The Hindu Business Line : Wet spell to continue in Kerala

THE trough of low pressure over Lakshadweep has been bringing good rains, the heaviest of the season, to Lakshadweep and South Kerala on July 19 and 20. The wet spell will continue for another day or two, according to Dr M. Rajeevan, Director, Forecasting, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune.

According to the Agromet Advisory dated July 20 issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram, the southwest monsoon was relatively weak over the State on July 17 and 18. Rain occurred at most places on three days from July 15, many places on July 18, and at a few places on July 19.

Warning: The Met Office has forecast isolated heavy rain for South Kerala during 48 hours from Tuesday. Outlook for the two subsequent days did not indicate any significant change.

Chief amounts of rainfall in cm are (from July 15 to 19):

July 15: Kannur - seven; Vadakara - six; Kozhikode, Koilandy, Hosdurg and Munnar - five each; Karipur and Thalassery - four each; Chalakkudy, Kanjirappally, Kunnamkulam and Perumbavoor - three each; and Kasaragode, Enamackal, Haripad, Alappuzha and Kannara - two each.

July 16: Thalassery - seven; Kasaragode, Kudulu and Kunnamkulam - six each; Karipur, Kozhikode, Vadakara, Cochin International Airport and Munnar - five each; Koilandy, Aluva, Perumbavoor and Kannara - four each; and Manjeri, Kochi Airport, Chalakkudy and Enamackal - three each.

July 17: Kasaragode, Nilambur and Mancompu - three each; and Thalassery, Koilandy, Perumbavoor, Devikolam and Punalur - two each.

July 18: Thiruvananthapuram Airport - three; Karipur Airport - two; and Alappuzha, Kottayam, Punalur, Thiruvananthapuram City, Varkala and Aluva - one each.

July 19: Thiruvananthapuram Airport - 11; Thiruvananthapuram City and Neyyattinkara - nine each; Nedumangad and Varkala - five each; Chalakkudy and Kollam - four each; and Mancompu and Thiruvalla - three each.

Mean relative humidity varied between 72 per cent and 92 per cent in various districts, mean cloud coverage between five okta and seven okta and mean wind speed, two kmph and 10 kmph.

State and state of crops: With second weeding and top dressing operations almost complete, the paddy crop is in the panicle initiation stage. Intercultural weeding operations and application of organic manure and fertilisers continue in coconut, arecanut, rubber, spices, vegetables, banana, tapioca and cashew.

Pepper is in the spike initiation stage; plant protection measures and application of fertiliser in semi-circular basins are in progress. New planting is being carried out with improved varieties in almost all crops in garden lands.

Farm advisory: New plantings, intercultural operations, fertiliser and organic manure application and improvement of drainage facilities can be carried out in perennial crops. Plant protection operations can be done with Ediphenphos at one ml/litre of water in order to control `blast' and `sheath blight' in paddy.

Spraying of one per cent Bordeaux mixture is recommended against leaf rot and bud rot in coconut.

More Stories on : Climate & Weather | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Tractor sales tumble — Price cut hopes add to sector woes

Oilseeds output may be hit

The redeemer?

Wet spell to continue in Kerala

Assocham asks Govt to ensure funds for marine exporters

Budget: No good harvest, really

Spot rubber rates rule steady