Predicting the seed cotton yield with value added medium range weather forecast data using CROPGRO-Cotton model at Bhathinda, Punjab

Abstract

In order to assess the potential of the medium-range weather forecast in predicting the cotton productivity using crop simulation model, the CROPGRO-cotton model was calibrated and validated with the experimental data which was collected during kharif 2021 in an experiment that was carried out with two Bt cotton hybrid (RCH 776 and RCH 773) and one non-Bt (F2228), and sown at five dates i.e., April 25th, May 05th, May 15th, May 25th and June 04th in split-plot design with three replications at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Regional Research Station, Bathinda. The validated model was further used to assess the cotton productivity under different sowing dates using medium range weather forecast data on rainfall, maximum temperature and minimum temperature obtained for the period 2013-2021. The results showed that simulated values with medium range weather forecast were in close agreement with the simulated values for phenology and yield of cotton. The simulated cotton yield using daily medium range weather forecast data showed more or less significant efficiency to capture year-to-year as well as datewise variability in simulated cotton yield.