Biophysical crop simulation models are normally forced with precipitation data recorded with either gauges or ground-based radar. However, ground-based recording networks are not available at spatial and temporal scales needed to drive the models at many critical places on earth. An alternative would be to employ satellite-based observations of either precipitation or soil moisture. Satellite o...

This paper investigates a simplified polarimetric decomposition for soil moisture retrieval over agricultural fields. In order to overcome the coherent superposition of the backscattering contributions from vegetation and underlying soils, a simplification of an existing polarimetric decomposition is proposed in this study. It aims to retrieve the soil moisture by using only the surface scatter...

cumin is an annual plant suitable for dry and semi-dry regions. it is harvested at two stages to prevent seed shedding. first, the cumin bushes are harvested by hand or using a scythe. after drying, the cumin bushes are beaten with a stick or trampled using animals or a small tractor. this harvesting method is time consuming, requires intensive labor and is an incomplete threshing process resul...

Soil moisture is an important hydrologic variable that controls various land surface processes. In spite of its importance to agriculture and drought monitoring, soil moisture information is not widely available on a regional scale. However, long-term soil moisture information is essential for agricultural drought monitoring and crop yield prediction. The hydrologic model Soil and Water Assessm...

Agricultural drought is the leading cause for crop failure throughout the world. In the USA, significant impacts of recent droughts on agricultural production indicate the continuing vulnerability of the country to drought. This paper presents a methodology for spatial representation of the agroclimatic component of agricultural drought vulnerability. This methodology was developed as a part of...

Agricultural Drought is characterized by a deficient supply of moisture, resulting either from sub-normal rainfall, erratic rainfall distribution, or higher water with respect to a crop. In spite of technological developments in providing improved crop varieties and better management practices, in India, agriculture has been considered a gamble due to higher spatial and temporal variability. Th...

GOSSYM is a comprehensive crop growth model that has been continuously developed since the late 1970s and widely applied to assist cotton growers, crop consultants, and researchers. The state-of-art CWRF (Climate-Weather Research and Forecasting model) demonstrated skillful simulations of regional water and energy cycle processes that are keenly important to cotton growth. This study focuses on...

Barley, Hordeum vulgare Linn. (family: Gramineae) is an important cereal crop of Rabi season grown in India. The chapattis made up of barley flour are very palatable and can be easily digested even by the persons suffering from stomach ailments. Besides an ideal feed and fodder for livestock, the crop has acquired the status of an industrial crop in malting and brewing. This crop could perform ...