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The use of an agricultural rainfall index in Malaysia

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Abstract

Monthly rainfall probabilities of 80% are expressed as percentage of the potential evapotranspiration. This monthly value, called the Agriculture Rainfall Index, is used in zoning Peninsular Malaysia into agroclimatic regions, based on length of dry periods. Four agroclimatic zones are recognized in Peninsular Malaysia. These are (a) regions which have regular dry seasons for up to four months, (b) regions which have less regular and shorter dry seasons, (c) regions with a fairly regular occurrence of two dry seasons per year, and (d) regions with low risks of a dry period. Another zone which may be considered as an agroclimatic entity are highlands above 500 m elevation. Here, rainfall is not as important a criterion as temperature. With the agroclimatic zones identified, decisions on crop selection for each zone can be made by matching the crop-water requirement with the rainfall distribution in the region. An example of this application is illustrated in this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    M. Z. Ghazalli & S. Nieuwolt

Authors
  1. M. Z. Ghazalli
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  2. S. Nieuwolt
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Ghazalli, M.Z., Nieuwolt, S. The use of an agricultural rainfall index in Malaysia. Int J Biometeorol 26, 277–283 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02219494

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02219494

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