Estimation of the Water Balance and Length of Growing Period under Gumla District of Jharkhand for Efficient Crop Planning

Present study was conducted for Gumla district of Jharkhand at block level which experiences a humid sub-tropical climate with an average rainfall of 1100 mm annually. In spite of receiving 85% of rainfall during the monsoon season the agricultural production and productivity in the district is quite low due to improper utilization of available moisture during the cropping season. Based on the weekly, annual rainfall and Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) data of 17 years (2000-2016), the length of the growing period (LGP) and water balance was worked out for the district and suitable crop plans were suggested. The length of the growing period was observed to be 21 weeks for most of the blocks of Gumla district under Uplandand an average of 25 weeks under upper medium land situation (Don III).Under lower medium land situation (Don II), length of growing period was of 28-29 weeks for all blocks except Basia, Kamdara and Sisai and low land situation (Don I), possessed 29 weeks of LGP at all blocks whereas it was one week more for Raidih and a week less for Basia and Kamdara.In Basia and Kamdara the water surplus is almost negligible under Upland and Don III land situation and very little water can be harvested from Don II and Don I. Maximum surplus water was observed in Raidih followed by Palkot and can be harvested more water from all land situations. Only short duration varieties of different crop and low water requiring crops like maize and pigeon pea are suitable for Basia as well as Kamdara blocks.