Dr M.L.

Khichar
Professor (Agril. Met)
mlkhichar@hau.ernet.in
dr.mlkhichar@gmail.com
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar
 Definitionof Agril. Meteorology
• Meteorology :
• Meteorology : Meteoro+logy , Greek word “Meteoro” means ‘above the earth’s
surface’ (atmosphere) “logy” means ‘indicating science’.
• Meteorology is, by definition, the study to understand the Earth's atmosphere, its
processes, its structure and its effects on weather.
• Meteorology is the branch of science, which study day-to-day atmospheric conditions
and their causes.
• Meteorology is the science, which study the physical processes occurring in the
atmosphere, those produce weather.
• The atmosphere is the gaseous layer of the physical environment that surrounds a
planet.
• A blanket of gases, suspended liquids and solids covers the planet earth. This gaseous
envelop around earth is called as atmosphere.
• Meteorology focuses on the lower parts of the atmosphere extending up to 18 km from
earth’s surface i.e. troposphere is where frequent physical process/weather takes place.
It is often quoted as the “physics of lower atmosphere”.

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 Agricultural Meteorology
• Agricultural Meteorology is the branch of meteorology that
deals with the relationship of weather and climate to crop and
livestock production and soil management.
• It is the branch of meteorology which studies the impact of
weather on crop and animal husbandry. In simple terms, it is
the application of meteorological information and weather
data for the enhancement of crop yields and reduction of crop
losses due to adverse weather conditions.
• Agrometeorology mainly involves the interaction of
meteorological and hydrological factors, on one hand and
agriculture, which encompasses horticulture, animal
husbandry and forestry.
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 Difference between Meteorology and Agricultural Meteorology

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 Climatology
• Climatology is the combination of two Greek words, klima
and logos. 'klima' means slope of earth and 'logos' means
study.
• Climatology is a study of the climate of a place or region on
the basis of weather records accumulated over long periods
of time. The average values of meteorological parameters
derived from a data base that extends over several decades
are called climatological normals.
• Climatology may be defined as the study of distribution of
climatic elements over a region for a long period of time.
• Different regions of the world have different characteristic
climates. However, it is now recognized that climate is not
static and issues such as climate change and global warming
are receiving increasing attention
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 Agricultural climatology & Micrometeorology:

• Agricultural climatology may be defined as the science, which

applies climatic knowledge to understand agricultural problems, or it
may be defined as study of climatic elements in relation to
agriculture.
• It deals the effects of climatic parameters on crops; it includes the
relation of growth rate and crop yields to the various climatic factors.
• Applied climatology is the branch of climatology, which study the
application of climatological knowledge to specific practical
problems.
• Micrometeorology: The branch of meteorology that deals with
weather conditions on a small scale, both in terms of space and time.
• Science which study the climatic elements in a particular location e.g.
in field crops, orchards, animal shed etc.

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 Importance of Agricultural Meteorogy
• The weather and climate are the most important components of our physical
environment. These determines the plant growth, development and yield.
• Weather is one of major factor to determine the success or failure of
agriculture. Weather influences agricultural operations from sowing of a crop
to the harvest and particularly rainfed agriculture depends on the mercy of
the weather.
• Agricultural meteorology studies the interaction between physical
environment on one hand and agriculture including dairy farming, poultry,
bee keeping etc. on the other hand. So, the knowledge of physical
environment can be used for increasing production of an agricultural farm.
• Crop production can be maximized by reducing the crop losses due to pest-
disease attack, with understanding of pest-weather interaction in timely
management of pest and diseases.
• Agrometeorological services have become essential because of the challenges
provided to many forms of agricultural production by increasing climate
variability and associated extreme events as well as climate change.
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 Importance of Agricultural Meteorogy
• Its objectives are to minimize extreme weather effects, and then to assist farmers to
apply this supportive knowledge and information in agrometeorological practices and
services.
• Efficient and effective agronomic practices can be adopted based on current and
probable weather knowledge for Sowing time, selection of varieties, irrigation
scheduling, harvesting & threshing time etc. Information on weather based
pesticides/insecticides applications and application of fertilizers & pesticides.
• The ultimate aim of agricultural meteorology is to increase the crop production to
maximum level with efficient use of available natural climatic resources and through
weather based management of biotic stress (due to plants by other living organisms,
such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and abiotic stress (environmental stress).
• Livestock production can be maximized by using the modification of microclimate of
animals and birds sheds.
• Losses of transport and storage of farm products can be minimized to some extent with
knowledge of probable weather.
• Water management can be improved with the aid of knowledge of physical
environment.
• To make the farmers more “Weather conscious” in planning their agricultural
operations.
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 Weather
• Weather
• Weather refers to the physical state of atmosphere at a given
time over a place. Weather is the day-to-day conditions of a
particular place. It is highly variable and constantly changing
from hour to hour or day to day.
• Weather may be defined as instaneous condition of
atmosphere over a place. Eg. Sunny, cloudy, clear weather.
• The entity that determines the state of weather is called as
factor/element of weather. weather as the combination of
elements i.e. temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness,
visibility, and wind.
• Weather elements are not separate rather they are
interrelated.
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 Climate
Climate:
• The word climate comes from the Greek word klima. Klima was borrowed into Latin
as clima, and from Latin it was taken into French where it was spelled climat. In English it
became climate, a word which we now use more often to mean the weather conditions
themselves than the region where they occur.
• The climate is the common, average weather conditions at a particular place over a long
period of time (for example, more than 30 years). We learn about different climates
around the world. Deserts have a hot and dry climate while the Antarctic has a very cold
and dry climate.
• Trewartha defined climate as a composite of day-to-day weather conditions, and of the
atmospheric elements, within a specified area over a long period of time.
• Critchfield defined climate as "The processes of exchange of heat and moisture between
the earth and atmosphere over a long period of time result in conditions which we call
climate.“
• G.F.Taylor defined climate is the integration of weather and weather is the differentiation
of climate. The distinction between weather and climate is, therefore, mainly one of time
• Climate may be defined as the average of weather information/conditions of a particular
area during a specified period of time i.e. more than 30 years.
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 Factors controlling weather and climate
• Geographical factors influencing weather and climate are referred to as climate
controls. They are: Latitude, Altitude, Land and water bodies, Mountains, Topography.
• Earth is divided into two parts by an imaginary line called equator. The two parts are
named as northern hemisphere & southern hemisphere.
• Latitude is the angular distance of a point from north or south of the equator. These
lines shown by horizontal lines on globe and often referred to as parallels. The distance
from the equator, either from south or north, largely creates variations in climate.
• Longitude: The distance of a place east or west of the prime meridian (Greenwich) is
known as longitude of a place. These line shown by vertical lines and are often referred
as meridian. Based on latitude, the climate has been classified as tropical, subtropical,
temperate and polar climates.
• Altitude: It is a height of a place above the mean sea level. The height from mean sea
level adds to variation in climate. Temperature and pressure decreases with increasing
height from mean sea level. Based on altitude , climate is described as mountainous
and valley climates.
• Nearness to large bodies of water also causes variation in climate. The climates are
refereed to as continental and maritime.

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 Longitude
The country is situated north of the equator
Haryana
Longitude between 8°4' to 37°6' north latitude and
Latitude
74°28' and 77°36' E 68°7' to 97°25' east longitude.
27°39' and 30°35' N
Kaul Hisar
Longitude Longitude
Latitude Latitude
76°66‘ ' E 75°46‘ ' E
29°85’N 29°10’N
A series of crossing lines on a map or a globe which enable to identify the location
of any point on the Earth is known as the Earth Grid.
• Tropical Climate: The tropics is a region of the Earth by the Equator. It is
limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at
approximately 23°26' (23.5°) N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern
hemisphere at 23°26' (23.5°) S. Diurnal temperature range is greater than the
difference between the warmest and coolest months
• In the Köppen climate classification it is a non-arid climate in which all twelve
months have mean temperatures of at least 18 °C (64 °F).
• Temperate Climate: From 23.5N to 66.5N and between 23.5S and 66.5S are
the temperate zones. A temperate climate Average yearly temperatures in
these regions are not extreme, not burning hot nor freezing
cold. Temperate means moderate. Unlike in the tropics, temperatures can vary
greatly here, between summer and winter.
• Polar Climate: From 66.5N to the North Pole have the Arctic, and from 66.5S
to the South Pole, the Antarctic. Regions with a polar climate are characterized
by a lack of warm summers. Every month in a polar climate has an average
temperature of less than 10 °C (50 °F). Regions with polar climate cover over
20% of the Earth.
 Weather elements
• Any entity that controls the weather is called as element or factor of weather. There
are various factors, which individually or in combination control the weather, which
are given below:
• Solar radiation, Temperature, Air pressure, Wind, Sunshine, Humidity, Cloudiness,
Precipitation, etc.
• All these elements are highly variable and constitute the weather. Day to day or
hour-to-hour changes in weather are mainly the result of variations in the amount,
intensity and distribution over earth of weather elements.
Solar radiation/Light
• Radiation is the way of transfer by which the solar energy reaches the earth.
• From germination to harvest and even post harvest crops are affected by solar
radiation.
• Biomass production by photosynthetic processes requires light. Light is the visible
portion of solar spectrum having wavelength range from 0.4 to 0.7 μm. It is also
called as photosynthetically active radiation (PAR).
• Light is the primary source of energy, without which living organism could not exist.
It is a vital factor to all living things.
• All physical process taking place in the soil, plant and environment are dependent on
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light.
 Light Intensity
• The light intensity affects the crop plants through its effect on
photosynthesis.

• Very low light intensity reduces the photosynthesis as stomata are closed
which restrict the intake of CO2 gas. The rate of photosynthesis increases
with increase in light intensity.
• The amount of light received by plant is determined by intensity of light and
its duration.
• The light intensity at which respiration equals photosynthesis is called as
light compensation point.
• The light saturation point is the light intensity at which rate of
photosynthesis becomes constant.
 Light duration

• In natural environment the length of day may have an even greater effect on the
total amount of light received than does light intensity.
• The response of plants to relative length of day and night is known as
photoperiodism.
On the basis of response of day length, the plants are classified as:
• Long day plant: Plant develops/flowers normally when photoperiod is greater
than 12 hours e.g. Cereals (wheat, barley), potato and sugarcane.
• Short day plant: The plant flowers normally when photoperiod is less than 12
hours e.g. Tobacco, soybean, maize, Rice, Sunflower
• Day natural plant/Indeterminate plant: Not affected by the photoepriod e.g.
Tomato, cotton, pineapple etc.
• Light plays an important role in orienting the growth of plants. This movement or
orientation, if caused by light is called phototropism.
• Response of plants to light direction. Leaves are usually oriented at right angles to
the incident light, in a position to receive maximum radiation e.g. sunflower.
 Temperature
• Temperature is the important factor controlling the growth rate and
development of crop. It influences distribution of crop plants and
vegetation.
• Temperature is the intensity aspect of heat energy or it can say
Temperature is a measure of intensity of heat energy.
• Temperature of day and night also affects the crop.
• If the days are warm, good for photosynthesis but if nights are warm, the
loss of respiration is higher. High night temperature favors growth of shoots
and leaves and also affects plant metabolism.
• Plants, which are adapted to hot climate, if exposed to low temperature for
sometime, are found to be killed or injured. Some effects of chilling are
development of chloratic condition (yellowing) in sugarcane, sorghum and
maize in winter months when night temperature is below 200C.
• When the plants are exposed to very low temperature, water freezes into
ice crystals in intercellular spaces of the plants and resulting into the death
of cells e.g. frost damages in potato, brinjal etc.
• The temperature range of 10-40oC is the favorable range for
crop plants.
• The plant cells get killed when they are exposed to the
temperature range from 50 to 600C. This point of temperature
called thermal death point.
• Thermal death point varies from plant to plant and species to
species.
• Higher temperature disturbs the physiological activities like
photosynthesis and respiration.
• Higher temperature increases respiration leading to rapid
depletion of reserved food.
• Higher temperature also increases transpiration loss of water
and causes water deficit in crop plants under limited water
supply.
• Every plant/crop has its own minimum, optimum and
maximum temperature limits for its normal growth and
reproduction.
• The vital physiological activities of a plant stop both at below
the minimum level and at above the maximum level, whereas
physiological activities will be at its maximum at optimum
temperature levels.
• These three levels of temperature are known as cardinal
temperature points.
 Humidity
• Water is present in the atmosphere in the form of invisible water vapour, normally known
as humidity. The presence of moisture in atmosphere is termed as humidity.
• Increasing relative humidity decreases the rate of transpiration. Reduction in
transpiration reduces the translocation of food material and uptake of nutrients.
• If relative humidity is 100% it means that the entire space is filled with water and there is
no soil evaporation and plant transpiration.
• The relative humidity range from 60 to 80 per cent is good for crop growth.
• Very few crops can perform well when relative humidity is 80% and above.
• A very high relative humidity is beneficial to maize, sorghum, sugarcane and it is harmful
to gram, sunflower and tobacco.
• Humidity also affects the water requirement through evapotranspiration.
• Functioning of stomata is often greatly reduced under low moisture/moisture stress
condition.
• Photosynthesis is hampered by reduction of stomatal opening limiting CO2 absorption.
• Cell size and shape are reduced under moisture deficient condition and ultimately plant
growth and yield is reduced.
• High humidity with high temperature favours the outbreak of pest and disease.
• High soil moisture and humidity condition cause failure in establishing stand of legumes
and grasses.
 Rainfall
• Precipitation includes all water which falls from atmosphere such as rainfall, snow, hail,
fog and dew.
• Rainfall one of the most important factor influences the vegetation of a place.
• Total Rainfall in amount and distribution greatly affects the choice of a cultivated
species in a place.
• Rainfall spread is very uneven. Some area is desert receives less than 10 cm (Ladakh)
and some places receive more than 1187 cm rainfall (Mawsynram ).
• In heavy and evenly distributed rainfall areas, crops like rice in plains and tea, coffee
and rubber in Hills are grown.
• Low and uneven distribution of rainfall is common in dryland farming where drought
resistance crops like pearl millet, sorghum and minor millets are grown. Rainfed crops
directly depend on rain.
• The water source such as rivers, tanks , wells and canals which supply water for
irrigation also depend on the rain.
• Distribution of rainfall is more important than total rainfall to have longer growing
period especially in dryland areas.
• After the spray it reduces the efficiency of agrochemical.
• Heavy rain induces soil erosion and leaching of nutrient.
• Deficient rain causes drought and limits the crop growth and production.
 Wind velocity
• Horizontal movement of air is called wind.
• Winds are named after direction from which it comes.
• It blows from north-east to south east, it is named as north east wind.
• windward refers to the direction from which the wind comes and leeward refers
to the direction in which the wind blows.
• Wind influences the plant life both physiologically and mechanically. Wind
affects plant directly by increasing the transpiration and intake of CO2. Thus
raising the supply of CO2 to the plants and thereby increase in photosynthesis.
• The warm and dry winds increase evaporative loss and cause moisture stress
when soil temperature is very low.
• Lodging is one of severe injury caused by strong winds which causes great yield
loss depending upon the stage of crop. This injury is common in paddy, maize,
wheat, sorghum and sugarcane.
• Strong winds damage fruit trees extensively by breaking leaves and twigs and
causing fruit drops.
• Wind movement for 4 – 6 km/hour is suitable for crops.
SYMBOL OF TRUST