Rainfall and Moisture Adequacy Index (MAI) based crop planning in Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone (LBVZ) of Assam

Abstract Rainfall and irrigation water both are actively useful, but farmers rely more on precipitation and soil water holding capacity than providing irrigation. In climatological view rainfall analysis with measurement of SD and CV [Chowdhury et. al., (2019)] and in meteorological point of view the amount of actual evapotranspiration is directly proportional to the yield of biomass [Anderson et al., (2011)] that’s why Moisture Adequacy Index (MAI) is one of the important Index used in crop water balance aspect. The present study had been undertaken with the objectives to analysis of rainfall and estimation of Moisture Adequacy Index (MAI) for the districts of Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone (LBVZ) of Assam using the raw datasets of rainfall and temperature for a period of 32 years (1990-2021). From the rainfall analysis and MAI of LBVZ we conclude the preferred cropping pattern for the farmers. In this research we find that geological pattern is directly affecting the rainfall pattern and thus agriculture pattern need to improvise in this era to cope up with climate change. The GIS choropleth map of the average annual rainfall and MAI for different districts of LBVZ were also drawn to have an idea about spatial rainfall distribution of the Zone.