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Our Bureau

Rain or thundershowers occurred at isolated places in the State on the four days ending March 13 in a pattern that is representative of the season even as surface temperatures sea-sawed.

Punalur reported the highest maximum of 36.8°C on March 12 while the maximum temperature was 3°C above normal in Alappuzha on the same day. According to the Agromet Bulletin dated March 14 issued by the Met Office, Thiruvananthapuram, the mean maximum temperature varied between 32°C and 36°C in various districts.

Mean minimum temperature varied between 22°C and 26°C, with Kottayam recording the lowest minimum of 21.0°C on March 13.

Speaking to Business Line, Mr M. D. Ramachandran, Director, Met Office, said the State has had a more or less `normal' winter rain season (January-February). The precipitation averaged 2.6 cm as against the `normal' of 2.8 cm.

It is too early to take a call on the summer rain. The March `normal' for the season is 3.8 cm, and there is still time for the weather gods to deliver, Mr Ramachandran said.

Chief amounts of rainfall in cm are (March 10 to 13):

March 10: Aryankavu - 3; Haripad - 2; and Thodupuzha - 1

March 11: Kanjirappally - 4 and Nedumangad - 1

March 12: Thiruvananthapuram Airport and Aluva - 1 each

March 13: Konni - 1

Mean relative humidity varied between 60 per cent and 77 per cent, mean cloud coverage between one okta and five okta and mean wind speed, two kmph and 12 kmph.

Stage and state of crops: Harvesting in the late planted, medium duration varieties in Mundakan paddy is progressing. Puncha, the third summer crop, has reached the tillering stage. Irrigation and plant protection measures are the major activities taken up in Puncha.

Massive spraying operation is still being continued with in coconut to check the spread of Eriophid mite attack. Intercultural operations, plant protection, shading of young plants, harvesting and processing operations are apace in coconut and arecanut. Grooming of rooted pepper cuttings is on in pepper.

Rubber tapping has been stopped due to winter leaf fall in most of the plantation areas. Monthly top dressing and intercultural operations are in progress in banana, tapioca and vegetables. Harvesting of cashew has commenced in some places.

Farm advisory: Paddy fields should be watched for leaf folder, rice thrips and blast disease. Sowing of pulses, sesamum and vegetables in fallow paddy lands been completed.

The Puncha crop must be irrigated once in six days wherever availability of water resources is poor. The massive spraying of coconut against mite attack should be continued with. This will also help reduce the incidence of coried bug as well.

Coconut and all other garden land crops must be irrigated once every 10-14 days depending on crop, soil and water availability. Control measures should be adopted against stem borer attack in cashew. Based on leaf fall intensity, rubber tapping may be temporarily withheld.

But tapping can be resumed in intervals of three days. New planting (if gap filling is required), weeding and fertiliser application may be carried out in rubber. Nursery preparation of coconut, arecanut and pepper may be continued with.

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