Last Update: February 21, 2023, 00:13 IST
Wheat crop can be sprayed with 2% urea or fertilized with a solution of gypsum and urea. (Image: News18)
The maximum temperature over Gujarat, Rajasthan, Konkan, Goa and Coastal Karnataka remained between 35 and 39 degrees Celsius, four to nine notches above normal since February 13.
Higher temperatures may adversely affect wheat and other crops in Northwest India, Gujarat, Konkan and Goa. India The Meteorological Department said on Monday. The maximum temperature in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Konkan, Goa and Coastal Karnataka remained in the range of 35 to 39 degrees Celsius since February 13, four to nine degrees above normal, the Meteorological Department said in a statement.
Saurashtra and Kutch and parts of Southwest Rajasthan were above normal by 6 to 9 degrees Celsius.
The maximum temperature in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi remained five to nine degrees Celsius above normal since February 18.
The India Meteorological Department said, “The above normal temperatures over Northwest India, Gujarat, Konkan and Goa can be attributed to the absence of any active Western Disturbance in February, dry weather over the plains and deficient rainfall over the hills. ” (IMD) said.
It said that due to an anti-cyclone over South Gujarat, there has been a decrease in wind and heat wave has increased over the region.
Anticyclones are centers of high pressure from where winds blow in all directions. The anticyclone over India sends warm air from the north-west towards central and western India, causing heat waves.
“Wheat is likely to be adversely affected by this high day temperature as the crop is approaching the period of reproductive growth, which is sensitive to temperature,” the IMD said.
Higher temperatures during the flowering and ripening periods lead to a reduction in yield. Other standing crops and horticulture may have similar effects.
The IMD said that if the crop is showing stress, farmers can do light irrigation.
“To reduce the effect of high temperature, add mulch material in the space between two rows of vegetable crops to conserve soil moisture and maintain soil temperature.”
Earlier in the day, the IMD withdrew its heatwave warning for isolated places in Kutch and Konkan regions due to drop in temperature due to sea breeze.
The Meteorological Department said on Sunday that “heatwave conditions are likely to prevail over Kutch and Konkan during the next two days”.
Officials had said that a heatwave alert was first issued for these areas.
Senior scientist Naresh Kumar said, “We have withdrawn the heatwave warning for these areas as there is a trend of falling temperature due to sea breeze. Two to three degrees in maximum temperature in the next two-three days.” Celsius drop is expected. in IMD.
Heat wave is declared if the maximum temperature of a station is at least 40 degrees Celsius in plains, at least 37 degrees in coastal areas and at least 30 degrees in hilly areas and at least 4.5 degrees above normal.
In March last year, the country recorded its hottest weather since 1901, with the heat causing a 2.5 per cent decline in wheat yields.
The Meteorological Department attributed the abnormal heat to the absence of an active Western Disturbance over North India and lack of rainfall due to any major system over South India.
Only 8.9 mm of rainfall was recorded across the country, which was 71 per cent less than the long period average of 30.4 mm.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)