Influence of Agro Meteorological Indices on Different Sowing Time of Irrigated Maize in Western Agro-Climatic Zone of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

A field trial with different sowing windows of the maize crop was done in the Eastern Block Farm of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. The sowing windows were scheduled mid of every month for four seasons. The treatments were Kharif (2019) – June 15th, July 15th, and August 15th; Rabi (2019-2020) – September 15th, October 15th, and November 15th; Late Rabi (2020-2021) – December 15th, January 15th, February 15th, and Summer (2021) – March 15th, April 15th, and May 15th. The agrometeorological indices viz., growing degree days (GDD), helio thermal unit (HTU), photo thermal unit (PTU), relative temperature disparity (RTD) and seasonal efficiency were worked out to find the suitable maize cropping period for maximum yield in this changing climatic scenario. Of the four seasons taken for study, Kharif and Rabi seasons were more suitable for maize cultivation and provided better yield than other seasons in the western agroclimatic zone of Tamil Nadu.