Length of Available Growing Period

The concept of the length of the available growing period (LGP) combines temperature and moisture considerations to determine the length of time crops are able to grow, hence excluding periods which are too cold or too dry or both.

LGP refers to the number of days within the period of temperatures above 5°C when moisture conditions are considered adequate. Under rain-fed conditions, the begin of the LGP is linked to the start of the rainy season. The growing period for most crops continues beyond the rainy season and, to a greater or lesser extent, crops mature on moisture stored in the soil profile.