The Hindu Business Line : Munnar tops rain charts

THE hill station of Munnar continued to top the charts in recorded rainfall for four days on a trot from August 5 as the wet spell triggered by the latest `pulse' of the southwest monsoon began to lift in Kerala.

The monsoon was `active' over the State on August 5 and 6, according to the Agromet Bulletin dated August 8 issued by the Thiruvananthapuram Met Office. Rain occurred at most places during the four days from August 5 to 8.

Chief amounts of rainfall in cm are (August 5 to 8):

August 5: Munnar- 21; Piravom - 19; Vadakara - 13; Idukki - 11; Mananthavady - 10; Hosdurg, Ambalavayal, Parambikkulam, Kuppady, Chengannur and Peermade - nine each; Ottapalam, Thodupuzha and Mancompu - eight each; Kannur, Thalassery, Koilandy, Pattambi, Mavelikkara, Cherthala, Kanjirappally, Punalur and Aryankavu - seven each; Kozhikode, Chalakkudy and Kottayam - six each; Karipur, Mannarkad, Kollengode, Nedumangad, Kunnamkulam, Kochi Airport, Haripad, Thiruvalla, Kollam, Konni, Kodungallur and Kannara- five each; and Nilambur, Manjeri, Chittur, Alathur, Vadakkancherry, Perumbavur, Thiruvananthapuram City, Thrissur and Enamackel - four each.

August 6: Munnar- 17; Thodupuzha and Chalakkudy - seven each; Devikolam - six; Alathur, Vadakara, Kannara, Aluva and Perumbavur - five each; and Karipur, Kollengode, Kottayam, Kodungallur, Kunnamkulam, Enamackel, Mavelikkara, Chengannur and Vadakkancherry- four each.

August 7: Mannarkad - six; Thalassery, Kozhikode, Karipur, Pattambi, Thiruvalla and Devikolam - four each; and Vadakara, Manjeri, Irinjalakkuda, Cochin International Airport and Haripad - three each.

August 8: Munnar- eight; and Karipur Airport, Cochin International Airport, Cherthala and Kottayam - one each.

Mean relative humidity varied between 72 per cent and 96 per cent in various districts, mean cloud coverage between five okta and eight okta and mean wind speed, two kmph and eight kmph.

Forecast valid until August 11 spoke about rain at a few places in all districts. Outlook for the subsequent days did not indicate any significant change.

Stage and state of crops: Paddy crop has reached the flowering stage. Application of pesticide is recommended in paddy to prevent attack from rice bug. Plant protection measures against rhinoceros beetle, red palm weevil and diseases such as bud rot ad root wilt are recommended in coconut. In pepper, plant protection measures may be initiated against fungal attack.

Farm advisory: Application of Mercapthothion is advisable in the case of paddy for protection from rice bug. Bordeaux paste and Bordeaux mixture could be tried to arrest bud rot and other fungal disease in coconut. In pepper and arecanut, copper oxy chloride could be the better option.

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