Climate Driven Responses in Cocoa for Tamil Nadu, India
M. Selva Kumar *
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641003, India.
V. Geethalakshmi
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641003, India.
P. Irene Vethamoni
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641003, India.
M. Rajavel
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641003, India.
C. Sudhalakshmi
Coconut Research Station, TNAU, Aliyar Nagar, Coimbatore - 624101, India.
K. Bhuvaneswari
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641003, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Climate influences the spread of the any crop by imposing environmental restrictions. The present investigation was carried to understand the effect of climate on cocoa in various cocoa growing regions. In order to establish the relationship between weather parameters and cocoa productivity, Coimbatore, Theni, and Tenkasi were chosen as the study regions. Historical climate data was acquired from India Meteorological Department (IMD) for the past 30 years (1991-2020). Cocoa yield was simulated by using the Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX) and it was correlated with the weather variables such as rainfall, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, atmospheric water demand (PET), and crop water requirement (ET). Cocoa crop had positive correlation with rainfall and Actual Evapotranspiration. Whereas, both maximum and minimum temperature had significantly negative effect. Climatic conditions, such as decrease in rainfall, increase in temperature and increase in PET, would significantly reduce the cocoa bean yield. The anticipated increase in temperature and erratic rainfall distribution requires suitable management measures for sustainable cocoa productivity.
Keywords: Cocoa, correlation analysis, temperature, rainfall, APEX