A simple approach in assessing the impact of weather on rice yield in two rice growing seasons at Pattambi, Kerala

Abstract

A study was conducted with high yielding Jaya variety of rice grown during kharif and rabi seasons in sandy loam soil under rainfed and irrigated condition respectively at Pattambi. The analysis was based on a simple multiple regression technique for developing, the equation and then considering one element at a time as variable when other elements were considered constant. The study enables determination of response of Jaya variety yield to different ranges of weather parameters in kharif and rabi seasons.

Rainfall was found to be negatively correlated with yield in both the rice growing seasons when water requirement is fully met from rainfall or when it is grown under irrigated condition in rabi season. Very high rainfall in kharif or relatively high rainfall in rabi season were found detrimental causing reduction in rice yield in both\ the seasons. For both the seasons mean maximum and minimum temperature of 29° C and about 22° C appear ideal for optimum yield. More hours of bright Sunshine (³700 hours) during rabi season favoured higher rice yield where as yield remained more or less constant when the kharif rice experienced bright sunshine in the range of  300 to 500 hours.