ANALYSIS OF WATER BALANCE IN RELATION TO PLANT GROWTH BY USE OF POTENTIAL EVAPO-TRANSPIRATION AND RAINFALLVishwanath and G.V. VenkataramanaAbstract In order to analyze the water balance in relation to plant growth, the present study was conducted by using historical 50 years rainfall and temperature data from 1971 to 2020. The potential evapotranspiration was computed by using Thornthwaite (1948) method and the district wise water balance in relation to plant growth was calculated by using PET, 0.5 PET and rainfall. The study revealed that the highest annual PET was recorded from Raichur district (2055.4 mm) followed by Kalaburgi district (2020.6 mm) whereas the lowest PET was recorded from the Bidar district (1649.7 mm). The Koppal district has recorded the annual PET of 1848.2 mm. It is noted that the highest PET was recorded during May month and lowest during December month in all the five districts of Kalyana Karnataka. The humid period for the growth of plant was more in Bidar and Kalaburgi districts where as it was very in less in Raichur, Koppal and Ballari districts. The major part of the Kalayan Karnataka is dominated by black cotton soils. The important crops like Bt. cotton, maize, chilli, groundnut, sunflower, jowar, bajra and rabi sorghum can be successfully grown under rainfed conditions. |