Temperature Based Agrometeorology Indices Variability in South Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Climate change has a major impact on crop yield all over the world. Pakistan is one of the major affected countries by climate change. The agrometeorology indices were determined for the South Punjab region, which is a hot spot for climate change and food security. This region is rich in agriculture, but crop yield relationship is estimated with agrometeorology indices (AMI). Temperature stress (33°C), average diurnal temperature range (12°C), Average accumulative growing degree days (1303°C), phototemperature (27°C) and nyctotemperature (21°C) indices were determined for Multan. The variation in diurnal temperature was found at 0.39 for Bahawalpur region and similar variation was observed in growing degree days, which is 0.11 more than the diurnal temperature range. The extreme of these indices which influence the crop yield was found in May and June. The cropping period from sowing to harvest varied due to climate change and cause to decrease in the yield of the crop. The indices are regarded as crop performance indicators. So, policymakers and agricultural scientists should take necessary measures to mitigate such kinds of challenges.