Preparation of crop weather calendar for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) crop under the Central Maharashtra Plateau Zone

Abstract

The Central Maharashtra Plateau Zone (CMPZ) is a predominantly rainfed agro-ecosystem where climatic variability significantly influences crop productivity and pest dynamics. This study aimed to develop crop-weather-pest calendars for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) based on long-term datasets. Historical meteorological records (2005-2024), crop phenology observations and pest incidence data were analyzed to determine critical growth stages, optimal sowing windows and key weather parameters influencing pest outbreaks. Results revealed that early sowing of cotton during the 25th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) and soybean during the 26th SMW resulted in extended crop duration and higher yield potential. Major cotton pests-aphids (Aphis gossypii), jassids (Amrasca biguttula biguttula), whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) exhibited peak incidence under maximum temperatures of 30-32 °C, minimum temperatures of 21-22 °C, relative humidity above 70% and intermittent rainfall conditions. In soybean, infestations of leaf miner (Aproaerema modicella), girdle beetle (Oberea brevis) and stem fly (Melanagromyza sojae) were closely linked to specific temperature and rainfall patterns during the reproductive growth stages. The developed crop-weather-pest calendars offer week-wise recommendations for crop management, pest forecasting and contingency planning. These tools enhance climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural practices across the rainfed production systems of the CMPZ.