Agricultural Meteorology is the branch of atmospheric science that studies the Earth’s atmosphere and weather processes. It focuses on understanding short-term atmospheric conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation. It is crucial for accurate weather forecasting, disaster preparedness, and resource management in agriculture, aviation, and urban planning.
Climate change, on the other hand, refers to long-term changes in global or regional climate patterns over decades or centuries. These changes are influenced by both natural processes, such as volcanic eruptions and solar radiation, and human activities, including greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and industrialization.
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Meaning and Scope of Agricultural Meteorology
Agricultural Meteorology is the branch of atmospheric science that studies the Earth’s atmosphere and weather processes. Since every farmer has to live with the local climatic conditions and cannot exercise any control over them, therefore, it is essential to study the climate as science. Every growth phase of a plant is influenced by the prevailing weather conditions. Each crop has its weather requirement for the expression of its full yield potential. It is a known fact that the occurrence of pests and diseases in crop plants is closely related to weather conditions.
So, knowledge of weather parameters and their effects on the growth and yield of crops is essential for successful crop production. The word meteorology has been derived from the Greek words “Meteors” which means “things up above” or “lower atmosphere” and “Logus” which means “study or science” Hence the meaning of Agricultural Meteorology is the study of things up above the earth or the study of lower atmosphere. Its meaning was given by Aristotle (384-322 B.C.). He has defined meteorology as a study of the lower atmosphere.
Scope of Agricultural Meteorology in General
Almost all social, industrial, agricultural, commercial, transport etc. activities are
directly or indirectly affected by weather and climate. The atmosphere affects and
sustains human life, animal life, micro-organisms, insects, pests, plants, trees,
forests, and marine culture at all times during every stage of growth and
development. Therefore, Agricultural Meteorology has the greatest scope on every human
enterprise in the modern life. The early knowledge / foreknowledge of any adverse
weather, through meteorological forecast is most useful for human activity and can
save the loss of human life and property by undertaking suitable safety measures,
against such adversities in the weather.
The specific fields of applications to illustrate the scope of Agricultural Meteorology:
- Safe navigation: For safe navigation on sea, the knowledge of adverse weather
i.e. large tidal waves, ocean waves, high speed wind, cyclonic storms etc. is
needed which is provided through weather forecast from meteorology. - Safe aviation: For transport through air, the pilots need route information
about atmospheric conditions such as electrical lightening, high turbulence,
thunderstorms, foggy atmosphere, line squalls etc. for safe aviation. so, pilot can
go safely. For this purpose, accurate forecasts are needed and are only possible
from meteorology. - Industrial planning: Many industries for their raw material depend on
agricultural produce and accordingly location of industry is decided, so it is
necessary to consider the weather and climate. The first cotton mill in India was
set up in Bombay because of hot and humid climate which is most suitable for
this industry. - Animal production: Beef, poultry and milk production also depend on weather
and meteorology provides the information for successful animal production and
animal husbandry. - Fishery industry: Fishermen need information of atmospheric and oceanic
changes before they proceed on sea for fishing so that they can take precautions
if necessary and this is possible from meteorological knowledge. - Irrigation and water resources: Meteorological and hydrological information
assist in planning the location, size and storage capacities of dams to ensure
water supply for irrigation and domestic needs. When to irrigate and how much
to irrigate is also decided from the meteorological information. - Land use planning: The meteorological data supplemented with soil and
topographic information helps to plan the sites for the specific land use for crop
production, forests, urban residence, industry etc. - Human life: Human being tries to acclimatize himself with the prevailing
weather conditions, for this they manage for type of clothing, housing, food
habit etc.- Clothing: Warm clothes during winter and thin cloth during summer are
used. - Housing: Direction of windows, doors for proper ventilation, roofing-plain
in low rainfall region whereas, slanting roof in the areas where rainfall is
more and frequent in occurrence. - Food habits: Heavy diet during winter season is recommended whereas,
during summer season more quantum of water consumption is needed.
- Clothing: Warm clothes during winter and thin cloth during summer are
- Public and civil agencies: The agencies like Z.P. (Zilla parishad), Panchayat
Samite requires weather information for various purposes for planning and
protective measures against disaster e.g. floods, droughts, cyclones, thunder
storms, hails etc. - Human health: If any sudden change in the climatic conditions is experienced,
it results into different epidemics. Asthma patient suffers more during cloudy
conditions. - Commerce: Trading of any item is made according to need of the people in
relation to weather prevailing e.g. Gum shoes, umbrella and raincoats is
generally traded in rainy season only. Woolen cloths in winter season and white
cotton cloths, cold drinks etc. are in more demand in summer season.
Thus, meteorology has wide scope and applications in various services. The
final practical aim of meteorology is to describe, interpret and predict the
weather for the service of mankind.
Agricultural Meteorology or Agrometeorology
Agriculture meteorology or agrometeorology is an applied science which
uses the principles of the science of meteorology for betterment of agriculture
science. The aim of agricultural meteorology is to make use of the science of
meteorology in the interest of food production. Agriculture deals with three
most complex entities viz., soil, plant and atmosphere and their interactions.
Among these three, atmosphere is the most complex entity over the other two.
Scope of Agricultural Meteorology
The science of agricultural meteorology has a wide scope in agriculture to improve use
of land to increase agricultural production. The weather and climate are the natural
resource and considered as basic input for agriculture. Every plant process related
with growth, development and yield of crop is affected by weather. Similarly, every
farm operations such as ploughing, harrowing, land preparation, sowing, weeding,
irrigation, manuring, spraying, dusting, harvesting, threshing, storage and transport
of farm produce are affected by weather.
- Characterization of agricultural climate for determining crop growing
season: Solar radiation, air temperature, precipitation, wind, humidity etc. is important
climatic factors on which the growth, development and yield of a crop depends.
The study and effect of these elements can be used for planning, stability and
management of the crops on weather basis. - Crop planning for stability in production: To reduce risk of crop failure on climatic part (due to climatic factor), so as to get stabilized yields even under weather adversity, suitable crops / cropping patterns / contingent crop planning can be selected by considering water
requirement of crop, effective rainfall and available soil moisture. - Crop management on weather basis: Management of crop involves various farm operations such as sowing, interculture operations, fertilizer application, plant protection, irrigation
scheduling, harvesting etc. can be carried out on the basis of specially tailored
weather report. - Crop monitoring: To check crop health and growth performance, suitable meteorological tools
such as crop growth models, water balance technique or remote sensing etc. can
be used. - Crop modeling and yield forecasting: A model is a mathematical equation giving growth and yield as a function of climatic parameters or other relevant parameters. Suitable crop models devised for the purpose can provide information or predict the results about the growth and yield when the current and past weather data are used.
- Research in crop-climate relationship: Agrometeorology can help to understand crop-climate relationship so as to resolve complexities of plant process in relation to its microclimate. It also develops suitable techniques of modification of microclimate.
- Climatic extremities and management strategies: Climatic extremities such as frost, floods, droughts, high winds, and hailstorms can be forecasted. The loss in production can then be prevented / protected by arranging suitable strategies.
- Climate as a tool to diagnose soil moisture stress: Soil moisture can be exactly determined from climatic water balance method which is used to diagnose the soil moisture stress, drought and necessary protective measures such as irrigation, mulching, application of antitranspirants,
defoliation, thinning etc. can be undertaken. - Livestock production: Livestock production is a part of agriculture. The set of favorable and unfavorable weather conditions for growth, development and production of livestock is studied in Agricultural meteorology.
- Soil formation: Soil formation process depends on climatic factors like temperature,
precipitation, humidity and wind etc. Thus, climate is a major factor in soil
formation and development. - Forest production and fire prevention: Meteorological information is needed to conserve forest wealth. Natural forest fire destroying this valuable wealth can be forecasted well in advance from weather information.
- Agrometeorological services: In many countries agro meteorological services have been established to help the farmer in his job. These services release weather bulletins for farmers. Operational forecasts for various farm operations are also framed and released.