A study was conducted using historical weather and rice yields to evaluate the effect of variations in meteorological parameters on observed rice yields in Punjab. The technology trend of historical rice yields in Punjab indicated that over the past two to three decades, rice yield has increased at the rate of 30.0, 34.4 and 44.6 kg/ha/year at Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala, respectively. A perusal of the historical weather data and past rice yields revealed that for the months of July, August and September for potential rice yields, at Amritsar the most favourable maximum temperature were in the range of 35.1 - 36.0 °C, 34.1 - 35.0 °C and 34.1- 35.0 °C, respectively; minimum temperature were in the range of 24.1 - 26.0 °C, 23.1 - 25.0 °C and 22.1- 23.0 °C, respectively; and rainfall were in the range of <75 mm, >300mm and 25-75mm, respectively; at Ludhiana, maximum temperature were in the range of 35.1 - 36.0 °C, 33.1 - 34.0 °C and 34.1- 35.0 °C, respectively; minimum temperature were in the range of 26.1 - 28.0 °C, >26.1 °C and 23.1- 24.0 °C, respectively; and rainfall were in the range of <75 mm, 201-300mm and <25mm, respectively; and at Patiala, maximum temperature were in the range of >36.1 °C, 33.1 - 34.0 °C and 34.1- 35.0 °C, respectively; minimum temperature were in the range of 26.1 - 28.0 °C, 23.1 - 25.0 °C and 23.1- 24.0 °C, respectively; and rainfall were in the range of <75mm, 100 - 200mm and <25mm, respectively.
Rainfall, Rice, Sunshine hours, Technology Trend Model, Temperature, Yield
