Arjun Vysakh. 2018. Impact of El Nino on crop productivity in Kerala. Res.J.of Agric.Sci. 9(5):1041-1045.

 

23.    G. Subramanyam, K. M. Sunil and B. Ajithkumar. 2018. Climate change impact on summer rice production in central agro-climatic zone of Kerala under different RCP’s. J. Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 7(1): 1724-1728.

 

24.    G. Subramanyam, K. M. Sunil, B. Ajithkumar and Ajayan K. V. 2019. Climate Change Impact on Kharif Rice Production in Central Agro-Climatic Zone of Kerala under Different Representative Concentration Pathways. Environ. and Ecol. 37 (1) : 143—148.

25.    Venkata Satish J. and B. Ajithkumar. 2019. Evaluation of rice varieties using CERES – Rice model in central part of Thrissur. Int. J. Agric. Sci. 11(12): 8665-8667.

26.    Arjun Vysakh and B. Ajithkumar. 2019. Drought analysis using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) in Kerala. J. of Agric. Meteorology. 21 (Special Issue-1): 154-159.

27.    Aswathi K. P., B. Ajithkumar and Vinu K. S. 2019. Diurnal variation of rainfall over Central Zone of Kerala using self recording rain gauge. J. of Agric. Meteorology. 21 (Special Issue-1): 235-237.

28.    John, A. T., Ajithkumar, B., and Davis, P. L., Determination of ideal planting time and establishment method in finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) in central zone of Kerala.

29.    B. Ajithkumar and Arjun Vysakh. 2020. Crop Planning Using Initial and Conditional Probability at the Central Zone of Kerala. Res. J. Agric. Sci. 11(3): 693-696.

30.    Stella Jes Varghes, Sajani Surendran, B. Ajithkumar, Kavirajan Rajendran and Akio Kitoh. Future changes in rice yield over Kerala using climate change scenario from resolution global climate model projection. J. of. Earth Syst. Sci.(2020): 129-192.

31.    Vinu K. S, Shajeesh Jan P, B. Ajithkumar and Arjun Vysakh. (2020). Influence of weather on groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yield, growth and development in central zone of Kerala. J. Pharmaco. Phytochem., 9(2), pp.1157-1160.

32.    Harithalekshmi V. and B. Ajithkumar. (2020). Weather related yield constraints and optimum date of planting for rainfed rice (Oryza sativa) in central zone of Kerala. J. Pharmaco. Phytochem., 9(5): 606-610.

33.    K. P. Aswathi, K. Ajith and B. Ajithkumar. (2021). Effect of High Temperature on Yield and Yield Attributes in Rice. Res.J.of Agric.Sci. 12(1):109-112.

34.    Ajithkumar B., Lincy Davis P., and Aswathi K. P. (2021). Influence of weather parameters on incidence of cowpea pod borer in central zone of Kerala. J. Pharmaco. Phytochem., 10(1): 2476-2482.

35.    Vinu K.S., Ajithkumar B., Arjun Vysak., Harithalekshmi .V., and Aswathi .K. P. (2021). Influence of weather parameters on the growth and yield of cowpea in central zone of Kerala. J. Pharmaco. Phytochem., 10(1): 620-622.

36.    Harithalekshmi. V., Ajithkumar B., Lincy Davis P., Laly John C., and Latha A. (2021).Growing season weather impacts on rice phenology development in the central zone of Kerala. J. Pharmaco. Phytochem., 10(1): 2406-2410.

37.    Harithalekshmi. V., Ajithkumar B., and Arjun Vysakh.(2021). Rice yield forecasting using principal component regression and composite weather variables. J. Pharmaco. Phytochem., 10(2): 595-600.

38.    Harithalekshmi. V. and Ajithkumar B. (2021). Intercomparison of seven Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) equations for assessing the impact of heat stress in relation to milk production to find out best THI for central zone of Kerala. MAUSAM., 72,3: 681-684.

 

List of books/Technical Bulletins (6 Nos.)

B. Ajithkumar, V. P. Karthika and V.U.M.Rao (2014). Crop Weather Relationships in Cauliflower.

B. Ajithkumar, P. Lincy Davis, V. P. Karthika, K. V. Ajayan, Arjun Vysakh, and G. Subramanyam (2014). Agrometeorological instruments.

B. Ajithkumar, Sajan Kurian, V.U.M.Rao, P.P. Sreekala, C. Vishnu and Rakesh Sekhar (2015). Technical bulletin on Agroclimatic Atlas of Kerala

B. Ajithkumar, Arjun Vysakh, P.P. Sreekala, G.S.L.H.V. Prasada Rao, Sajan Kurian, V.U.M.Rao and P. Vijayakumar (2016). Technical bulletin on Agrometeorology of Coconut in Kerala, KAU Press.

B. Ajithkumar, Sajan Kurian, P.P. Sreekala, Arjun Vysakh and P. Vijayakumar (2017). Technical bulletin on El Nino: Its impact on climatic variability and crop production in Kerala.

B. Ajithkumar, P. Indira Devi, Arjun Vysakh, P. Vijayakumar, AVM Subba Rao and P. Lincy davis (2018). Technical bulletin on Extreme weather events in Kerala.