Open AccessVariability in reference evapotranspiration and moisture availability in three agroclimatic zones of Punjab, India
Author(s) -
S Aatralarasi,
P. K. Kingra,
Raj Setia,
Surender Singh
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of agrometeorology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.295
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 2583-2980
pISSN - 0972-1665
DOI - 10.54386/jam.v23i2.61
Subject(s) - evapotranspiration , aridity index , arid , north east , environmental science , dryness , south east , geography , moisture , range (aeronautics) , climatology , physical geography , geology , ecology , meteorology , composite material , biology , history , paleontology , ethnology , materials science , medicine , surgery
A research study was undertaken to estimate reference evapotranspiration (ETO), moisture index (MI) and aridity index (AI) and analyse their trends in different locations/zones of Punjab. Annual and seasonal ETO was observed to be highest in south-west and lowest in north-east zone. North-east zone experienced increasing trend in annual as well as seasonal ETO. Districts within the central zone had large variability within the zone. MI and AI were in the order of north-east zone followed by Central zone and South-west zone indicating better moisture availability conditions in north-east. Mean difference in annual and seasonal MI and AI also indicated statistical similarities within the districts of north-east and south-west zones but different from other zones. Thus, increasing trend of ETO in north-east region and higher ETO range in south-west zone along with severe moisture availability necessitates the need for more careful planning of water resources in the region.