, R.S. Parmar, Y.R.Ghodasara, G. J. Kamani, K. V .Patel

English

International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication

International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication                                                               ISSN: 2321-8169 Volume: 2 Issue: 5                                                                                                                                                                                                 1260– 1265 ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 1260 IJRITCC | May 2014, Available @ http://www.ijritcc.org _____________________________________________________________________________________ Alternative Cropping Possibilities for Rainfed Crop Based on Length of Growing Period Driven by Web User Interface  R.S. Parmar, Y.R.Ghodasara, G. J. Kamani And K. V .Patel  College of Agricultural Information Technology  Anand Agricultural University, ANAND-388 110 rsparmar@aau.in  Abstract-- The crop growth and yield of rainfed crop is dependent on rainfall amount and soil moisture status in the root zone. The water balance climatology of any rainfall region helps in selecting crops and cultivars for better net return. Inadequate information on this aspect sometimes fails to rationalize the natural resources. Water-balance models have been used to examine the various components of the hydrologic cycle (for example, precipitation, evapotranspiration, irrigation demand, soil-moisture storage and runoff). A water-balance model driven by a Web User Interface (WUI), referred to as the Thornthwaite water-balance model developed and it permits the user to easily estimates of water-balance components, Moisture Availability Index, Length of Growing Period for rainfed crops, suggests the alternative crops possibilities and draws the graphical sketch of Soil moisture index for a specified location and can be used as a research tool for precise natural resource management.  __________________________________________________*****_________________________________________________ I. Introduction The rainfed crop growth is directly related to the rainfall amount and soil moisture status in the root zone. Rainfall is the main contributing factor for growth and yield of rainfed crops. Water balance models are aimed at computing the soil moisture index from the available weather records. Thornthwaite Water-balance models have been used as a means to examine the various components of the hydrologic cycle (for example, precipitation, evapotranspiration and runoff). Such models have been used to estimate the global water balance (Legates and Mather, 1992; Legates and McCabe, 2005); to develop climate classifications (Thornthwaite, 1948); to estimate soil-moisture storage (Alley, 1984;), runoff (Alley, 1984, 1985; Yates, 1996; Wolock and McCabe, 1999), and irrigation demand (McCabe and Wolock, 1992); and to evaluate the hydrologic effects of climate change (McCabe and Ayers, 1989; Yates, 1996; Strzepek and Yates, 1997; Wolock and McCabe, 1999).  Paper provides description of  thornthwaite water-balance model that is driven by  Web User Interface (WUI) developed by the College of Agriculture Information Technology, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India. The WUI permits the user to easily estimate Moisture Availability Index, Length of Growing Period for rainfed crop and suggests the selection of alternative crops and draws the graphical sketch of Soil moisture index for a specified location and can be used as a research tool for precise natural resource management. The program can run on any computer platform. II. Materials and Methods Web based Thornthwaite water-balance mode1 has been implemented as a layered structure having three layers viz., User Interface layer (UIL), Application layer (APL) and Database layer (DBL). Each layer having its own specific functions. The User interface layer is implemented using combination of HTML, JavaScript and CSS. Application layer is implemented using PHP (http://php.net). It is an open source general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for Web development to produce dynamic Web pages. Database layer is implemented using MySQL (http://www.mysql.com) database for storing user data. It is the world's most used open source relational database management system (RDBMS) as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. Thornthwaite water-balance mode1 can be accessed using the browser of the user’s system. The WUI is completely menu driven and offers user-friendly screens organized to simplify and reduce effort to understand.   International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication                                                               ISSN: 2321-8169 Volume: 2 Issue: 5                                                                                                                                                                                                 1260– 1265 ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 1261 IJRITCC | May 2014, Available @ http://www.ijritcc.org _____________________________________________________________________________________  Fig.1 Process flow diagram of possible alternative  crops Where PET= Potential Evapotranspiration, AWC = Available Water Capacity, MAI = Moisture Availability Index,  LGP = Length of Growing Period,  FC= Field Capacity , PWP=Permanent Wilting Point, BD= Bulk Density, SMS=Soil Moisture Storage, WS= Water Surplus, WD=Water Deficit,  APWL=Accumulated Potential water loss Based on weekly total rainfall and other required data, MAI is calculated by water balance method for every week, then the continuous period (in days) having MAI > 0.5 was taken as the Crop Growing Period (CGP) or Length of Growing Period (LGP). Based on the LGP, possible alternative cropping systems have been suggested along with their LGP. The process flow diagram of rainfed crops is presented in Fig.1. III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION  The main objective of this paper was to estimate moisture availability index (MAI), length of growing period (LGP) and suggest alternate cropping possibilities on the basis of well established scientific approach.  By pooling the location specific innovative ideas on new crops from scientists and extension workers, and superimposing this information on the soil moisture index based crop growing period, the suggestions on possible alternative crops / cropping system were arrived. The Home page (Fig.2) of the software presents the user a brief introduction, objectives and process model on the software. The WUI has menu items like “Home”, “Entry” and “Search”. International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication                                                               ISSN: 2321-8169 Volume: 2 Issue: 5                                                                                                                                                                                                 1260– 1265 ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 1262 IJRITCC | May 2014, Available @ http://www.ijritcc.org _____________________________________________________________________________________  Fig.2 Home Page In Fig.3, the user has to select the appropriate options and enter the values for the respective parameters. The data entry form for rainfall and PET is shown in Fig.4.     Fig.3 Input Parameters International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication                                                               ISSN: 2321-8169 Volume: 2 Issue: 5                                                                                                                                                                                                 1260– 1265 ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 1263 IJRITCC | May 2014, Available @ http://www.ijritcc.org _____________________________________________________________________________________  Fig.4 Data Entry Form for Rainfall and PET   Fig.5 depicts the way soil moisture index was arrived at for location. The soil moisture index for different weeks is shown through graph. MAI ≥ 0.5 was considered as a suitable for successful rainfed crop growing. Graphical sketch of soil moisture index given in Fig. 6 shows that moisture availability during 25 to 41 meteorological standard weeks is adequate for crop growth. This period is considered as the crop growing period.  Fig.5 Soil Moisture Index calculation International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication                                                               ISSN: 2321-8169 Volume: 2 Issue: 5                                                                                                                                                                                                 1260– 1265 ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 1264 IJRITCC | May 2014, Available @ http://www.ijritcc.org _____________________________________________________________________________________  Fig.6   Graphical sketch of Weekly Soil Moisture Index Taking into consideration crop growing period and run off harvest and its utilization, possible alternative crops/cropping systems were suggested for rainfed areas. The information regarding possible alternative cropping systems is presented in Fig.7. This can motivate the framers to try alternative crops and cropping system.   Fig.7 Possible alternative cropping systems MSW MAI % International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication                                                               ISSN: 2321-8169 Volume: 2 Issue: 5                                                                                                                                                                                                 1260– 1265 ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 1265 IJRITCC | May 2014, Available @ http://www.ijritcc.org _____________________________________________________________________________________ REFERENCES [1] Alley, W.M. (1984). On the treatment of evapotranspiration, soil moisture accounting and aquifer recharge in monthly water balance models: Water Resources Research, v. 20, pp. 1,137–1,149. [2] Alley, W.M. (1985). Water balance models in one-month-ahead streamflow forecasting: Water Resources Research, v. 21, pp. 597–606. [3] Legates, D.R. and Mather, J.R. (1992). An evaluation of the average annual global water balance: Geographical Review, v. 82, pp. 253–267. [4] Legates, D.R. and McCabe, G.J. (2005). A re-evaluation of the average annual global water balance: Physical Geography, v. 26, pp. 467–479. [5] Mather, J.R. (1979). Use of the climatic water budget to estimate streamflow, in Mather, J.R., ed., Use of the climatic water budget in selected environmental water problems: Elmer, N.J., C.W. Thornthwaite Associates, Laboratory of Climatology, Publications in Climatology, v. 32, no. 1, pp. 1–52. [6] McCabe, G.J. and Ayers, M.A. (1989). Hydrologic effects of climate change in the Delaware River basin: Water Resources Bulletin, v. 25, pp. 1,231–1,242. [7] McCabe, G.J. and Wolock, D.M. (1992). Sensitivity of irrigation demand in a humid-temperate region to hypothetical climatic change: Water Resources Bulletin, v. 28, pp. 535–543. [8] Thornthwaite, C.W. (1948). An approach toward a rational classification of climate: Geographical Review, v. 38, pp. 55–94. [9] Wolock, D.M. and McCabe, G.J. (1999). Effects of potential climatic change on annual runoff in the conterminous United States: Journal of the American Water Resources Association, v. 35, pp. 1,341–1,350. [10] Strzepek, K.M. and Yates, D.N. (1997). Climate change impacts on the hydrologic resources of Europe––A simplified continental scale analysis: Climatic Change, v. 36, pp. 79–92.     

Alternative Cropping Possibilities for Rainfed Crop Based on Length of Growing Period Driven by Web User Interface

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Alternative Cropping Possibilities for Rainfed Crop Based on Length of Growing Period Driven by Web User Interface

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International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication