EFFECT OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY ON POTATO YIELD UNDER DIFFERENT AGROCLIMATIC ZONES OF PUNJAB

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the role of meteorological parameters on year to year variability in potato
yield in two different agroclimatic zones of Punjab viz. Central Zone (Ludhiana) and Western Zone (Bathinda) using last 17
years (2003-04 to 2019-20) data. The meteorological data of different months from October to January was used to conduct
this study. The meteorological data of October and November month did not show any significance for locations. Whereas,
meteorological data of December and January month significantly influenced potato yield at both locations. Potato yield
showed highly significant positive correlation with minimum temperature and evening relative humidity for both locations
whereas yield showed significant negative correlation with sunshine hours at Ludhiana. After studying the deviation of
meteorological parameters from respective normals during highest and lowest yield years and the correlation of meteorological
parameters with potato yield it can be concluded that in the Punjab minimum temperature along with sunshine hours play
a major role in determining the potato yield. Regression model based on maximum and minimum temperature, morning
relative humidity and sunshine hours gave good results. Validation of the regression models for prediction of potato yield
proved the efficiency of the targeted predictions at both locations.