Vol. 9, Issue 4, Part I (2025)

The erratic nature of rainfall has been the primary reason of droughts in India. Drought causes significant yield reductions both for rainfed and irrigated crops. Sequence of dry and wet periods along with onset and withdrawal of rainy season is necessary for successful agricultural crop planning and soil and water conservation measures. In the present study, dry spell analysis along with onset and withdrawal of rainy season was estimated for Latur zone of Marathwada region. Results indicated that, the average number of rainy days and onset of monsoon were varied from 42.06 to 45.43 days and 23 June to 09 June for the study area. Data on mean dates on first, second and third critical dry spell(CDS) were also estimated and is indicated that, mean CDS for first CDS were less observed for Hingoli station in month of July 09 with mean duration of 17 days and more for Latur station in month of July 04 with mean duration of 20 days were as, mean CDS for second CDS was less observed for Nanded station in August 11 with mean duration of 18 days and more observed for Latur and Hingoli stations with 20 days similarly mean CDS for third CDS were less observed for Hingoli station with 21 days and more for Latur and Nanded with 26 days respectively. These findings are helpful to Latur zone of Marathwada region for understanding the events of occurrence of dry spell and wet spell to decrease the adverse effects of dry spell at sensitive crop development stages.