Alternate Cropping System of Tamil Nadu

ALTERNATIVE CROPPING PATTERN FOR TAMIL NADU

Authors

Dr.C.RamasamyDr.S.RamanathanDr.T.N.BalasubramanianDr.N.RagupathiDr.S.Natarajan Dr.P.DevasenapathyDr.N.Natarajan

DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCHTamil Nadu Agricultural University

Coimbatore – 641 003

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TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

Dr.C.Ramasamy Coimbatore-3Vice-Chancellor

FOREWORD

Cropping pattern followed in a domain is controlled by many factors, that include climate, soils, economic condition of the farmers, market demand, farmers preference, technology availability, pest and disease problem etc. Majority of the cropping pattern are practiced time-immemorial in Tamil Nadu and farmers have introduced concerned high yielding crop varieties in that pattern with the release of crop varieties from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. However there are some evidences to indicate shift in cropping pattern in some pockets of Tamil Nadu due to price fluctuations, insufficient availability of ground water, labour non-availability etc. but that shift gets reverted back to the original cropping pattern after that problem is over.

Continued unforeseen agricultural drought from 2000 to 2003 made the agriculture unsustainable in Tamil Nadu and farmers have lost their hope to revive agriculture subsequently.

Considering this scenario, the Government of Tamil Nadu has intervened and requested Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to prepare an alternate cropping pattern to meet this challenge. Based on the research conducted so far by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, experiences of extension officials of State Department of Agriculture, ground truth condition of the farm holdings and surface water availability. An alternate cropping pattern was prepared and presented before policy makers of Tamil Nadu Government and higher officials of State Department of Agriculture. Their comments were critically reviewed and incorporated in this document. Though attempts have been made to test the technical feasibility, biological suitability, economical viability and socio cultural acceptability to a larger extent still the suggested cropping pattern needs testing across farm holdings of Tamil Nadu through on farm field testing and recommended for adoption.

Cropping pattern has been suggested for different weather situations viz. normal rainfall year, moderate drought year and severe drought in respect of command areas, tankfed areas, well irrigated areas and rainfed areas of the concerned district. Based on the seasonal rainfall forecast given by Department of Agricultural Meteorology before the start of the season, the concerned cropping pattern in the document may be picked up and adopted.

I hope this document would be much useful for field workers of State Department of Agriculture, farmers of Tamil Nadu and students and scientists of agricultural research institutions in Tamil Nadu.

I appreciate the scientists involved in this noble cause of preparing this document.

C.RAMASAMYPlace : CoimbatoreDate :

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PREFACE

The State Tamil Nadu is geographically located between 8°5' and 13°35' North latitude and between 76°14' and 80°21' East longitude. As a result of this geographical position, Tamil Nadu enjoys semi arid climate, which permits higher crops productivity under irrigation.

Out of 13 million hectares of geographical area, which is 3.95 per cent of total geographical area of India, the cultivable area in Tamil Nadu is around 7 million hectares and 55 per cent of which is dryland. Though red soil is the dominant soil type in Tamil Nadu, both black and alluvial soils also spread over Tamil Nadu next in extent to red soils.

Monsoon rainfall is the basic resource for water availability in Tamil Nadu. Based on annual rainfall of Tamil Nadu and total geographical area, the tentative annual water availability is 12.285 Mha.M and out of which the annual availability is 4.74 m.ha.M The dominant monsoon for rainfall is north-east monsoon (Oct.-Dec.) which contribute about 42 to 48 per cent to total annual rainfall of each district of Tamil Nadu (30 districts). Neverthless the contribution from south-west monsoon (June-September) to Tamil Nadu is around 32 per cent and it benefits Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Kanyakumari, The Nilgiris, Vellore and parts of Villupuram, Cuddalore, Karur, Thiruvallur and Perambalur districts.

If any negative deviation from normal rainfall occurs in Tamil Nadu either during North East monsoon season or during south west monsoon season, in an year, the water availability in Tamil Nadu would affect three major water sources of irrigation viz., canals, wells and tanks. The normal rainfall in Tamil Nadu is 46.4, 140.9, 334.0 and 459 mm respectively for cold weather period (January-February) hot weather period (March-May), south-west monsoon period (June-September) and north east monsoon period (October-December).

The study on measured rainfall for the past four years from the year 2000 indicated that continuous meterological drought occurred in both the monsoons that led to agricultural drought in Tamil Nadu against the normal pattern of continuous four years normal rainfall followed by one year deficit rainfall. This situation has driven to think on the development of alternate crops to Tamil Nadu.

In the past, because of the sound soil health, limited human population, and unlimited water availability, farmers have their own set of cropping pattern in command areas, tankfed areas, well-irrigated areas and dryland areas. Because of changing rainfall pattern over years due to deforestation, urbanization, over population etc., groundwater depletion is triggered to be faster. Considering them it is time to reduce the area under rice by 20 per cent and for sugarcane by 40 per cent to accommodate other demanding crops like oilseeds, pulses, cotton, maize etc., The aim of substituting rice and sugarcane

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by other crops is not only because of shrinking water resource, but also due to the fact that surplus in rice and sugarcane production achieved in the State of Tamil Nadu.

Hence, it is imperative to design alternate cropping pattern based on soil and climatic resources in addition to social requirements of Tamil Nadu.

Scientists from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University have prepared a document for alternate cropping pattern for command areas, tank fed areas, well irrigated areas and dryland areas with reference to normal rainfall year (+19 to -19% from normal rainfall), moderate drought year (-19 to -59% from normal rainfall) and serve drought year (-59 to -99% from normal rainfall). The rainfall forecast for the forth coming season may be culled out from India Meteorological Department long range forecast and seasonal climate forecast of Department of Agricultural Meteorology of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and accordingly the suggested optional crops could be recommended and adopted.

The document was presented before Hon'ble Ministers for Agriculture and Finance, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Member Secretary State Planning Commission, Agricultural Production Commissioner and Secretary to Government, Department of Agriculture and Special Commissioner to Department of Agriculture during January 2004. A policy paper on the need of alternate cropping pattern to Tamil Nadu was submitted to Government of Tamil Nadu.

The document was circulated among all District Joint Directors of Agriculture and got refined for ground truth condition and brought as publication which will be very useful to the farming community of Tamil Nadu.

Many scientists from TNAU have contributed their knowledge in preparing this document, for whom we record our sincere gratitude.

The users are requested to critically analyse the content of the publication and your feed back is highly valid in terms of further improvement to be made in this document for larger scale practical adoption.

Before introducing the suggested cropping pattern, the biological feasibility, agronomic adoptability, on farm compatability, community compatability (village compatability) economic viability and socio-cultural acceptability have to be assessed in real sense.

AUTHORS

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INTRODUCTION

From time immemorial due to the good soil health and plentiful water availability, Tamil Nadu farmers have a set cropping pattern in command areas, tank-fed areas and well irrigated areas, which predominantly as in for paddy, sugarcane, coconut and other hydrophilic crops. Due to the changing rainfall pattern over the years, ground water depletion, lack of flows in the perennial rivers, scarcity of labour and hike in wages, the existing cropping pattern has ceased to be economically viable. Considering the scarce water availability, it is time now to reduce the area under rice, sugarcane, banana and other hydrophilic crops in order to accommodate other less water intensive crops like oilseeds, pulses, including cotton and maize and cover more area. The State has also experienced drought both during Southwest and Northeast Monsoon seasons consecutively for the past 4 years from 2000. This was compounded by lack of flows in rivers due to various reasons as it is a lower riparian state.

Presently, there is greater intra and inter season rainfall variability causing agricultural drought consecutively for the past 4 years from 2000. If the ground water exploitation continues still further at the present level, due to continuous drought, all the blocks in Tamil Nadu would come under the dark category.

The existing traditional cropping pattern may not be viable in the coming years because of continuous ground water depletion, the deterioration in soil health, change in rainfall pattern, high cost of cultivation, lack of river water flows, implications of WTO etc. Hence, it is the time to design a new alternate-cropping pattern based on the agro - climatic zone. This must be demonstrated in the farmer’s holdings by a massive research cum extension in order to effectively utilise the natural resources and also to stabilize productivity and profitability.

Agriculture in Tamil Nadu

Area coverage

Land Utilisation / Cropping Intensity in Tamil Nadu (Lakh ha.)

Sl. No Item 1990-1991 1995-1996 2000-2001

2001-2002

1 Total area 130.19 130.04 129.91 129.912 Cultivable waste 2.90 3.48 3.52 3.873 Current fallows 12.49 12.93 11.34 10.264 Other fallows 10.44 11.30 12.28 14.095 Net area sown 55.78 53.42 53.03 51.726 Cultivable area (2+3+4+5) 81.61 81.13 80.17 79.947 Area sown more than once 10.53 9.25 10.34 10.53

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8 Gross cropped area (5+7) 66.32 62.67 63.38 62.269 Cropping Intensity 118.9 117.3 119.5 120.3

10 Ratio of net sown area to cultivable area (5/6) % (indicating extent of use of cultivable area)

68.34 65.84 66.15 64.70

The net sown area has declined over the last 10 years from 55.78 lakh ha. to 51.72 lakh ha. The cultivable area also declined from over 81.50 lakhs ha. to around 80 lakh ha. With the cropping intensity remaining around 118 to 120, the gross cropped area declined from over 66 lakh ha. to little over 62 lakh ha and in the past 10 years period it has been nowhere near the cultivable area of around 80 lakh ha.

Area under Irrigation

The total net irrigated area in Tamil Nadu is 26.9 lakh hectares. Among the three irrigation resources viz., wells, tanks and canals, the area irrigated by wells has been increasing significantly both in absolute and relative terms. Decline in canals and tanks were more or less compensated by the significant growth in the areas irrigated by wells. Tamil Nadu agriculture largely depends on Southwest and Northeast monsoons and also release of adequate water in river Cauvery and comfortable storage position in the major reservoirs of the state. Taking advantage of the Southwest monsoon, large-scale coverage of oilseeds, pulses and cotton crops are taken up under rain-fed cultivation in the state. Though rice is cultivated mainly under irrigated conditions, substantial area is also brought under semi dry cultivation in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Ramanathapuram districts, where sowing is taken-up utilising early rains of the South-West monsoon, later sustained by irrigation using tank water. The Northeast monsoon rains are also very crucial for recharge of sub soil water

Rainfall

The actual rainfall received during 2003 is compared with normal rainfall and actual rainfall received during the last year (2002) in the following Table.

(mm)

Sl. No Season Normal Rainfall

Actual Rainfall Deviation: %

2002 2003 Normal Last Year

1 Winter (Jan.-February) 36.7 70.0 8.7 (-) 76.2 (-) 87.5

2 Summer (April-May) 134.2 85.8 124.9 (-) 6.9 (+) 45.5

3Southwest monsoon(June-September)

331.6 185.4 329.7 (-) 0.5 (+) 77.8

4Northeast monsoon(October-December)

464.7 407.2 404.7 (-) 12.9 (-) 0.6

Total 967.2 748.4 867.8 (-) 10.2 (+) 15.9

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The rainfall received during 2003 was more or less normal with a deviation of

only -10.2 per cent from the normal rainfall. However, it was 15 per cent more compared to the previous year (2002), even though shortfall during months like Sept. (-40.30%) and Dec.(-76.4%) created lot of water stress for the Samba paddy crop.

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The rainfall received during the last six years is given below:

Normal Rainfall : 967.2 mm 1998 : 1036.4 mm 1999 : 837.3 mm 2000 : 847.5 mm 2001 ; 774.7 mm 2002 : 748.4 mm 2003 : 867.8 mm

The short fall during the crucial months during 2003 coupled with deficit rains during the previous years (1999-2000 and 2001-2002) had resulted in poor storage position in the reservoirs and depletion of ground water level. This has had a cumulative cascading effect.

The rainfall situation is also not favourable for the past two years. The actual rainfall registered during the last six years was far less than the normal rainfall of 967.2 mm (a moving average based on last 5 years annual rainfall). In fact during 2001 and 2002 the immediately preceding years of 2003, the rainfall received was less than normal by around 20 per cent and 22 % respectively. Besides, the uncertainty in release of water in Cauvery worsened the problem. The ground water situation is also not very encouraging with 287 blocks out of the total of 384 blocks categorized either as dark or grey. Thus, the declining land area (in fact the cultivable land area that consists of net sown area, total fallows and cultivable waste declined over a 10 years period from 81.61 lakhs hectares to 79.94 lakh hectares) and the dwindling water resources point to the problems that Tamil Nadu agriculture confronts at the current juncture. Such an extreme situation calls for resolute action on a firm footing. The Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has therefore; suggested to the farmers to go in for alternate crops that require less water which at the same time assure reasonable returns.

Such a scenario only shows that with a little adjustment, it is possible for the state and its farmers to tide over the crisis situation. The key to the success lies on how we perceive the present grave situation, prepare ourselves in the form of placing a policy framework that encourages alternate crops tailored to the various regions into which our state is divided.

Monsoon rainfall performance in seven agro climatic zones of Tamil Nadu

A study was undertaken to understand the performance of both monsoon rainfall (Southwest and North east) in Tamil Nadu from the year 2000 (by the Dept.of Agrl.Meteorology, TNAU, Coimbatore-3). The study was undertaken for agroclimatic zone wise and the results are presented hereunder.

North Eastern Zone

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The study indicated that out of eight seasons in four years (south west monsoon and North east monsoon of 2000 to 2003) four districts viz., Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur, Cuddalore and Thiruvannamalai recorded below average rainfall in seven seasons. Overall deviation from normal rainfall in this agro climatic zone was (-) 16.9% for the past eight seasons. Negative anomalies found in at least 3 out of 4 North east monsoon seasons in the past four years in all the districts of this agro climatic zone.

North Western Zone

This zone is to be mostly benefited from Southwest monsoon rainfall. but in the study period between 2000 and 2003 in 3 of the 4 Southwest monsoon seasons, these district did record below average rainfall (-3 to -58%). These district in addition recorded below average rainfall from (-) 3 to (-) 49% in all the four North east monsoon seasons.

Western Zone

This zone consists of Erode, Coimbatore, Karur, Dindugul and Theni districts. These districts in Tamil Nadu are well known for low annual rainfall record and the annual average rainfall is around 650 mm. The study indicated that six out of eight seasons had below average rainfall in Erode, Coimbatore and Karur districts. Karur was mostly affected district, recording below average seasonal rainfall in all the eight seasons of the study period from (-) 2 to (-) 76 percent.

Southern Zone

Madurai, Ramnad, Vridhunagar, Sivagangai, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi form this zone. Out of eight seasonal rainfall study from 2000 to 2003, seven seasons had below average rainfall (-) 14 to (-) 76 in Virdhunagar and Thoothukudi districts, while below seasonal rainfall was recorded for six seasons in Madurai and five seasons each in Ramnad and Sivagangai districts respectively. The over all deficiency in the last four years for this agroclimatic zone was (-) 16.9 percent.

Cauvery Delta Zone

This zone consists of six districts viz., Trichirapalli (part of district), Perambalur (part of district), Pudukottai (part of district). Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur. Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur district recorded deficit rainfall from (-) 3 to (-) 61% in all the eight seasons of study. while it was deficit in six seasons in Trichirapalli, Perambalur and Thanjavur districts. The over al deficit in rainfall at this zone is computed to (-) 16.8 percent over the past four years.

High Rainfall Zone

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The district Kanyakumari is the only one district that falls under this zone. This district is meteorologically known for bi modal heavy rainfall area. Interestingly in all the seasons, except Northeast monsoon 2002, this district recorded below average rainfall from (-) 4 to (-) 83 percent.

Hilly and High Altitude Zone

This zone is mostly dominated by South west and North east monsoon seasonal rainfall. Except North east monsoon 2003, in all the seven seasons, the rainfall deficit was from (-)7 to (-) 64%.

The over all study indicated the following

1) Continuous meteorological drought occurred in both season of four years study period in all the district of Tamil Nadu against the regular pattern of four years of normal seasonal rainfall followed by one year deficit rainfall. This must be the reason for lesser surface run off in the geographical (130069 km2)area of Tamil Nadu. Scientifically from the information of different types of hydrographs of catchments, it might be due to two reasons.

2) Rainfall intensity is lesser than rate of infiltration and 3) Volume of infiltered water is lesser than soil moisture deficiency in all the four

years of study (eight seasons)

This situation has created water crisis in Tamil Nadu presently.

Historic cultivation Pattern

The historic cultivation practice especially in Cauvery delta region, Tamarabarani basin, etc. is rice during Rabi and Kharif seasons. The rice crop, which uses a lot of water must be limited to Rabi in future, since it is the only crop that can be grown in water logged condition.

Impact of lack of river flowsPosition of water level in Mettur Dam (Last 12 Years)

Sl.No

Year DAM OPENING OUT FLOW (TMC) DAM CLOSING

Date Water level (ft)

Capacity (TMC)

For Irrigation

Surplus Total Date Capacity

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

1 1991-92 21.07.91 84.20 46.27 250.62610.534 261.160 28.01.92 72.222

2 1992-93 12.06.92 99.30 63.94 328.7976.769 335.566 28.01.93 64.092

3 1993-94 12.06.93 95.75 59.47 202.5910.000 202.591 28.01.94 60.523

4 1994-95 12.06.94 97.18 61.25 333.72146.735 380.456 28.01.95 32.018

5 1995-96 03.07.95 74.07 36.30 197.9770.000 197.977 28.01.96 5.000

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6 1996-97 26.07.96 50.75 18.29 174.1910.000 174.191 28.01.97 62.440

7 1997-98 12.06.97 97.38 61.50 219.67121.667 241.338 28.01.98 75.667

8 1998-99 20.06.98 105.40 72.04 252.8910.000 252.891 28.01.99 36.878

9 1999-2000 01.07.99 87.33 49.65 223.1791.383 224.562 05.02.00 71.490

10 2000-01 12.06.00 104.08 70.23 272.29225.548 297.840 28.01.01 58.626

11 2001-02 12.06.01 98.09 62.39 201.8780.000 201.878 02.02.02 18.310

12 2002-03 06.09.02 66.86 30.06 96.0570.000 96.057 20.02.03 6.850

13 2003-04 07.10.03 72.26 34.69 54.6740.000 54.674 05.01.04 7.700

(Up to Jan, 2004)

Till 1974, we were receiving about 280 TMC of water every year. Afterwards, the flows started becoming variable.

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IMPACTDate of release of water and its impact

Sl.No

Year Date of opening

Coverage of crop in Lakh Ha.

Kuruvai Samba Thaladi Total

1 1991-92 21.7.91 0.59 5.09 0.57 6.25

2 1992-93 12.6.92 1.67 3.97 1.67 7.31

3 1993-94 12.6.93 1.40 4.29 1.28 6.97

4 1994-95 12.6.94 1.68 3.94 1.38 7.00

5 1995-96 3.7.95 0.86 3.92 1.30 6.08

6 1996-97 26.7.96 0.44 5.12 0.43 5.99

7 1997-98 12.6.97 1.13 4.48 0.98 6.59

8 1998-99 20.6.98 1.18 4.48 0.97 6.63

9 1999-2000 1.7.99 0.96 4.65 0.88 6.49

10 2000-2001 12.6.2000 1.26 4.37 1.12 6.75

11 2001-2002 12.6.2001 1.30 4.22 1.15 6.67

12 2002-2003 6.9.2002 0.51 3.98 0.52 5.02

13 2003-2004 7.10.2003 0.47 3.53 0.42 4.42

The area under Kuruvai paddy in delta districts was only 0.46 lakh ha. against the normal area of 2.07 lakh ha., recording a steep fall by nearly 80%. Similarly, in Samba, against the normal area of 3.72 lakh Ha. the coverage was 3.53 lakh ha. of which 1.24 Lakh ha.. was direct sown crop. It is note worthy that the direct sowing technique to save water and curtail the cropping period in Paddy popularised by the department in 2002 has become popular. During Thaladi, only 0.42 lakh ha. was brought under cultivation against the normal area of 1.77 Lakh ha.. in these districts. As a result, only 4.42 Lakh ha. was brought under paddy cultivation against the normal area of 7.56 Lakh ha. in the delta districts. In such a situation, the Mettur reservoir scheduled to be opened on 12th June was opened only on 7.10.2003 and closed on 5.1.2004 due to inadequate storage position. Thus, the survival of the standing paddy crop due for harvest during the February 2004 was largely affected due to non receipt of further rains.

Agro climatic zones

Tamil Nadu has been divided into 7 agroclimatic zones based on type of soils, climate and irrigation. The drought situation that prevailed including crop loss during the last 3 years necessitated the development of an alternative cropping pattern in place of the hydrophilic crops viz. Paddy, Banana and Sugarcane. The details of alternate zonal cropping pattern for the seven agro-climatic zones formulated by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has been drawn up in consultation with the District Joint

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Directors of Agriculture. It is suggested for three types of scenarios viz.; Normal Rainfall, Moderate Drought and Severe Drought.

While an Alternative Cropping pattern was announced by the Hon. Chief Minister in 2003 to combat the failure of the Kuruvai season, this policy is further refined now as a result of experience gained to ameliorate and tackle future adverse seasonal conditions as also to have alternate crops for cultivation in a normal season so that farmer can get higher profit also.

Meteorological Forecast

The forecast for normal rainfall is +19 to -19, moderate is –19 to –59 and below -59 to - 19 indicates severe drought. These figures are the deviation from average rainfall. The distribution of rain is also plays a vital roll in crop productivity. Seasonal climate forecast for each season will be issued by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Meteorology Department 15 days before the commencement of each season.

South-West monsoon : 15th of MayNorth-East monsoon : 15th of September.

The cropping pattern corresponding to the forecast will be implemented by the extension departments viz. the Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture and Agricultural Engineering.

The greater inter and intra season rainfall variability causing drought periodically in turn causes hydrological drought, followed by agricultural drought and socio-economic drought. Tamil Nadu is at the forefront of implementation of new technologies that enhance water use efficiency. Development of many crop varieties , which use minimal water and are drought resistant has taken place. The alternate cropping pattern tailored to the Agro climatic zone will effectively utilise the available natural resources with maximum efficiency. Fodder crops and horticulture have also been built in wherever feasible. Any policy needs continuous refinement as conditions keep changing in the real world. Ceteris is never paribus. This refinement will also be done as when necessary.

This new cropping pattern it is hoped will improve productivity and profitability of the primary sector. It is hoped that this policy will solve the problem of declining water availability and lead to sustainable agriculture for a better tomorrow.

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CROPPING PATTERN OPTIONS FOR

AGRO CLIMATIC ZONES OF

TAMIL NADU

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I. North Eastern Zone1. Kancheepuram district

Mean annual rainfall (mm) - 1253.8Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) - 27.2Summer (March-May) - 66.7South West monsoon season (June-Sept) - 462.7North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) - 697.2

a. Tankfed areas : Tank Alluvium - Heavy clay and laterite soils

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - rice (Jan.-April)

Normal year : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - rice (Jan.-April)• Rice (Aug.-Jan) - maize (Jan.-April)

Moderate drought year : • Maize/sesame/pearl millet/vegetables (lablab, clusterbean, brinjal) (Aug.-Nov.) - pulses (Dec.-Mar)

Severe drought year : • Wheat / fodder maize/fodder cowpea/vegetables (lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi) (Nov.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas : Laterite, red and black soils

Existing : • Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 year rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - rice (Jan.-April.) - groundnut (April-June)

• Rice (Aug.-Nov.)-rice (Dec.-March) - rice(Mar-July)• Banana (July-Aug.) - ratoon banana (Sep.-Aug.) Vegetables (Sep.-Feb.) - Maize (Feb.-May) - 3 year rotation

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Normal year : • Rice/vegetables/marigold(June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

• Maize (June-Sep.) - cabbage / knolkhol (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

• Maize (June-Sep) - rice (Oct-Feb)– pulses (Feb-May)• Rice/vegetables/marigold(June-Oct.) - maize

(Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May) • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) - gingelly • Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane

(Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation

• Sambangi (Tuberose) (June-May) - 2 year rotation• Sunflower (May-Aug.) – marigold (Sep.-Dec.)• Maize (June-Sep.) – marigold (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses

(Feb.-May)• Chrysanthemum (May-March) - ratoon

chrysanthemum - 2 years rotation• Sweet sorghum** (Jun-Sep) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) –

Gingelly (Feb-May)• Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) –

pulses (Feb-May)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) –

Sweet sorghum** (Feb-May)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

Moderate drought year : • Vegetables / sunflower / maize (May-Aug.) – gingelly (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-March)

• Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut / gingelly (Jan.-April)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-Apr)

Severe drought year : • Pearl millet/sorghum/Periwinkle*/senna* (July-Oct.) - wheat (Nov-Feb)-clusterbean / watermelon (Feb-May)

• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas : lateritic, red and black soils

Existing : • Pearl millet (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)• Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses (Dec.-Mar.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - ragi (Nov.-Feb.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - gingelly(Dec.-Mar.)

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Normal year : • Maize (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)• Rice (July-Nov.)• Groundnut / maize (July-Nov.)• Aswagantha* (June-Jan.) - pulses (Jan.-April)• Groundnut (July-Oct.) - coriander (Nov.-Jan.)• Gingelly(June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Dec.-Mar.)

Moderate drought year : • Maize + pulses (July-Dec.) - pulses (Jan.-April)

Severe drought year : • Horsegram / pearl millet / pulses / ragi / minor millet (Oct.-Jan.)

2. Thiruvallur district


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a. Tankfed areas : Tank alluvium (Heavy clay and red soils)

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / groundnut (Jan.-April)

Normal year : • Rice/Vegetables/watermelon (Aug.-Jan.)- groundnut/ gingelly /pulses (Feb.-May)

Moderate drought year : • Ragi/maize/pearl millet & clusterbean (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / sesame/ vegetables /watermelon (Feb.-April)

• Pulses (June-Sep.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)• Tapioca (Aug.-May)

Severe drought year : • Wheat/fodder (Nov.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas : Red and laterite soils

Existing : • Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation

• Rice (April-Aug.) - groundnut (Sep.-Dec.) - vegetables/gingelly (Jan.-March)

• Banana (July-May) - ratoon banana (June-March) - vegetable (April - July) - maize (July-Oct.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - 3 years rotation

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Normal year : • Rice (April-Aug.) - groundnut (Sep.-Dec.) - vegetables / gingelly (Jan.-March)

• Vegetables (June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

• Maize (June-Sep.) - cabbage / knolkhol (Oct.-Feb.) - Pulses (Feb.-May)

• Maize (Jun-Sep)-marigold (Oct-Feb)-pulses (Feb-May)

• Chrysanthemum (May-March) - ratoon chrysanthemum - 2 years rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.)-groundnut (Feb.-Apr)-gingelly (April - June)

• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) – Gingelly (Feb-May)

• Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane

(Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation

• Banana (July-May) - ratoon banana (June-March) - vegetable (April - July) - maize (July-Oct.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - 3 years rotation

Moderate drought year: • Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower/ groundnut /

pulses /sesame/pearl millet/water melon (Aug.-Jan.)• Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower

(Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut/gingelly (Jan.-April)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

(under drip irrigation) • Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses

(Feb-Apr)Severe drought year : • Pearl millet/sorghum / Periwinkle*/ senna*/vegetables

(lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi) (July-Oct.) - wheat /vegetables (lab lab /cluster bean/ bhendi / water melon) (Nov.-Feb.)


c. Rainfed areas : laterite and red soils

21

Existing : • Dry rice (June-Aug.) - pulses / vegetables / gingelly (Sept.-Jan.)

• Pulses (June-Sep.) – groundnut / gingelly (Sep.-Feb.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year : • Dry rice (June-Aug.)-maize/Vegetable/ groundnut / pulses (Sept.-Jan.)

• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses/gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)• Pulses (June-Sep.) - groundnut / gingelly (Sep.-Feb.)• Maize (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)• Aswagandha* (June-Jan.) pulses/lablab (Feb.-May)• Dry rice (June-Aug.)-maize/vegetable/ groundnut /

pulses (Sept.-Jan.)Moderate drought year : • Maize/sunflower/groundnut/pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

• Tapioca + groundnut (June-Feb.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.

Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / ragi / horsegram / sunflower / minor millets/pulses / aloe* (Oct.-Jan.)

3. Villupuram district


a. Command areas (Sathanur) - Heavy clay and sandy soils

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/gingelly (Jan.-April)

Normal year : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Jan.-April)• Rice (Aug.-Jan) – pulses/sesame/maize (Jan.-April)

Moderate drought year : • Maize/pearl millet (Aug.-Dec.)-pulses (Jan.-March)

Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / sorghum / fodder (Oct.-Jan.)• Vegetables (lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi) (Oct.-an.)

for heavy soils

b. Tank fed areas : Tank alluvium (Heavy clay and laterite soils)

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Jan.-April)

Normal year : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) – pulses (including dewgram) (Jan.-Apr.)

Moderate drought year : • Pearl millet (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)• Pulses (June-Sep.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)

22

Severe drought year : • Wheat / fodder (Nov.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas : Laterite, red and black soils

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (April - June)

Normal year : • Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) – ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June - Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (April - June)

• Maize (June-Sep) – marigold (Oct.-Feb.)- pulses (Feb.-May)


• Vegetables (Jun.-Oct) – sugarbeet* (Nov.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May)

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) – ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June - Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation

• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) – Gingelly (Feb-May)



• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)Moderate drought year : • Vegetables (lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi) (May-July)

- maize/sunflower (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut / gingelly (Jan.-April)



Severe drought year • Pearl millet / sorghum / Periwinkle*/ senna* (July-Oct.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) – lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi / watermelon (Feb.-May)


23

d. Rainfed areas : Laterite, Red and Black soils

Existing : • Pearl millet (June - Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)• Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year : • Maize /pearl millet (June-Sep.)-groundnut (Oct-Feb)• Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)• Ashwaganda* (June-Jan)-pulses (lablab) (Feb-May)

Moderate drought year : • Maize (heavy soils)/sunflower + pulses (dewgram) / gingelly (Oct.-Jan.)

Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / horsegram / sunflower / minor millets / pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

4. Thiruvannamalai district


a. Command areas (Sathanur) - Heavy clay and sandy soils

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly(Jan.-April)

Normal year : • Rice/maize (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/gingelly (Jan.-Apr.)

Moderate drought year : • Groundnut / maize (Aug.-Dec.) - pulses (Jan. - Apr)

Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / sorghum / fodder (Oct.-Jan.)• Cluster bean/vegetable beans (Oct-Jan.) in heavy soils


Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (Apr.-June)

24

Normal year : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (Apr. - June)

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep.) – 3 years rotation

• Vegetables (June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - cotton / pulses (Feb.-May)

• Maize (June-Sep.) – marigold (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)



• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)Moderate drought year : • Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower

(Aug.-Dec.) - pearl millet / groundnut / gingelly/ palmarosa (Jan.-April)



Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / sorghum / Periwinkle*/ senna* (July-Oct.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) - cluster bean / lab lab / bhendi /water melon (Feb.-May)


c. Rainfed areas : Red, laterite and heavy clay soils

Existing : • Pearl millet (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year : • Groundnut / maize (June-Sep.); Groundnut / pulses / fingermillet (Oct.-Feb.)

• Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)• Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)

Moderate drought year : • Maize (heavy soils) / sunflower + ragi/pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / horsegram / minor millets / pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

• Aloe* (Oct. -Jan)

5. Vellore district

Mean annual rainfall (mm) - 915.4Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) - 18.2

25

Summer (March-May) - 102.2South West monsoon season (June-Sept) - 442.0North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) - 353.0

a. Tankfed areas : Tank alluvium (Heavy clay and red soils)

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Jan.-April)

Normal year : • Rice/vegetables (Aug.-Jan.) - gingelly/ pulses (Feb.-May)

Moderate drought year : • Pearl millet / sorghum (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / ragi / maize (Feb.-May)

• Pulses (June-Sep.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)Severe drought year : • Wheat / fodder (Nov.-Feb.)


Existing : • Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.)-rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – sesame/pulses/maize / greens (April-June)

• Banana (July-Aug.) - ratoon banana (Sep.-Aug.) - vegetable (Sep.-Feb.) - maize (Feb.-May) 3 years rotation

26

Normal year : • Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.)-rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) - sesame/pulses/maize (April - June)


• Maize (June-Sep.) - cabbage / knolkhol (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

• Maize (June-Sep.) – marigold/ ragi (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

• Chrysanthemum (May-March) - ratoon chrysanthemum (2 years rotation)



• Banana (July-Aug.) - ratoon banana (Sep.-Aug.) - vegetable (Sep.-Feb.) - maize (Feb.-May) 3 years rotation

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)Moderate drought year : • Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower / ragi

(Aug-Dec.) - groundnut/gingelly (Jan.-Apr.) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

(under drip irrigation) • Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses

(Feb-Apr)Severe drought year : • Pearl millet/sorghum/Periwinkle*/ senna* (July-Oct.) -

wheat (Nov.-Feb.) - cluster bean / bhendi / lab lab / watermelon (Feb.-May)


c. Rainfed areas : Red and laterite soils

Existing : • Pearl millet / sorghum (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)

• Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year : • Pearl millet/sorghum(June-Sep.)-groundnut (Oct-Feb.)• Maize (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)• Aswagantha* (June-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

Moderate drought year : • Maize (heavy soils) / sunflower/ gingelly (Oct.-Jan.)

Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / horsegram / sunflower / minor millets / pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

27

6. Cuddalore district


a. Command Areas (Chidambaram and Kattumannarkoil areas) : Heavy clay soils

Existing : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/sesame/cotton (Jan.-Apr) • Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-

Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation

Normal year : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses/gingelly (Feb.-May)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/sesame/cotton (Jan.-April)• Maize /vegetables/pulses/sesame/green manure

(June-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May) • Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-

Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation

Moderate drought year : • Maize/vegetables/sesame/green manure (Jun.-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Feb.) - gingelly (Feb.-May)

Severe drought year : • Millets/green manure/gingelly (June-Sep.) - maize/fodder (Oct.-Feb.) – gingelly (Feb.-May)

b. Tankfed areas : Tank alluvium (Heavy clay soils)

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Jan.-Apr.)

Normal year : • Rice/vegetables (Aug.-Jan.) - gingelly/ pulses (Feb.-May)

Moderate drought year : • Pearl millet + cluster bean (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)

• Pulses (June-Sep.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)Severe drought year : • Wheat / fodder / pulses (Nov.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas : Laterite, red and black soils

28

Existing : • Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) 3 years rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-Apr.) – gingelly (Apr.-June)

Normal year : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (April - June)

• Maize (June-Sep.) – marigold (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)




• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-

Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) 3 years rotation

Moderate drought year : • Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower (Aug.-Dec.) groundnut gingelly (Jan.-April)



Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / sorghum / Periwinkle*/ senna* (July-Oct.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) - cluster bean / bhendi / lab lab/ watermelon (Feb.-May)


d. Rainfed areas : Laterite and black soils

Existing : • Pearl millet (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)• Gingelly(June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - gingelly(Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year : • Maize/pearl millet (Jun.-Sep)-groundnut (Oct-Feb)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses / gingelly (Oct.-Jan.) • Ashwagandha (June – Jan.)

(June-Jan.) - pulses/gingelly (Feb.-May)Moderate drought year : • Maize (heavy soil) / sunflower + dewgram/ sesame/

varagu (Oct.-Jan.) Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / horsegram /sunflower / minormillets /

pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

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• Perennial crop - 12% of cultivable area

Mango, sapota, jack, casuarina, cashew, Jatropha*, gliricidia, simarouba• Dairy, sheep and poultry• Sericulture • Biofuel crops are recommended only with industrial tie-up • Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement

30

II. North Western Zone

1. Dharmapuri district


a. Command areas (Krishnagiri Reservoir Project) : Red and Heavy clay soils

Existing : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Dec.-March)

Normal year : • Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - greengram / cowpea (Feb.-April)

• Bhendi / cluster bean / water melon (June-Sep.) - rice / ragi (Dec.-March)

Moderate drought year : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Dec.-March)• Green manure / pulses / radish/ clusterbean / lab lab

/ bhendi (May-Aug.) - rice (Aug.-Jan.)Severe drought year : • Cowpea / minor millet / fodder (Oct.-Jan.)

b. Well irrigated areas : Red and black soils

Existing : • Tapioca (Jan.-Dec.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - wheat / cole vegetables

(Oct.-Feb.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)• Cotton (Aug.-Feb.) - pulses/gingelly (Feb.-May)

31

Normal year : • Tapioca (Jan.-Dec.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - wheat / cole vegetables

(Oct.-Feb.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)• Cotton (Aug.-Feb.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)• Coleus* (June-Nov.) - maize (Dec.-March)• Vegetables / gherkins (June-Nov.) - ragi

(Dec.-Mar.)• Maize (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Jan.) – gingelly

(Feb.-May)• Annual moringa (June planting) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) –

Sweet sorghum* / gingelly (Feb-May)• Pulses (Apr-Jun) – onion (Aug-Dec) – Sweet

sorghum* (Jan-Apr)• Fodder (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) • Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb)

– gingelly (Feb-May)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sep-Feb.)-

Sweet sorghum*/gingelly (Feb-May)• Pulses (Apr-June) – onion (Aug.-Dec.)-Sweet

sorghum* (Jan.-Apr.)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. Sowing) • Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept.) – sugarbeet*

(Sept.-Feb.) – gingelly (Feb.-May)Moderate drought year : • Fodder / pulses (March - May) - vegetables

(June-Oct.) - groundnut (Nov.-Feb.) • Ragi / maize / minor millets (June-Sep.) - wheat /

clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Nov.-Jan.) - capsicum / hybrid tomato (Feb.-May)

• Jasmine/neerium*/stevia*/agathi (June planting)• Fodder (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) (under

drip irrigation)• Maize (June-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

Severe drought year : • Sorghum / pearl millet / ragi / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi /wheat (Aug.-Feb.)


c. Rainfed areas : Red and black soils

Existing : • Tapioca (May - Jan.)• Groundnut + pulses / sunflower / castor / sorghum /

ragi / samai/ kudiraivali (May-Oct.) - horsegram (Nov.-Jan.)

32

Normal year : • Tapioca (May-Jan.)• Ragi / groundnut / sunflower / castor / sorghum +

redgram + mochai / ragi / samai / kudiraivali (May-Oct.) - horsegram (Nov.-Jan.)

• Rainfed tomato (June-Sep.) - horsegram (Oct.-Dec.)

Moderate drought year : • Groundnut spreading /sunflower/redgram/samai (June-Sep.) - horsegram / wheat (Oct.-Dec.)

• Castor / redgram + pulses (July - Dec.)Severe drought year : • Samai / fodder / senna* / aloe* /castor (July-Dec.)

• Castor + pulses (July-Dec.)

2. Salem district


33

a. Command areas : Heavy clay and red soils

Existing : • Turmeric (June-March) - fallow• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-

Nov.) - rice (Dec.-March)• Rice (Aug.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May)• Rice (Aug.-Nov.) - cotton (Dec.-May) / gingelly /

groundnut (Dec.-March)Normal year : • Rice (Aug.-Nov.) - cotton (Dec.-May)/ gingelly/

groundnut (Dec.-March)• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.)- greengram/cowpea(Feb.-Apr) • Bhendi / cluster bean / water melon (June-Oct.) -

rice (Dec.-March)• Turmeric (Jun.-March) – fallow

Moderate drought year : • Green manure / pulses (May-Jul) - rice(Aug.-Jan.)• Millets /pulses (June-Aug.) - rice (Aug.-Jan.)

Severe drought year : • Cowpea / fodder sorghum (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow


Existing : • Turmeric (June-March) - fallow• Tapioca (Nov.-Oct.) - short time fallow• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/groundnut (Feb.-Apr)• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-

Nov.) - rice (Dec.-March) • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June)/gingelly (Feb.-

May) • Rice (June-Oct.) - ragi / groundnut / gingelly (Nov.-

Feb.)• Rice (April-Aug.) - rice (Sep.-Jan.) - fodder

sorghum (Jan.-March)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - wheat / cole vegetables

(Oct.-Feb.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)

34

Normal year : • Tapioca (Nov.-Oct.) - short time fallow• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June) / gingelly

(Feb.-May) / groundnut (Feb.-May) • Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / groundnut

(Feb.-April)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - wheat / cole vegetables /

ragi (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses/ gingelly (Feb.-May)• Coleus* (June-Nov.) - maize (Dec.-Mar.)• Vegetables / gherkins (June-Nov.) - groundnut

(Dec.-March) - green manure (April-May)• Vegetables (Nov.-Feb.) - pulses / gingelly

(Feb.-June) groundnut (July-Oct.) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) –

Sweet sorghum* / gingelly (Feb-May)• Pulses (Apr-Jun) – onion (Aug-Dec) – sweet

sorghum* (Jan-Apr)• Fodder (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) • Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb)

– gingelly (Feb-May)• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-

Nov.) - rice (Dec.-March) Moderate drought year : • Tapioca (Nov.-Oct.) - short time fallow

• Groundnut/castor/sunflower (June-Sep.) - ragi/fodder sorghum (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow

• Ragi (June-Sep.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - hybrid tomato (Feb.-May)

• Maize (June-Sep.) - wheat / cole vegetables (Oct-Jan) -hybrid tomato/green chillies (Feb-May)

• Jasmine / stevia* / emplica* / neerium* (June planting)

• Fodder (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (October sowing) (under drip irrigation)

• Maize (June-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)Severe drought year : • Fodder sorghum/pearl millet/pulses (July-Oct.) -

wheat (Nov.-Feb.)• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)


35

Existing : • Tapioca (June-Feb.)• Groundnut + pulses (May-Sep.) - sorghum + pulses

(Oct.-Feb.)• Rainfed tomato (June-Sep.) – horsegram (Oct.-Jan.) • Sorghum/maize/ragi/pearl millet (May-Sep.) -

Pulses (Oct.-Jan.) • Groundnut + castor (June-Jan.)

Normal year : • Tapioca (June-Feb.)• Groundnut + pulses (May-Sep.) - sorghum + pulses

(Oct.-Feb.)• Rainfed tomato (June-Sep)-horsegram (Oct.-Jan.)• Sorghum / ragi / maize / pearl millet (May-Sep.) -

pulses (Oct.-Jan.)• Groundnut + castor (June-Jan.)• Castor (May-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

Moderate drought year : • Spreading groundnut / sunflower / castor / redgram (June-Sep.) - horsegram (Oct.-Jan.)

• Castor (May-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)• Pearl millet / sorghum + pulses/maize + greengram

(May-Aug.) - horsegram (Oct.-Jan.)• Castor + pulses (May-Jan.)

Severe drought year : • Sorghum/pearl millet/ragi/minor millets/pulses/ fodder (May-Dec.)

• Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)

3. Namakkal District


a. Command areas (Mettur stanely reservoir and canals) : Red and Heavy clay soils

Existing : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.)• Rice (June-Sep.) - green manure (Oct.-Nov.) - Rice

(Dec.-May)• Rice (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Nov.-March)• Sugarcane (Nov.-Oct.) - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-

Oct.) (2 years rotation)• Banana (July-June)• Banana (Dec.-Nov.)• Betel vine (Jan.-Dec.)

36

Normal year : • Bhendi / cluster bean / water melon (June-Sep.) - rice (Dec.-March)

• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - greengram / cowpea (Feb.-April)

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.)• Rice (June-Sep.) - green manure (Oct.-Nov.) - rice

(Dec.-March)• Sugarcane (Nov.-Oct.) - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-

Oct.) 2 years rotation • Banana (Dec.-Nov.)• Rice (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Nov.-March)• Betel vine (Jan.-Dec.)

Moderate drought year : • Green manure/pulses (June-July)-rice (Aug.-Jan.)• Pulses (June-Aug.) - groundnut (Nov.-Feb.)• Tapioca (Dec.-Nov.)

Severe drought year : • Sorghum/cowpea/minor millets /fodder (Oct-Jan.)


Existing : • Tapioca (Jan.-Dec.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses / gingelly (Oct.-Jan.)• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June)• Sugarcane (Nov.-Oct.)• Pulses (April - June) - onion (Aug.-Dec.) - sorghum

(Jan.-April)• Turmeric (May-Jan.)• Banana (July-June) – ratoon banana (July-June) – 2

years rotation • Groundnut (April-July) - maize (Aug.-Nov.) - ragi

(Dec.-March)

37

Normal year : • Coleus* (June-Nov.) - maize (Dec.-March)• Tapioca (Jan.-Dec.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses / gingelly (Oct.-Jan.)• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June)• Sugarcane (Nov.-Oct.- ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Oct.)• Pulses (April-June) - onion (Aug.-Dec.) - sorghum

(Jan.-April)• Turmeric (May-Jan.)• Banana (July-June) - ratoon banana (July-June) – 2

years rotation • Groundnut (Apr-Jul)-maize(Aug-Nov.)-ragi (Dec-

Mar) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) –

Sweet sorghum* / gingelly (Feb-May)• Pulses (Apr-Jun) – Onion (Aug-Dec) – Sweet

sorghum* (Jan-Apr)• Fodder (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing)• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) –

gingelly (Feb-May) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sep-Feb.)-Sweet

sorghum*/gingelly (Feb-May)• Pulses (Apr-June) – onion (Aug.-Dec.)-Sweet

sorghum* (Jan.-Apr.)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. Sowing) • Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept.) – sugarbeet*

(Sept.-Feb.) – gingelly (Feb.-May)Moderate drought year : • Ragi/maize/groundnut (June-Sep.) - wheat / cole

vegetables (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)• Tapioca (Jan.-Dec.)• Fodder / pulses (May-Aug.) - groundnut (Sep.-Dec.)• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - fallow• Vegetables (May-Aug.) - maize (Aug.-Nov.)• Arali / stevia* / Jatropha* /agathi (Sep.-June)• Annual moringa (June sowing) • Fodder(Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) (under

drip irrigation)• Maize (June-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

Severe drought year : • Sorghum / pearl millet / pulses (Aug.-Feb.)• Wheat (Nov.-Feb.)• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

38


Existing : • Tapioca (June-May)• Groundnut + castor / pulses (May-Jan.)• Groundnut + castor (May-Jan.) - horsegram (Oct.-

Jan.) as an intercrop• Sorghum + pulses (June-Dec.)

Normal year : • Tapioca (June-May)• Rainfed tomato (June-Sep.) - horsegram

(Oct.-Dec.)• Groundnut + castor / pulses (May-Jan.)• Groundnut + castor (May-Jan.) - horsegram (Oct.-

Jan.) as an intercrop• Sorghum + pulses (June-Dec.)

Moderate drought year : • Tapioca (June-May)• Spreading groundnut + castor (May-Jan.) -

horsegram (Oct.-Jan.) as an intercrop• Sorghum / maize / pearl millet / pulses (May-Oct.) • Castor + pulses (June-Feb.)

Severe drought year : • Minor millet + pulses / castor / fodder / pulses (July-Dec.)

• Perennial crops : 20 % of cultivable area Mango, amla, anona, tamarind, sapota, gliricidia, simarouba• Dairy, sheep and poultry• Sericulture• Biofuel crops are recommended only with industrial tie-up • Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement

39

III. Western Zone

1. Namakkal district (Tiruchengodu Taluk only)


a. Command areas (Mettur East Bank canal river pumping areas), red and black soils

Existing : • Rice (Aug-Nov)-groundnut/pulses/gingelly (Dec-March)

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) – ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Jan.) 2 years rotation

• Turmeric (May-Feb.)• Green manure (June-July) - rice (Aug.-Dec.) –

gingelly (Dec.-Feb.)Normal year : • Rice (Aug.-Nov.) - groundnut / pulses / gingelly

(Dec.-March)• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Jan.) 2 years rotation • Turmeric (May-Feb.)• Green manure (June-July) - rice (Aug.-Dec.) –

gingelly (Dec.-Feb.)• Rice (Aug.-Nov.) - groundnut (Dec.-March)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - maize

(Feb.-May)Moderate drought year : • Tapioca (Oct.-Sep.)

• Maize (June-Sep.) - vegetables / sunflower / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-May)

• Groundnut (Nov.-Feb.)Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / fodder sorghum / pulses / gingelly/

sorghum (Sep.-Dec.)

b. Well irrigated areas : Red soils

40

Existing : • Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / millets / vegetables (Feb.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep.)

• Tapioca (Dec.-Nov.)• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - green manure

(Oct.-Nov.) - pulses / gingelly (Dec.-March)• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)• Sugarcane (Nov.-Oct.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-

Jan.) 2 years rotation • Turmeric (May-Jan.)• Banana (July-June) - ratoon sugarcane (July-June) 2

years rotation • Groundnut (April - Aug.) - maize (Sep.-Nov.) - ragi

(Dec.-March)Normal year : • Annual Moringa (June) - moringa ratoon (2 years

rotation)• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / coleus*/vegetables

(Feb.-April) • Turmeric (May-Jan.) - maize / hybrid tomato / green

chillies / capsicum / coleus* (Jan.-April) • Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / millets / vegetables

(Feb.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep.)• Tapioca (Dec.-Nov.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - green manure

(Oct.-Nov.) gingelly/ pulses (Dec.-March)• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)• Sugarcane (Nov.-Oct.) – ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-

Jan.) – 2 years rotation • Banana (July-June) – ratoon banana (July-June) – 2

years rotation• Groundnut /sunflower (Apr.-Aug.) - maize (Sep.-

Nov.) - ragi (Dec.-May)• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) –

greenmanure (Jun-July)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* /sunflower

(Sep.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb.-May)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

41

Moderate drought year : • Tapioca (Dec.-Nov.)• Maize (Aug.-Nov.) - vegetables / beans / pulses

(Dec.-March)• Annual moringa (June) - moringa ratoon -

(2 years rotation)• Pulses (June-Sep.)-fallow (Oct.)-wheat (Nov.-Feb) • Groundnut (Nov.-Feb.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)• Pulses (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

(under drip irrigation)Severe drought year : • Minor millets / sorghum / castor / fodder /

gingelly(June - Dec.)


Existing : • Tapioca (June-March)• Groundnut + castor (May-Jan.) - horsegram

(Oct.-Jan.) as an intercrop• Millets (June-Sep.) - maize / pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

Normal year : • Millet (June-Sep.) - maize / pulses (Oct.-Jan.)• Millet (July-Oct.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)• Tapioca (June-March)• Groundnut + castor (May-Jan.) - horsegram

(Oct.-Jan.) as an intercrop Moderate drought year : • Sorghum / maize + pulses (Aug.-Jan.)

• Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)• Tapioca (June-Dec.) • Groundnut + castor (May-Jan.)

Severe drought year : • Sorghum / pulses/pearl millet/fodder/minor millets (Oct.-Jan.)

2. Erode district


a. Command areas : Lower Bhavani Project (LBP), Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP), Amaravathy Reservoir Project (ARP) : Red and black soils

42

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) – gingelly (Feb.-April)• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-

Nov) (2 years rotation)• Turmeric (May-Jan.) - rice (Feb.-April)• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (May-Feb.) (2

years rotation)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - maize

(Feb.-May)Normal year : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - gingelly/groundnut (Feb.-April)

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) (2 years rotation)

• Turmeric (May-Jan.) - rice (Feb.-April)• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Feb.)

(2 years rotation)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - maize

(Feb.-May)Moderate drought year : • Groundnut (Dec.-March) - fallow

• Tapioca (June-Dec.) - fallow• Cotton (Sep.-Feb.) - fallow • Tobacco (Sep.-Jan.) - fallow• Maize (June-Sep.) - fallow• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sunflower / gingelly

(Oct.-Feb.) - fallow• Fodder sorghum (June-Sep.) - fallow• Pearl millet (Sep.-Dec.) - fallow

Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / fodder sorghum / pulses / vegetables (Aug.-Feb.) - fallow

• Gingelly (July-Oct.) - fallow for Bhavani division• Horsegram (Sep.-Dec.) - fallow

b. Well irrigated areas : Red and heavy clay soils

Existing : • Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - millets / cotton (Jan.-April) / (Jan.-May)

• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) - coleus* / vegetables (Jan.-July)• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - maize / hybrid tomato /

capsicum / green chillies (Jan.-April) • Banana (June-April) - ratoon banana (May-Feb.) (2

years rotation) • Annual moringa (June) - (2 years rotation)

43

Normal year : • Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - millets / cotton (Jan.-April) / (Jan.-May)

• Cotton (Aug.-Dec) - coleus* /vegetables (Jan.-July)• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - maize / hybrid tomato /

capsicum / green chillies (Jan.-April)• Banana (June-April) - ratoon banana (May-Feb.) (2

years rotation)• Annual moringa (June) - (2 years rotation)• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) –

greenmanure (Jun-July)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) –

Sweet sorghum* (Mar-May)• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) –

greenmanure (Jun-July)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sep.-Feb) –

Sweet sorghum* (Feb.-May)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

Moderate drought year : • Maize (Aug.-Dec.) - vegetables (Jan.-April)• Pulses (Aug.-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)• Marigold/ origonum • Pulses (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (September sowing)

(under drip irrigation)Severe drought year : • Fodder sorghum / fodder cumbu (Aug.-Dec.)

• Horsegram (Sep.-Dec.)• Senna* (Sep.-Jan.)• Minor millets (Sep.-Jan.)

44


Existing : • Maize / sorghum (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - fallow• Pearl millet (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow• Cotton (Sep.-Feb.) - fallow• Castor / Redgram (July-Feb.) - fallow

Normal year : • Maize / sorghum (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - fallow• Pearl millet (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow• Cotton (Sep.-Feb.) - fallow• Castor / redgram (July-Feb.) - fallow

Moderate drought year : • Castor + groundnut (July-Feb.)• Pearl millet / sorghum/ pulses/gingelly (July-Oct.)• Maize (July-Oct.)• Horsegram (Sep.-Dec.)

Severe drought year : • Sorghum / phillipesara (Sep.-Jan.)• Castor / redgram/ pulses (July-Feb.) • Fodder / minor millets (Oct.-Jan.)• Senna* / Periwinkle* (Oct.)

3. Coimbatore district


a. Command areas : Lower Bhavani Project (LBP), Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP), Amaravathy Reservoir Project (ARP) : Red and black soils

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Nov.) - groundnut (Dec.-March)• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.)• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-

Nov.) - rice (Dec.-March) – 3 years rotation • Turmeric (May-Dec.) - rice (Dec.-March)• Banana (June-May) - ratoon banana (June-May) – 2

years rotation • Groundnut (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - Maize

(Feb.-May)

45

Normal year : • Rice (Aug.-Nov.) - groundnut (Dec.-March) • Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-

Nov.) - rice (Dec.-March) – 3 years rotation • Turmeric (May-Dec.) - rice (Dec.-March)• Banana (June-May) - ratoon banana (June-May) – 2

years rotation • Groundnut (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - maize

(Feb.-May)Moderate drought year : • Maize (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Dec.)

• Vegetables / sunflower / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)Severe drought year : • Sorghum / fodder sorghum / pulses (Aug.-Feb.)


Existing : • Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-March) – 3 years rotation

• Cotton (Aug.-Feb.) - sorghum (March-June)• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - groundnut (Dec.-March)• Pearl millet (March-June) - maize (July-Oct.) -

pulses (Nov.-Jan.) • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - ragi (Feb.-June) - pulses

(June-Aug.)Normal year : • Cotton (Aug.-Feb.) - sorghum (March - June)

• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - groundnut (Dec.-March)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - ragi (Feb.-June) - pulses

(June-Aug.) • Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-

Nov.) - rice (Dec.-March) - 3 years rotation • Cotton (Aug-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) –

greenmanure (Jun-July)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) –

Sweet sorghum* (Mar-May)• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) –

greenmanure (Jun-July)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sep.-Feb) –

Sweet sorghum* (Feb.-May)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sep. sowing)• Groundnut (June-Sept.) – sunflower (Sept.-Dec.)

–vegetable crops /maize (Dec.-March)• Coleus* (Jan.-July) – maize (Aug.-Nov.) – green

manure (Dec.-Jan.)

46

Moderate drought year : • Cotton (Aug.-Feb.) - sorghum (March-June)• Ragi (Feb.-June) - pulses (June-Aug.) - groundnut

(Sep.-Dec.) • Pulses (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

(under drip irrigation)Severe drought year : • Fodder sorghum / sorghum / pulses (Aug.-Feb.) -

fallow


Existing : • Maize / millets (July-Sept.) - pulses (Sep.-Dec.)• Cotton (July-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)• Groundnut (July-Oct.) - fallow• Maize (July-Oct.) – bengalgram / sunflower (Nov.-

Feb.)Normal year : • Maize / millets (July-Sept.) - pulses (Sep.-Dec.)

• Cotton (July-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) • Maize (July-Oct.) – bengalgram / coriander (Nov.-

Feb.) Moderate drought year : • Sorghum / maize + pulses (Aug.-Jan.)

• Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)Severe drought year : • Sorghum / pulses / bengalgram / horsegram / fodder

/ minor millets (Oct.-Jan.)

Note : Larger areas in Mettupalayam taluk is with banana under irrigation as a cropping pattern change. Heavy lodging due to wind is seen during March. Avoid June planting and encourage December – January planting.

4. Karur district


a. Command areas : Lower Bhavani Project (LBP), Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP), Amaravathy Reservoir Project (ARP) : Red and black soils for Karur district except Kulithalai taluk

47

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut (Dec.-March)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - gingelly/ pulses / cotton / sorghum

(Feb.-May)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - rice (Feb.-May)• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - rice (Jan.-April)• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.)

- rice (Dec.-March) – 3 years rotation • Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) – 2

years rotation • Betelvine (June-18 months) - rice (Dec.-March) (2

years rotation)Normal year : • Turmeric (May-Dec.) - rice (Jan.-April)

• Rice (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut (Dec.-March)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) – gingelly / pulses / cotton / sorghum

(Feb.-May)• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.)

- rice (Dec.-March)• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) – 2

years rotation • Betelvine (June-18 months) - rice (Dec.-March) (2

years rotation)Moderate drought year : • Sorghum / maize (June-Sep.) - fallow

• clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sunflower / pulses / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) - fallow

Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / fodder sorghum / pulses / gingelly (Aug.-Feb.) – fallow

For Kulithalai taluk : Red soils


• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut / pulses / (Jan.-April) – gingelly (April-July)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June)• Green manure (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) • Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-

Nov.) - rice (Dec.-March) – 3 years rotation• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana

(April - Jan.) - 2 years rotation• Betelvine (June-18 months) - rice (Dec.-March) - (2

years rotation)

48

Normal year : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut/sesame/pulses (Jan.-April) – gingelly (April-July)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June) • Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-

Nov.) - rice (Dec.-March) - 3 years rotation• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) -

cotton (Feb.-June) - 3 years rotation• Betelvine (June-18 months) - rice (Dec.-March) - (2

years rotation)Moderate drought year : • Sorghum / pulses / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi -

gingelly (Oct.-Jan.)• Coleus* (June-Dec.) - pulses (Jan.-March)

Severe drought year : • Millets / green manure/sunflower / gingelly/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / pulses (June-Sep.)

b. Well irrigated areas Karur district except Kulithalai Taluk : Red soils

Existing : • Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - millets / cotton (Jan.-April) - (2 years rotation)

• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) - millets / vegetables (Jan.-April) - groundnut (May-July)

• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - sesame/sorghum/maize (Jan.-April)

• Annual moringa (June-March) - ratoon moringa (2 years rotation)

• Rice (Aug.-Dec.) - Gingelly/ Groundnut / pulses (Jan.-April)

49

Normal year : • Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - millets/cotton (Jan.-April) - (2 and half years rotation)

• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) - millet / vegetables (Jan.-April) - Groundnut (May-July)

• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - gingelly/ sorghum / maize (Jan.-April)

• Annual moringa (June-sowing) - ratoon moringa (2 years rotation)

• Rice (Aug-Dec)-sesame/groundnut/pulses (Jan-Apr)• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) – Sweet sorghum* (Jan. – Apr.)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb.) –

Sweet sorghum* (Feb.-May)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing)

Moderate drought year : • Maize (Aug.-Dec.) - clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi/ pulses (Jan.-April)

• Pulses (Aug.-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)• Annual moringa (June sowing)• Sorghum (June-Sep.)- clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi

/ pulses (Oct.-Jan.) • Pulses (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (September sowing)

(under drip irrigation)Severe drought year : • Sorghum / gingelly/ pearl millet / minor millets /

fodder (Oct.-Feb.)• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

For Kulithalai Taluk : Red soils

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut / sunflower / cotton / pulses / gingelly (Dec.-April)

• Vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.)• Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-

Dec.) - rice (Jan.-April)• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) -

rice (Jan.-April) - 2 years rotationNormal year : • Rice (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut / sunflower / cotton /

pulses / gingelly (Dec.-April) • Vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.)• Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-

Dec.) - rice (Jan.-April)• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) -

rice (Jan.-April) - 2 years rotationModerate drought year : • Maize / sorghum (Aug.-Dec.) - sunflower / gingelly

(Dec.-April)

50

Severe drought year : • Sorghum / pearl millet + pulses (Sep.-Jan.) • Bhendi (July-Dec.) - watermelon/cluster bean /

cucumber (Jan.-April)

c. Rainfed areas Karur district except Kulithalai taluk : Red and black soils

Existing : • Maize/millets (July-Aug.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)• Groundnut + pulses (July-Oct.) - fallow• Millets + pulses (Aug.-Nov.) - fallow • Annual moringa - ratoon (2 years rotation)

Normal year : • Maize / millets (July-Aug.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)• Cotton (July-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)• Groundnut + pulses / castor (Aug.-Dec.) - fallow• Annual moringa - ratoon moringa (2 years rotation)

Moderate drought year : • Sorghum / maize + pulses (Aug.-Jan.) - fallow• Castor + pulses (July-Jan.) - fallow• Gingelly/ horsegram (Nov.-Feb.)

Severe drought year : • Sorghum / pearl millet / fodder / minor millet (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow

• Horsegram / wheat (Nov.-Feb.) - fallow

For Kulithalai taluk : Red and black soils

Existing : • Groundnut + redgram (July-Feb.)• Sorghum / pearl millet + redgram (July-Feb.)

Normal year : • Groundnut + redgram (July-Feb.) • Sorghum / pearl millet + redgram (July – Feb.)

Moderate drought year : • Sorghum / pearl millet + redgram (July-Feb.)• Horsegram / gingelly / gingelly / wheat (Oct.-Feb.)

Severe drought year : • Horsegram / gingelly / gingelly / wheat (Oct.-Feb.)

5. Dindigul district (Except Natham and Dindigul taluks)


a. Command areas : Heavy clay soils

51

Existing : • Rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pearl millet/vegetables/sesame/ pulses/groundnut (Feb.-May)

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - single crop• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) –

2 years rotation Normal year : • Rice (Oct.-Jan.) - vegetables / groundnut/ gingelly

(Feb.-May)• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - single crop• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) –

2 years rotation Moderate drought year : • Maize (Aug.-Nov.) - pulses/ gingelly (Dec.-Mar.)

• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sunflower / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)

Severe drought year : • Pulses / gingelly/ fodder sorghum / pearl millet (Aug.-Feb.)


Existing : • Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - single crop • Sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - single crop• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) - millets / vegetables

(Jan.-April) - groundnut (May-July)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - vegetables / millets / groundnut /

pulses (Jan.-April)Normal year : • Sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - single crop

• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) - millets / vegetables (Jan.-April) - groundnut (May-July)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - vegetables / millet / groundnut / pulses (Jan.-April)

• Annual moringa (June sowing) - ratoon moringa - (2 years rotation)

• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) - coleus* (Jan.-July)• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) – sweet sorgum (Feb.-May) –

greenmanure (Jun-July)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sep.-Feb.) –

Sweet sorghum* (Feb.-May)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

Moderate drought year : • Maize (Aug.-Dec.) - clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi(Jan.-April)

• Pulses (Aug.-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Jan.) - millets /

groundnut (Jan.-April)• Chloriosa (July)

52

Severe drought year : • Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.)• Minor millets / fodder (Aug.-Dec.)

c. Rainfed areas

Existing : • Groundnut / maize / millets / pulses (July-Oct.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

• Groundnut (June-Sep.)-maize/pulses (Oct.-Nov.)Normal year : • Groundnut + pulses / maize / millets / pulses (July-

Oct.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.)-maize/pulses/sunflower

(Oct.-Nov.) • Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)

Moderate drought year : • Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)• Millet / pulses (July-Aug.) - fallow• Maize (Sep.-Dec.) - fallow

Severe drought year : • Sorghum / pearl millet / minor millets / pulses / sunflower / fodder (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow

6. Theni district


a. Command areas (Vaigai Periyar project) : Red and alluvial soils

Existing : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure / pulses (Feb.-April)

Normal year : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure / pulses (Feb.-April)

Moderate drought year : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) – green manure (Feb.-May)• Maize (June-Sep)-rice (Oct.-Jan.)-pulses(Feb.-May)

Severe drought year : • Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sunflower (Sep.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-March)


53

Existing : • Maize (Aug.-Nov.) - sorghum / pearl millet (Dec.-Feb.) - vegetables (March-July)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - vegetables / pulses / groundnut (Jan.-March)

• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - millets / vegetables / groundnut (Feb.-June)

• Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - green manure (Jan.-Feb.) - 2 years rotation

Normal year : • Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - green manure (Jan.-Feb.) – 2 years rotation


• Annual moringa (June Sowing) - ratoon moringa - (2 years rotation)

• Maize (Aug.-Nov.) - sorghum / pearl millet (Dec.-Feb.) - vegetables (March-July)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - vegetables / pulses / groundnut (Jan.-March)

• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) - coleus* / vegetables / neerium* (Jan.-July)

• Marigold*(Jun-Oct) –coleus*/vegetables(Nov-Apr)• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) –

greenmanure (Jun-July)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sep-Feb) –

Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

Moderate drought year : • Maize (Aug.-Nov.) - sorghum / pearl millet (Dec.-Feb.) -clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Mar.-July)


• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.) - fallow • Pulses(Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) (under

drip irrigation)Severe drought year : • Minor millets / fodder / pulses / green manures

(Aug.-Jan.)


Existing : • Millets / maize / groundnut / pulses (June-Oct.) - horsegram (Nov.-Feb.)

• Pearl millet / sorghum / maize + pulses (Aug.-Nov.) - pulses (Dec.-Feb.)

• Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)

54

Normal year : • Millets / maize / groundnut / pulses (June-Oct.) - horsegram / pulses (Nov.-Feb.)

• Castor + pulses (July - Jan.)Moderate drought year : • Pearl millet / sorghum / maize / pulses (Aug.-Jan.)

• Castor + pulses (July-Jan.) Severe drought year : • Sorghum / pearl millet / fodder sorghum / minor

millets (Oct.-Jan.)• Wheat (Nov.-Feb.)

• Perennial crops : 15% of cultivable areaSapota, amla, tamarind, mango, singapore kapok

• Essential oil crops / lemongrass / citronella (wherever possible)• Dairy, Rabbit and Sheep• Sericulture • Biofuel crops are recommended only with industrial tie-up • Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement

55

IV. Cauvery Delta Zone

1. Thanjavur district


a. Command areas : Alluvial soils


• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Jan.-April) – gingelly (April-June)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly/ cotton (Jan.-April)

• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) – 2 years rotation

Normal year : • Maize / pulses / vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / cotton / gingelly/ sunflower (Feb.-May)

• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - 2 years rotation

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)

Moderate drought year : • Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi /pulses / gingelly/ green manure (June-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Feb.) - pulses / cotton / sunflower (Feb.-May)

• Coleus* / Periwinkle*/ senna* (Sep.-Jan.)• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) –

pulses/gingelly (Feb-May)Severe drought year : • Millets / green manure / gingelly (June-Sep.) - maize

/ fodder (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

b. Well irrigated areas (Filter point well) : Alluvial and laterite soils

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut (Dec.-March)• Vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.)

56

Normal year : • Banana (June-May) - ratoon banana (May-June) - (drip-Fertigation) - 2 years rotation

• Vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)

• Vegetables / onion (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - maize / pulses (Feb.-May)

• Gloriorsa* (2 year rotation) / coleus* • Flower crops (June planting) • Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) (under

drip irrigation)• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep.) – rice (Oct.-Jan.) –

pulses / gingelly (Feb-May)• Maize/vegetables (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Sep.

sowing)Moderate drought year : • Maize (Aug.-Dec.) - gingelly/ soybean (Dec.-Mar.)

• Pulses / groundnut / gingelly (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.) - sunflower / maize (Feb.-May)

• Fodder (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation)

Severe drought year : • Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (July-Dec.) - watermelon / cucumber (Jan.-April)

• Periwinkle*/ senna* (Jun-Sep.)• Pulses / green manure (June-Sep.) - upland rice

(Oct.-Feb.) • Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

2. Thiruvarur district



Existing : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly(Feb.-May)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Jan.-April) - gingelly(April-June)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.)-pulses/sesame/cotton (Jan.-April)• Sugarcane -ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - 2 years

rotation

57

Normal year : • Maize/pulses/vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / cotton / gingelly/ sunflower (Feb.-May)

• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.)• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses /

gingelly(Feb.-May)Moderate drought year : • Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / pulses/

gingelly/green manure (June-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Feb.) - pulses / gingelly/ cotton (Feb.-May)

• Coleus* / Periwinkle*/ senna* • Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – Rice (Oct-Jan) –

Pulses/gingelly(Feb-May)Severe drought year : • Millets / green manure / gingelly(June-Sep.) –

upland rice / maize/fodder (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses / sunflower (Feb.-May)

b. Well irrigated areas (filter point well) : Alluvial soils

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Dec.) – groundnut (Dec.-Mar.) vegetables (June-Sep.) – rice (Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year : • Pulses/groundnut/gingelly (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.) - groundnut / greengram/pulses (Feb.-May)

• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep.) – rice (Oct.-Jan.) – pulses / gingelly (Feb-May)

• Maize/vegetables (Jun-Sep)-jatropha* (Sep. sowing)• Rice (Aug.-Dec.) – groundnut (Dec.-Mar.)

vegetables (June-Sep.) – rice (Oct.-Feb.)Moderate drought year : • Maize (Aug.-Dec.) - sesame/soybean

(Dec.-March)• Pulses/groundnut/gingelly (June-Sep.) - rice

(Oct.-Feb.) - sunflower / maize (Feb.-May)• Fodder (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

(under drip irrigation)Severe drought year : • Pulses/sesame/green manure (June-Sep.) - upland

rice(Oct.-Feb.)-pulses/green manure (Feb.-May) • Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

3. Nagapattinam district

Mean annual rainfall (mm) - 1333.8Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) - 80.3Summer (March-May) - 93.0

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South West monsoon season (June-Sept) - 274.1North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) - 886.4

a. Command areas : Alluvial and sandy soils Existing : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly

(Feb.-May)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Jan.-April) – gingelly

(April-June) • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/sesame/cotton (Jan.-Apr)• Sugarcane – ratoon sugarcane

Normal year : • Maize/pulses/vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / cotton / gingelly/ sunflower (Feb.-May)

• Sugarcane – ratoon sugarcane - 2 years rotation• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly

(Feb.-May)Moderate drought year : • Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / pulses /

sesame/green manure (June-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

• Coleus* / Periwinkle*/ senna* (June – Nov.)• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) –

pulses/gingelly (Feb-May)Severe drought year : • Millets / green manure / gingelly (June-Sep.) –

maize/fodder (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

b. Well irrigated areas (filter point well) : Alluvial and sandy soils

Existing : • Rice (June.-Sept.) – rice (Oct.-Feb) - pulses (Feb.-April)

Normal year : • Rice/pulses/groundnut/gingelly (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.) - groundnut / greengram/pulses (Feb.-May)

• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep.) – rice (Oct.-Jan.) – pulses / gingelly (Feb-May)

• Maize/vegetables (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Sep. sowing)

• Rice (June.-Sept.) – rice (Oct.-Feb) - pulses (Feb.-April)

Moderate drought year : • Maize (Aug.-Dec.) - sesame/soybean (Dec.-Mar.)• Pulses/groundnut/gingelly (June-Sep.) - rice

(Oct.-Feb.) - sunflower / maize (Feb.-May)• Fodder (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept, sowing) (under

drip irrigation)

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Severe drought year : • Pulses/sesame/green manure (June-Sep.) - upland rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses/green manure(Feb.-May)


4. Trichirapalli district





• Rice (Aug.-Jan.)-pulses/sesame/cotton (Jan.-April)• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - (2 years

rotation)Normal year : • Maize/pulses/vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice

(Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / cotton / gingelly/ sunflower (Feb.-May)

• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - (2 years rotation)

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)

Moderate drought year : • Maize/vegetables/pulses/sesame/green manure (June-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Feb.) - pulses / senna* (Feb.-May)

• Coleus* / Vincea rosea / senna* (June-Nov.)• Pearl millet / fodder sorghum (June-Sep.) - upland

rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / senna* (Feb.-May)• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) –

Pulses/gingelly (Feb-May)Severe drought year : • Pulses (June-Sep.) - sunflower / coriander / cotton

(Oct.-Feb.) - fallow• Millets/green manure / gingelly (June-Sep.) - maize

/ fodder (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

b. Well irrigated areas : Red, laterite, black and alluvial soils

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Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Jan.-April)• Banana (Jan.-Dec.) - ratoon banana (Jan.-Dec.) - rice

(Dec.-April)• Vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year : • Banana (June-May) - ratoon banana (May-June) (Drip-Fertigation)

• Vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) pulses (Feb.-April)

• Vegetables/onion (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - maize / pulses (Feb.-May)

• Gloriossa - (2 years rotation)• Coleus* (June-Oct)-rice (Nov-Feb.)-pulses (Feb.-

May)• Flower crops• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) (under



sowing)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Jan.-April)

Moderate drought year : • Maize (Aug.-Dec.) - sesame/soybean (Dec.-March)

• Fodder / pulses/ green manure (Aug.-Dec.) - gingelly/ groundnut / sunflower / sorghum / pearl millet (Dec.-March)

• Fodder (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation)

Severe drought year : • Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (July-Dec.) - water melon/cluster bean/cucumber (Jan.-April)

• Periwinkle*/ senna* (Jun-Sep.) • Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas : Red, black and laterite soils

Existing : • Groundnut + redgram (Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year : • Groundnut + redgram (Oct.-Feb.)• Green chilli/cluster bean / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.)

Moderate drought year : • Sorghum/millets+pulses /gingelly/cucurbits (Oct-Feb)

Severe drought year : • Fodder sorghum / minor millets/fodder/coriander (Oct.-Feb.)

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5. Perambalur district





• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) -pulses/sesame/cotton (Jan.-April) • Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) -

(2 years rotation)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) – cotton +onion /gingelly (Feb.-

May)Normal year : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses /

gingelly(Feb.-May)• Maize (Pulses) / vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-

Jan.) - pulses/cotton + onion / gingelly/ sunflower (Feb.-May)

• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - (2 years rotation)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - cotton + onion /gingelly (Feb.-May)

Moderate drought year : • Maize/vegetables/pulses/sesame/green manure (June-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / senna* (Feb.-May)

• Coleus* / Periwinkle*/ senna* (June-Nov.) • Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) –

Pulses/gingelly (Feb-May)Severe drought year : • Pulses (June-Sep.) - sunflower/coriander/cotton

(Oct.-Feb.) - fallow• Millets / green manure / gingelly (June-Sep.) -

maize/ fodder (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

h. Well irrigated areas : Red, black and laterite soils

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Existing : • Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Dec.) - (2 years rotation)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Jan.-April) • Rice (Oct.-Jan.) – gingelly (Feb.-May)• Vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.)• Banana (Jan.-Dec.) - ratoon banana (Jan.-Dec.) - rice

(Dec.-April)Normal year : • Banana (June-May) - ratoon banana (May-June)

(Drip-Fertigation)• Vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.)• Pulses / gingelly (Feb.-April) • Vegetables / onion (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) -

maize / pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)• Gloriossa (2 years rotation) • Coleus* (June-Oct.) - rice (Nov.-Feb.) - pulses /

gingelly (June-Oct.)• Flower crops (June planting)• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) (under


pulses / gingelly (Feb-May)• Maize/vegetables (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Sept.

sowing)• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Dec.) - (2 years

rotation)Moderate drought year : • Maize (Aug.-Dec.) - gingelly/ soybean / sunflower

(Dec.-March)• Fodder / pulses / green manure (Aug.-Dec.) -

sesame/groundnut / sunflower / sorghum / pearl millet (Dec.-March)

• Cotton (Aug.-Feb.) – fallow• Fodder (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under

drip irrigation)Severe drought year : • Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (July-Dec.) - water

melon / cluster bean / cucumber (Jan.-April)• Periwinkle*/ senna* (June-Sep.) • Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas : Black, laterite and red soils

Existing : • Gingelly (July-Oct.)- cotton + coriander (Nov.-Feb.)• Gingelly(July-Oct.) - horsegram (Nov.-Feb.)• Pearl millet / sorghum / maize (July-Oct.) -

coriander / groundnut (Nov.-Feb.)

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Normal year : • Gingelly (July-Oct.) - cotton + coriander (Nov.-Feb.)

• Gingelly (July-Oct.) - horsegram (Nov.-Feb.)• Pearl millet / sorghum / maize (July-Oct.) -

coriander / groundnut (Nov.-Feb.)Moderate drought year : • Cotton (Aug.-Feb.) - fallow

• Gingelly (July-Oct.) - horsegram (Oct.-Feb.)Severe drought year : • Fodder sorghum / minor millets / fodder / coriander

(Oct.-Feb.)

6. Pudukottai district


a. Command areas : Alluvial and laterite soils


• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly/ cotton (Jan.-April)

• Sugarcane (Jan.-Dec.) - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Dec.) – 2 years rotation

• Direct sown rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Jan.-April)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) – gingelly (Jan.-April)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / groundnut / gingelly

(Jan.-April)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Jan.-April) – gingelly

(April-June)Normal year : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly

(Feb.-May)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/sesame/cotton (Jan-Apr)• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Dec.)• Director sown rice (Aug-Jan)-groundnut (Jan-Apr)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - gingelly (Jan.-April)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / groundnut / gingelly

(Jan.-April)• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Jan.-April) – gingelly

(April-June)

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Moderate drought year : • Direct sown short duration rice - (Sep.-Dec.) • Groundnut / gingelly (Dec.-March)• Coleus* (June-Nov.) - pulses (Dec.-Feb.) • Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / pulses /

sesame/green manure (June-Sep) - rice (Aug-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – Rice (Oct-Jan) – Pulses/gingelly (Feb-May)

Severe drought year : • Pulses (June-Sep.) - groundnut /gingelly (Sep.-Dec.)• Millets / green manure / gingelly (June-Sep.) - maize

/ fodder / pulses (Oct.-Feb.) • Periwinkle*/ senna* (Oct.-Jan.)

b) Tankfed areas : Laterite and red soils

Existing : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April) • Rice (June-Sep.) - ragi (Sep.-Dec.) - pulses

(Jan.-April)• Rice (July-Nov.) - ragi/groundnut (Dec.-March) -

fallow• Ragi (April - July) - rice (July-Nov.) - groundnut/

pulses (Dec.-Feb.)Normal year : • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)

• Rice (June-Sep.)-ragi (Sep-Dec.)-pulses (Jan.-Apr)• Rice (July-Nov.) - groundnut / ragi (Dec.-March) -

fallow• Ragi (April - July) - rice (July-Nov.) - groundnut/

pulses (Dec.-Feb.)Moderate drought year : • Maize (Aug.-Nov.) - ragi (Dec.-March) - fallow

• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow

Severe drought year : • Fodder maize/ fodder cowpea / water melon / cucumber (Oct.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas : Laterite, red and sandy soils

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Existing : • Groundnut (April-July) - rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)

• Ragi (April-July) - rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)

• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Nov. -Dec.) - (2 years rotation)

• Ragi (April-July) - maize (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)

• Banana - ratoon banana (July-May) - (2 years rotation)

Normal year : • Groundnut (April-July) - rice (Aug.-Jan.)- pulses (Feb.-April)

• Ragi (Apr-July)- rice (Aug.-Jan.)-pulses (Feb.-Apr)• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Dec.) - (2

years rotation)• Ragi (April-July) - maize (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-

April) • Banana - ratoon banana (July-May) - (2 years

rotation)• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) (under



sowing)Moderate drought year : • Ragi (April-July) - maize (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-

April) • Watermelon (Dec.-March) - groundnut

(April-July) – fallow• Fodder (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under

drip irrigation)Severe drought year : • Fodder sorghum / fodder maize / fodder cowpea /

green manure (Oct.-Feb.)• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

d. Rainfed areas : Laterite and red soils

Existing : • Groundnut + redgram (June-Jan.)• Groundnut + castor (June-Jan.)• Varagu + pearl millet (Aug.-Jan.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - ragi (Sep.-Jan.)• Ragi + castor (June-Jan.)

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Normal year : • Groundnut + redgram (June-Jan.)• Groundnut + castor (June-Jan.)• Varagu + pearl millet (Aug.-Jan.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - ragi (Sep.-Jan.)• Ragi + castor (June-Jan.)

Moderate drought year : • Pulses (June-Sep.) - ragi (Oct.-Feb.)• Ragi + castor (June-Jan.)

Severe drought year : • Fodder sorghum / fodder cowpea/castor / cucurbits (June-Jan.)

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7. Cuddalore district : (Chidambaram and Kattumannarkovil)




• Rice (Aug.-Jan.)- pulses/sesame/cotton (Jan.-Apr)• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - rice

(Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - (three years rotation)

Normal year : • Rice (June - Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.)- pulses/sesame/cotton (Jan.-April)• Maize / vegetables / pulses / gingelly / green manure

(June-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - rice

(Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - (three years rotation)

Moderate drought year : • Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi/ gingelly / green manure (June-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Feb.) – gingelly (Feb.-May)

• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – Rice (Oct-Jan) – Pulses/gingelly (Feb-May)

Severe drought year : • Millets / green manure / season (June-Sep.) - maize / fodder (Oct.-Feb.) – gingelly (Feb.-May)

• Perennial trees : 20% of cultivable area Sapota, amla, cashew, bamboo, mango, casuarina•Inland fisheries and dairy • Biofuel crops are recommended only with industrial tie-up • Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement

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V. Southern Zone

1. Madurai district


a. Command areas (Periyar Vaigai Project) : Alluvial soils

Existing : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-April)

• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Dec.) - (2 years rotation)

• Banana - ratoon banana (June-March) - (2 years rotation)

Normal year : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-April)

• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Dec.) - (2 years rotation)


Moderate drought year : • Pulses / millets (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Sep.) - rice

(Oct.-Jan.) – fallow• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) – pulses

(Feb-May)Severe drought year : • Maize / millets (Jun-Sep)-pulses/senna* (Oct.-Jan.)

b. Tankfed areas : Red, black and laterite soils

Existing : • Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-April)• Rice (Sep.-Dec.) - senna* (Jan.-March)

Normal year : • Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-April)• Rice (Sep.-Dec.) - senna* (Jan.-March)

69

Moderate drought year : • Millets / maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Oct.) - pulses (Nov.-Feb.)

Severe drought year : • Millets / gingelly/ fodder crops / pulses / senna* / minor millets / water melon (Sep.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas : Red, black and laterite soils

Existing : • Vegetables / groundnut (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Jun)

• Rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)• Pearl millet (June-Aug.) - vegetables (Oct.-April)

Normal year : • Vegetables /groundnut (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Jun) • Rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)• Chilles (Jul-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)• Chilles (Sep-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)• Cotton (Feb-May) – Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) –

maize (Oct-Jan)• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Oct.

sowing)Moderate drought year : • Maize / millets / sunflower / senna* (Oct.-Jan.) -

pulses (Feb.-April)• Maize (Jun-Sept) – Jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (Under

drip irrigation)Severe drought year : • Millets / fodder/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi

/ pulses (Oct.-Feb.)• Jatropha* (September sowing) (Under drip

irrigation)

d. Rainfed areas : Red, black and laterite soils

Existing : • Cotton + pulses (Sep.-Feb.)• Sorghum/gingelly /groundnut /sunflower (Sep.-Jan.)

Normal year : • Cotton + pulses (Sep.-Feb.)• Sorghum / gingelly / pulses (Sep.-Jan.) - senna*

(Jan.-April)• Maize / pulses / coriander / sunflower (Jan.-April)

Moderate drought year : • Pearl millet + clusterbean / coriander / sunflower (Sept-Jan.)

Severe drought year : • Millets + pulses (Sep.-Jan.)

2. Ramanathapuram district

70


71

a. Command areas (system tank areas) : Heavy clay soils

Existing : • Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Jan.-Feb.)

Normal year : • Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Jan.-Feb.)

Moderate drought year : • Rice / ragi / chillies / maize (Sep.-Jan.)• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) – pulses

(Feb-May)Severe drought year : • Ragi / kuthiraivali /gingelly(Sep.-Jan.)

b. Tankfed areas : Heavy clay soils

Existing : • Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)• Rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year : • Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)• Rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)

Moderate drought year : • Maize/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi /rice/ ragi/ pulses/chillies (Sep.-Feb.)

Severe drought year : • Minor millets / gingelly / horsegram / fodder / water melon (Sep.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas : Red, black and laterite soils

Existing : • Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-May)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year : • Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-May)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)• Chilles (Jul-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)• Chilles (Sep-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)• Cotton (Feb-May) – Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) –

maize (Oct-Jan)• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep)–jatropha* (Oct.sowing)

Moderate drought year : • Maize/chillies /senna* / sunflower (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

Severe drought year : • Minor millets/sesame/horsegram/millets (Sep.-Feb.)• Jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

d. Rainfed areas : Red, black and laterite soils

72

Existing : • Upland rice/millets / pulses/groundnut/cotton / chillies (Sep.-Feb.)

Normal year : • Upland rice/millets / pulses / groundnut / cotton / chillies (Sep.-Feb.)

Moderate drought year : • Rice/ragi/cowpea/sesame/minor millets/sunflower / coriander (Sep.-Jan.)

Severe drought year : • Minor millets / coriander (Sep.-Jan.)

3. Virudhunagar district


a. Tankfed areas : Heavy clay soils


Normal year : • Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)• Rice/maize (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)

Moderate drought year : • Maize/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Oct.) - pulses (Nov.-Feb.)

Severe drought year : • Sorghum / minor millets / gingelly/ fodder / water melons / gourds/ senna* (Sep.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas : Red, black and laterite soils

Existing : • Chillies / groundnut (Jul-Jan.)-cotton (Feb.-June)• Pearl millet (June-Aug.) - chillies (Oct.-April)• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July)

Normal year : • Chillies / groundnut (July-Jan.)-cotton (Feb.-June)• Chilles (Jul-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)• Chilles (Sep-Feb) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)• Cotton (Feb-May) – sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) –


sowing)• Pearl millet (June-Aug.) - chillies (Oct.-April)

73

Moderate drought year : • Maize / chillies / sunflower / senna* / Periwinkle*(Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / sorghum / fodder / minor millets / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.)

• Jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

c. Rainfed areas : Red, black and laterite soils

Existing : • Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.)• Sorghum/groundnut /sesame/sunflower (Sep.-Jan.)

Normal year : • Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.)• Sorghum / maize/groundnut /sunflower /

gingelly(Sep.-Jan.)Moderate drought year : • Pearl millet + cluster bean / minor millets / chillies /

coriander / gingelly/ sunflower (Sep.-Jan.)Severe drought year : • Minor millets / pearl millet / cowpea (Sep.-Jan.)

4. Sivagangai district



Existing : • Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton / pulses / millets / vegetables / gingelly (Feb.-Aug.)

• Rice (Sep.-Oct.)-groundnut/vegetables (Oct.-Feb.)Normal year : • Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton / pulses/ millets /

vegetables / gingelly(Feb.-Aug.)• Rice/groundnut / vegetables / maize (Jun-Sep.) -

chillies (Oct.-Feb.)Moderate drought year : • Millets / maize (Oct.-Jan.) - ragi / maize / gingelly

(Jan.-April)• Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Oct.) -

pulses (Nov.-Feb.) • Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) – pulses

(Feb-May)

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Severe drought year : • Sorghum / maize / pulses / gingelly/ fodder / water melon / gourds / senna* (Sep.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas : Laterite and sandy soils

Existing : • Groundnut (Jun-Sep.)- vegetables/pulses (Oct-Jan)• Green manure (Jun-Sep)- rice/groundnut (Oct-Feb)• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Dec.) (2 years

rotation)• Banana (July-June) - ratoon banana (June-March) (2

years rotation)• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July)

Normal year : • Groundnut / pulses / vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sep.) -vegetables /pulses (Oct-Jan)• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Dec.) - 2

years rotation• Banana (July-June) - ratoon banana (June-March) -

(2 years rotation)• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July)• Groundnut (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June)• Chilles (Jul-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)• Chilles (Sept-Feb) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)• Cotton (Feb-May) – sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) –


sowing)Moderate drought year : • Maize / groundnut / sunflower (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses /

clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (March-July)• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (Under

drip irrigation)Severe drought year : • Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sorghum / pearl

millet / fodder / minor millets (Oct.-Feb.) • Jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

c. Rainfed areas : Black and laterite soils

Existing : • Groundnut + pulses (June-Sep.)-gingelly(Oct.-Jan.)• Sorghum / groundnut / sunflower / gingelly

(June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.) Normal year : • Groundnut + pulses (June-Sep.)-gingelly(Oct.-Jan.)

• Maize/ sorghum / groundnut / sunflower / gingelly (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

75

Moderate drought year : • Groundnut + pulses (Sep.-Jan.)• Pearl millet / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi

/ sunflower /sesame(Sep.-Jan.)Severe drought year : • Varagu / Sorghum + redgram / pearl millet / cowpea

(Sep.-Jan.)

5. Tirunelveli district


a. Command areas (Thamarabarani Project area) : Alluvial soils

Existing : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly(Feb.-April)

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-May)


Normal year : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly(Feb.-April)

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-May)

• Banana (July-June) - ratoon banana (June-March) - (2 years rotation)

Moderate drought year : • Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) – fallow

• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) – pulses (Feb-May)

Severe drought year : • Cowpea / Green manure (June-Jan.)

b. Tankfed area (without wells) : Heavy clay soils

Existing : • Rice (Sep.-Dec.) - pulses (Jan.-April)

Normal year : • Rice (Sep.-Dec.) - pulses (Jan.-April)

Moderate drought year : • Maize / vegetables (Sep.-Dec.) – pulses (Jan.-Apr)

Severe drought year : • Cowpea / green manure (June-Jan.)

76

c. Well irrigated areas : Red and laterite soils

Existing : • Chillies / groundnut / rice (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June)

• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July)Normal year : • Chillies / groundnut / rice (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-

June)• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March - July)• Chilles (Jul-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)• Chilles (Sept-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)• Cotton (Feb-May) – Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) –


sowing)Moderate drought year : • Maize / chillies / sunflower / senna* (Oct.-Feb.) -

pulses (March - July)• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under

drip irrigation)Severe drought year : • Millets / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / minor

millets / fodder (Oct.-Feb.)• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

d. Rainfed areas : Red and black soils

Existing : • Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.)• Sorghum / groundnut / gingelly/ pearl millet /

sunflower (Sep.-Jan.)Normal year : • Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.)

• Maize / millets / groundnut / sunflower (Sep.-Feb.)Moderate drought year : • Coriander / pulses / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi /

minor millets (Sep.-Jan.)Severe drought year : • Cowpea / water melon / senna* (Sep.-Jan.)

6. Thoothukudi district


a. Command areas (Thamarabarani project) : Alluvial soils

77

Existing : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / green manure (Feb.-April)

• Banana (July-June) - ratoon banana (June-March) - 2 years rotation

Normal year : • Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-April)

• Banana (July-June) - ratoon banana (June-March) (2 years rotation)

Moderate drought year : • Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) – fallow

• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) – pulses (Feb-May)

Severe drought year : • Maize / sunflower (June-Sep.) - senna* (Oct.-Jan.)

b. Tankfed areas : Heavy soils


Normal year : • Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)• Maize / rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)• Rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)

Moderate drought year : • Chillies (Sep.-Feb.)• Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / pulses (Sep.-

Feb.)Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / gingelly/ fodder / senna* / minor

millets / water melon / gourds (Sep.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas : Red, laterite and sandy soils

Existing : • Chillies / groundnut (Jul-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June)• Pearl millet (June – Aug.) - chillies (Oct.-April)• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July)

Normal year : • Chillies / groundnut (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June)• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March - July)• Chilles (Jul-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)• Chilles (Sept-Feb) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)• Cotton (Feb-May) – sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) –


sowing)• Pearl millet (June – Aug.) - chillies (Oct.-April)

78

Moderate drought year : • Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / maize / chillies / (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March - July)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

Severe drought year : • Pearl millet / sorghum / fodder / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.)

• Jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

d. Rainfed areas : Red, black and sandy soils

Existing : • Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.) • Sorghum / groundnut / gingelly/ sunflower

(Sep.-Jan.)Normal year : • Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.)

• Maize / pearl millet / sorghum / groundnut / gingelly/ sunflower (Sep.-Jan.)

Moderate drought year : • Sunflower / pearl millet / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Sep.-Jan.)

Severe drought year : • Minor millets / pearl millet / cowpea / coriander (Sep.-Jan.)

• Perennial crops - 20% of total cultivable area• Annual moringa, curry leaf, sapota, amla, guava, custard apple, mango, Tamarind

and flower crops • Under well irrigated areas onion and flower crops may be included based on

demand • Dairy, sheep • In tankfed it is suggested to include celosia and marigoldduring June if market

prevails • Biofuel crops are recommended only with industrial tie-up • Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement

79

VI. High Rainfall Zone(Kanyakumari District)

a. Command areas (Pechiparai, Perunchani) : Laterite and sandy soils

Existing : • Rice (April-Aug.) - rice (Sep.-March) - fallow • Rice (June-Oct.)-rice (Oct.-Feb.)-pulses (Feb.-May)• Banana - ratoon banana (April - Jan.) - (2 years

rotation)Normal year : • Rice (April-Aug.) - rice (Sep.-March) - fallow

• Rice (June-Oct.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

• Banana - ratoon banana (April - Jan.) - (2 years rotation)

Moderate drought year : • Short duration rice (Oct.-Jan.)• Maize/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.) -

pulses (Feb.-May)• Groundnut (Aug.-Nov.) • Tapioca (Sep.-March)

Severe drought year : • Sorghum/sesame/minor millets/fodder/horsegram (Oct.-Feb.)

b. Tankfed areas : Laterite soils

Existing : • Rice (June-Oct.)-rice (Oct.-Feb.)-pulses (Feb.-May)

Normal : • Rice / Maize (June-Oct.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

Moderate drought year : • Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

• Tapioca (Sept.-Mar.)Severe drought year : • Minor millets / pulses / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi

/ fodder (Oct.-Feb.)• Castor (Sep.-Feb.)• Tapioca (Sep.-March)

c. Well irrigated areas : Laterite and sandy soils

Existing : • Tapioca + pulses (Sep.-July) • Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)• Banana - ratoon banana (Apr.- Mar.) - (2 years

rotation)

80

Normal year : • Tapioca + pulses (Sep.-July)• Red banana (June-May)• Flowers• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)• Jatropha* (Jun-July sowing) (Under drip irrigation)• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – tapioca (Sept-July) –

Red banana (July-May) – Two years rotation Moderate drought year : • Gingelly (Sept.-Dec.) – fallow

• Maize / tapioca / medicinal plants* (Oct.-Feb.) - fallow

• Pulses (Feb.-May) - fallow• Castor (Sept.-Feb.) – fallow• Maize (Jan-Sept) – Sweet sorghum* (Oct-Jan) –

pulses (Feb-May)Severe drought year : • Pulses / medicinal plants / fodder / miner millets

(Oct.-Feb.) - fallow • Castor (Sep.-Feb.) - fallow• Gingelly (Sept.-Dec.) - fallow

d. Rainfed areas : Laterite and red soils

Existing : • Tapioca + pulses (April-Dec.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

Normal year : • Vegetables including yam/ medicinal plants (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

• Tapioca (April-Dec.)• Tapioca + pulses (April-Dec.)

Moderate drought year : • Millets + pulses (Oct.-Jan.)• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - fallow• Castor (Sep.-Feb.) - fallow• Gingelly (Sep.-Dec.) – fallow • Tapioca (April-Dec.)

Severe drought year : • Minor millets / fodder / pulses (Oct.-Jan.)• Castor (Sep.-Feb.)• Gingelly (Sep.-Dec.)

• Perennial crops : 30% of the cultivable area Coconut + vanilla, sapota, vanilla, pepper, cocoa, rubber, jack, cinnamon, clove, arecanut, mango

• Chillies, capsicum, annual moringa may be encouraged in well irrigated areas • Anthurium and Gerbera may be grown in shade net house, if market prevails • Dairy, goat• Beekeeping

81

• Biofuel crops are recommended only with industrial tie-up • Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement

82

VII. Hilly and High Altitude Zone

The zone comprises of Nilgiris, Kodaikannal, Shevroys, Elagiri, Jevadhi, Kollimalai, Palanis and Podhgaimalai. The annual rainfall of this zone is more than 1500 mm. The soils are mainly lateritic. Plantation and horticultural crops are the predominant crops being grown in the zone.

Nilgiris

• Reduce 10% area under tea and coffee during next five years• Replace by rosemary and thyme, potato, cabbage, radish and carrot (grow these

crops in terrace)• Cut flowers

Kodaikanal

• Lower Palani hills – Coffee, Mandarin, Cocoa, Vanilla, Chowchow, Pineapple, French beans, Avocado, Cardamom, Pepper

• Cut flowers • Upper Palani hills – Potato, Pear, Peaches, Plums, Apple Garlic, Cabbage,

Cauliflower, Ginger

83

ANNEXURE I

AGRICULTURAL CROPS

84

Particulars of ruling varieties and hybrids of crops

1. RICE

Varieties/ Hybrids

Duration(days)

Season Average yield(kg/ha)

Special features Suitability to Agro climatic zones

a) Short duration

ADT 43 110 April-May

5900 Medium Slender white rice, short duration, resistant to GLH

All districts of Tamil Nadu except Kanyakumari & Tuticorin

ADT(R)45 110 April-May

June-JulyMay-June

6137 Medium Slender white rice, Gall midge (biotype 1) resistant

Entire Tamil Nadu except Madurai, Dharmapuri, Theni, Karur, The Nilgiris and Kanyakumari

CO 47 110-115 April-MayMay-June

June-July

5800 Medium slender white rice, resistant to blast

Erode, Thiruvannamalai, Dindigul, Cuddaore, Salem, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, Trichy, Thanjavur and Tuticorin

ASD 20 110 April-May

Dec- JanSep-Oct

6700 Long slender white rice, semi dwarf, non lodging alternate to IR 50

All districts of Tamil Nadu

MDU 5 95 – 100 June-JulySep-OctJan-Feb

Mar-April

4500 Medium slender, white rice, drought tolerant. Suited for direct seeding and transplanting

All districts of Tamil Nadu as dry and semidry crop suited Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Viruthunagar, Tuticorin and Chengalpet districts

TRY 2 115-120 June-July Dec- Jan

5360 Salt tolerant, tolerant to blast, long slender grain

Salt affected soils of entire Tamil Nadu

TKM 12 115 – 120

July-AugAug-Sept

3040 Drought resistant, good cooking quality suitable for dry and semi dry cultivation

Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Virudhunagar, Ramnad, Thoothukudi and Sivagangai

PMK (R) 3 115 Sept-Oct 3025 Drought resistant, suitable for direct seeding

Ramnad, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar and Thoothukudi

ADTRH 1 (hybrid)

115 April-May

June-July

6400 Long slender, short duration high tillering


ADT (R) 47 118 April-MayMay-June

June-July

6200 Medium slender white rice, high yielder

Throughout Tamil Nadu

85

ADT (R) 48 94-99 June-July 4800 Very early, Long slender white rice, better than MDU 5 in quality, Resistant to stem-borer, green leaf hopper and gall midge

Suitable for direct seeding under water scarce contingent situations as well as for transplanting for late Kuruvai season in Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur districts

b) Medium duration

CO 43 135-140 AugSep-Oct

5200 Fine grain, tolerant to alkalinity & salinity

Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Karur, Villupuram, Trichy, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramnad, Kanyakumari, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, Erode, The Nilgiris

CO 46 125 Aug Sept-Oct

6020 Long slender white rice, resistant to BPH

Coimbatore and Erode districts

ASD 19 125 Oct-Nov(Pishnam)

5800 Short slender white rice, drought tolerant

Southern districts

ADT 39 120-125 Late thaladi in Cauvery Delta zone

5600 Medium slender white rice, tolerant to blast BLB, leaf spot

Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Trichy, Karur, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Pudukottai, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Kancheepuram, Salem, Namakkal, Coimbatore and Erode

ADT 46 135 Sep-Oct 6170 Long Slender white rice, field resistant to stem borer, leaf folder and moderately resistant to RTD and brown spot

Thanjavur, Thiruvannamalai, Theni, Kancheepuram, Pudukottai, Salem, Perambalur, Madurai, Erode, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri and Trichy districts

I.W. Ponni 135-140 AugSampa ThaladiPishanam

6750 Fine grain quality rice, resistant to RTV


CORH 2 125 July-Oct 6100 Medium slender, white rice, non lodging

Coimbatore, Pudukottai, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Villupuram, Nagapattinam, Ramnad and Tuticorin

86

c) Long duration

ADT 44 145-150 Aug-Sept6200 Short bold white rice, resistant to blast and GLH

All districts

2. MILLETS

Varieties/

Hybrids

Duration

(days)

Season Average yield(kg/ha)

Special features

Suitability to Agro climatic zones Grain yield Fodder

yielda) Sorghum

CO 26 105-110

Irrigated : SummerRainfed : June-July

Rainfed : 5000Irrigated: 6250


High yield, White grain, juicy fodder

All zone of Tamil Nadu except hill zone

CO (S) 28

100-105

June-JulySept-OctApril-May



White grain All sorghum growing districts of Tamil Nadu

APK 1 105-110

June-JulySept-Oct(Rainfed)

Rainfed : 2619 Rainfed : 8090

Non lodgingResistant to downy mildew, leaf spot and stem borer

Southern districts of Tamil Nadu as rainfed crop

BSR 1 105-110

June-July (Rainfed)Dec-Jan (irrigated)

Rainfed : 2500-3500Irrigated: 6000-6500

Rainfed : 2500-3000Irrigated: 9500-10000

Moderate resistance to earhead bug

Western zone of Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore, Erode, Thiruchencode taluk of Salem and Karur taluk of Tiruchirappali)

K 8 95 Purattasipattam (Rainfed)


Tolerant to drought, moderate resistant to shootfly, stemborer

Dindigul, Madurai, Ramnad, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai, Tuticorin and Tirunelveli

COH 2 90 All seasons Rainfed : 3750Irrigated: 4250


Suitable for grain and fodder

All zones of Tamil Nadu except Nilgiri.

COH 4 105-110

Irrigated : Jan-Feb

Irrigated: 6500 Irrigated: 20000

High yield, low incidence of leaf diseases, grain mould and sugary disease. Suitable for both grain and fodder

Vellore, Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, Tuticorin, Trichy, Dindigul dists.

87

Paiyur 1 145-150

June-July Rainfed : 970 Rainfed : 9350

Sweet juicy thin straw

Dharmapuri, Salem, Vellore and Thiruvannamalai districts under rainfed conditions

Paiyur 2 90-95 Adi (Rainfed), Purattasi(Rainfed)


Dual purpose red grain sorghum suited to rainfed tract of salem, Namakkal district.Tolerant to downy mildew and charcoal rot diseases.

Salem districts

Varieties /

Hybrids

Duration (days)

Season Average grain yield (kg/ha)

Special features

Suitability of agro-climate

zones b) Cumbu

CO 7 95-100 days

Irrigated : June –July Feb-MarchRainfed : July, Sept.- Oct.

Irrigated : 3000 Kg/haRainfed : 2500 Kg/ha

High yielding Resistance to downy mildew

Suitable to all Pearl millet growing districts.

CO(Cu) 9 80-85 Irrigated : Jan. – Feb. Marc-AprilRainfed : June – July Sept. – Oct.

Irrigated : 2865 kg/haRainfed : 2354kg/ha

Lengthy ear heads More no. of tillers Resistance to downy mildew

Suitable to all Pearl millet growing districts of Tamil Nadu

c) Maize

CO 1 105-110 Irrigated : June-JulyRainfed : Sept. – Oct.

Irrigated : 5250 kg/haRainfed : 3500 kg/ha

Resistance to downy mildewSuitable for grain and fodder orange, flint grains

Hybrid COH(M) 4

90-95 Irrigated : June-July Jan. – Feb.Rainfed : Sept. – Oct.


Resistance to downy mildew of Stem borer, high yielder

All maize growing districts of Tamil Nadu

88

Baby corn COBC 1

55-65 Irrigated : June-July Jan. – Feb.Rainfed : Sept. – Oct.

6700 kg/ha (Fresh cobs)Green fodder – 32.3 t/ha

Suited for green cob consumption 2-3 cobs/plant

All maize growing areas of Tamil Nadu

d) Ragi

CO (Ra) 14 105-110 Irrigated : Dec.-Jan Apr.-MayRainfed : June-July Sept.-Oct.


High yielding long fingers, synchronized maturity.

Suitable for all ragi growing districts.Except Kanyakumari and Nilgiris

e) Tenai

CO 6 85-90 June – July Sept. – Oct.

1900 Kg/ha (Rainfed)3850 kg/ha (Irrigated)

Suitable for irrigated and Rainfed

For all districts of Tamil Nadu

CO (Te) 7 85-90 Kharif (Adipattam) and Rabi (Purattasi pattam)

1855 kg/ha Bold grains, Resistant to lodging, Suitable for rainfed condition, High protein (13.62%) and Calcium (0.5%), Suitable for low rainfall and low fertile soils

Salem, Villupuram, Namakkal, Thiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Tuticorin, Madurai, Vellore,Virudhunagar, Erode and Nilgiri districts

f) Samai

CO 3 80-85 June – July July- August Sept. – Oct.

1066 kg/ha Suitable for biscuit making

All samai growing districts of Tamil Nadu

g) Panivaragu

CO 4 75 July-AugDec-Jan

1400 kg/ha High tillering – wider adoptability

--

h) Varagu

CO 3 120 Rainfed : July – August

3000 kg/ha Non-lodging, drought tolerant.

--

i) Kuthiraivali

CO 1 75 Rainfed : Sept. – OctoberIrrigated : Feb. – March

1750 kg/ha No major pest & disease notice.

--

j) Wheat

89

HW 3094 85-90 15th October to 1st week of November

2364 kg/ha Bread wheat type, free transable resistance to yellow and black rust.

Southern Hills and areas adjoining to hills and plaints of Tamil Nadu.

COW (W) 1 85-90 Irrigated : 15thOctober to 15th November

2364 kg/ha Bread wheat type, High yielding, Rust resistant, Having better chappathi and bread making quality

Plains and adjoining areas near to hills and hills in Theni, Dindigul, Karur, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai & Kancheepuram dist.

3. PULSES

Varieties / Hybrids

Duration(days)

Season Average yields (Kg/ha)

Special features

Suitability to Agro climatic

zoneIrrigated

Rainfed

a) Redgram

SA 1 180 June – July - 1250 Long duration variety for rainfed condition, entire State

All zones *

CO 5 120 – 130 June – JulySept. – Nov.Feb. – March

1500 700- 800Photo insensitive moderately resistant to pod fly, root rot, SMD

All Zones *Sept. – Nov. North East and Western zone

CO 6 170 – 180 June – Aug - 900 Suitable for pure and mixed crop. Tolerant to pod borer

Throughout the state

COPH 2 120- 130 June – July Sep – OctJan- Feb

- 1050 Suitable for pure crop in irrigated and rainfed situations, synchronized flowering of female and male parents

All districts of Tamil Nadu except Nilgiris and Kanyakumari

Vamban 1 95 - 100 June – August Feb. – March

1200 840 Suitable for single harvest. High yield suitable for intercropping in groundnut

90

Vamban 2 170- 180 June - August

- 1050 High yielding resistant to sterility mosaic, high protein 20.3%

All districts of Tamil Nadu and Coimbatore

APK 1 95 – 105 June-JulySept-OctFeb-March

- 905 S h o r t d u r a t i o n resistant to SMD

Virudhunagar, Ramnad, Sivagangai, Madurai, Theni, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Trichy, Salem, Dharmapuri

CO(RG) 7 120 – 130 June – July Sept. – OctFeb. – March

1168 915 Photoinsensitive, high protein content (23.5%), very low incidence of SMD and pod fly

Coimbatore, Salem, Dindigul, Pudukottai, Namakkal, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai, Sivagangai, Theni, Madurai and Tirunelveli districts

BSR 1 Perennial 1st harvest from 150 days

June-July - 0.750-1.00 kg of green pods per

plant

Perennial, suitable for entire State

Virudhunagar, Ramnad, Sivagangai, Madurai, Theni, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Trichy, Salem, Dharmapuri and Coimbatore

VBN (Rg) 3 100-105 All seasons 884 Resistant to Sterility Mosaic Disease (SMD), Tolerant to pod borer

Entire Tamil Nadu. Suitable to all types of soil

b) Blackgram

ADT 5 70 April-May (Rice fallows in New Cauvery Delta zone of Thanjavur district)

1320 - Resistant to major diseases like YMV, root rot, leaf crinkle virus and pest like stemfly.

Cauvery delta, North East zone

K 1 70 – 75 Sept. – Oct to Nov – Dec

- 700 YMV resistant, 24.2% protein, suitable for intercropping in cotton

Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Ramnad and Sivagangai districts

91

TMV 1 65 – 70 June – Aug. Feb. – March

800 - Resistant to YMV and tolerant to root rot

Southern zone North East and North West zone

Vamban 3 65 – 70 June – JulySept. – Oct.,Feb. – March

820 775 Resistant to YMV All districts of Tamil Nadu

VBN (Bg) 4 75 - 80 June – JulySept. – Oct.Feb. – March

890 790 High yielder All districts of Tamil Nadu except problem soils and heavy clay soils

CO 5 70 – 75 June – JulySept. – Oct. Feb. – March

1270 740 High biomass, resistant to tip blight, tolerant to powdery mildew, suitable for rainfed conditions

North East, North West, Western zones

c) GreengramADT 3 65-70 Rice fallow

(Jan. – Feb.)- 1000

-1200 (Rice

fallow)

Resistant to YMV and stemfly

Cauvery delta and Southern zone

Paiyur 1 85 – 90 June – JulySept. – Oct. Feb. – March

- 700 High grain yield, low incidence of YMV, suited to rainfed condition

North East, North West, Western zones

K 1 70 – 75 Sept. – Oct. - 670 Tolerant to drought, suitable for pure and cotton based intercropping system

Rainfed tracts of Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar districts

KM 2 60 – 65 June – JulySept. – Oct. Feb. – March

- 760 Tolerant to YMV and pod borer

All zones *

VRM(Gg) 1 60 June – JulySep – Oct

970 - High yielder, short duration, high crude protein content, resistant to YMV, stemfly and pod borer

Vellore and Thiruvannamalai districts

VBN(Gg) 2 65 – 70 June-JulySep – OctFeb – March

820 750 High yielder, moderately resistant to YMV and pod borer

Entire Tamil Nadu

92

CO 4 85 June – JulySept. – Oct. Feb. – March

1250 – 1500

700-900 High biomass, suitable for rainfed condition

All zones *

CO 6 62 – 67 June – JulySept. – Oct. Feb. – March

1300 980 Resistant to YMV Suited to all greengram growing tracts to Tamil Nadu.

d) Soyabean

CO (Soy) 3 85 – 90 June-July,

Sept.-October

1366 Photoinsensitive, Creamy yellow seeds with high oil and protein content, Resistant to Yellow Mosaic Virus at field condition

Erode and Coimbatore districts

e) Cowpea

Paiyur 1 90 June – Aug.Sept. – Nov.

- 740 Suited to rainfed tracts

North East, North West and Western zones

VBN 1 55 – 65 April – MayJune – Aug. Sept. – Nov.

- 950 Suited to rainfed conditions, white grain type

All districts of Tamil Nadu as rainfed crop

Vamban 2 75 – 85 Throughout the year

10580 kg green

pods

Vegetable type, Ivory coloured seeds


P 152 70 – 75 June – July Sept. – Nov.

- 970 Suitable for rainfed conditions

All zones *

4. OILSEEDS

Sl. No.

Varieties / hybrids

Duration

(Days)

Season Average yield

(kg/ha)

Special features Suitability to Agroclimatic

zones a) Groundnut

1. CO 3 105 June – JulySept – OctApril – May

R-1750I – 2150

Bold kernels All groundnut growing districts of Tamil Nadu

2. COGn 4 110 IrrigatedDec – Jan April – MayFeb – March RainfedApril – MayJune – JulyOct

I – 1950R – 1500

Large seeded, bunch, high oil content

All groundnut growing areas of Tamil Nadu

3. COGn 5 125 RainfedJune – JulyJuly – Aug

R – 1585 Semispreading, drought resistant, Red kernel

Erode, Salem, Namakkal, and Dharmapuri and Perambalur

93

4. VRI 2 105 June – July (Rainfed)Dec – Jan (Irrigated)

R – 1700I – 2000

Cosmopolitan, Bunch All districts

5. VRI 3 90 RainfedJune – July Oct – NovIrrigated Dec – Jan

1830 Early maturing All districts

6. VRI (Gn) 5

105-110

June – JulyDec – Jan

R – 2133I – 2384

One to two seeded dormancy for 45 days

All groundnut growing areas of Tamil Nadu

7. TMV 7 105 June – July (Rainfed)

1800 Cosmopolitan, Bunch All districts

8. ALR 3 110-115

RainfedApril – May June – JulyDec – Jan (Irrigated)

R – 1680I – 1880

Resistant to rust, Haulms remains grown still harvest

Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Virudhunagar, Dindigul, Trichy and Tuticorin districts

b) Sesamum

1. TMV 3 85 All seasons 700 (Rainfed)900 (Irrigated)

Cosmopolitan, Black seeds

All districts

2. CO 1 85 All seasons 700 (Rainfed)900 (Irrigated)

Cosmopolitan, Black seeds

All districts

3. TMV 4 85 Feb– March

(Irrigated)

900 Brown seeds All districts

4. TMV 5 85 Feb– March

(Irrigated)


5. TMV 6 85 Oct. - Nov. (Rainfed)June – July (Rainfed)


6. SVPR 1 70-80 Nov – Jan (Irrigated)Feb.-march (Irrigated)

700-800 White seeds

7. VRI (Sv) 2 80-85 Rainfed : Rabi (November – December) Irrigated : Summer (February – March)

706 (Rainfed)726 (Irrigated)

Moderately resistant to shoot webber and root rot , high yielder

Sesame growing districts in Tamil Nadu

c) Sunflower

94

1. CO 4 80-85 RainfedJune-JulyOct-NovDec-Jan

1200-1500 Large head size high yielder

Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli and Dindigul

2. TCSH 1 85-90 June – JulyOct – NovDec – JanApril – May

(R) 1650(I) 1850

Hybrid, compact head, uniform seeds set; less hull content.

Coimbatore, Namakkal, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, TirunelveliRainfed – Erode, Salem, MaduraiIrrigated – Cuddalore, Trichy

d) Castor

1. TMV 6 160 June – July (RF) – 843(I) – 1130

High oil content, non shattering

Pure and mixed / intercropping in Salem, Dharmapuri and Erode districts

2. TMVCH 1 160-170

June – Sept 1180 Hybrid high oil content, good for intercropping

Salem, Namakkal and Erode

5. COTTON

Sl. No.

Varieties / hybrids

Duration

(Days)

Season Average yield (kg/

ha)

Special features Suitability to Agroclimatic zones

1.1.

MCU 5 165 Aug.-Oct.Feb.-Mar.

1850 Extra long staple (29 mm MHL), Can spun upto 70s, ginning 34%

Winter Irrigated / Summer Irrigated tracts of Tamil Nadu

1. MCU 7 135 Jan.-Feb.

1500 Medium staple cotton (23.7 mm MHL), Can spun upto 30s, early maturing with 33.2% ginning outturn. Tolerant to Blackgram

Rice Fallow tracts of Tamil Nadu

1. MCU 12 150 -160

Aug.-Sep.

1570 Can spun upto 60s Coimbatore, Erode, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Cuddalore, Villupuram

1. MCU 13 150 -160

Aug.-Sep.

1735 Extra long staple cotton can spun upto 50s, synchronized maturity with high fibre strength

Winter Irrigated tracts of Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Namakkal, Dindigul and Theni districts

1. LRA 5166

165 Aug.-Sep.

1500 (Irrigated)

1000 (Rainfed)

Medium staple (26 mm), Can spun upto 40s, ginning 36.2% and tolerant to drought

Winter Irrigated tracts and Winter Rainfed tracts of Tamil Nadu

95

1. MCU 5 VT

165 Aug.-Sep.

2000 Extra long staple, Verticillium wilt tolerant

Winter Irrigated tracts of Tamil Nadu

1. Supriya 165 Aug.-Sep.

2000 White fly tolerant Winter Irrigated tracts of Tamil Nadu

1. Anjali 150 Jan. -Feb.

1800 Dwarf, semi compact plant type with early maturing

Rice Fallow Tracts of Tamil Nadu

1. Surabhi 165 Aug.-Sep.

2200 Extra long staple, Verticillium wilt resistant

Winter Irrigated tracts of Tamil Nadu

1. Sumangala

165 Sept.-Oct.

2000 (Irrigated)

1200 (Rainfed)

Suitable for rainfed tract Winter Irrigated and Rainfed tracts of Tamil Nadu

1. Sruthi (Interspecific Hybrid)

165 Sept.-Oct.

2500 Extra long staple cotton Winter Irrigated tracts of Coimbatore, Erode, Salem and Dharmapuri Districts of Tamil Nadu

1. K 11 130-135

Oct – Nov

1100 Highly tolerant to drought and sucking pests

Winter rainfed tracts of Turicorin, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar districts

1. Suvin 165 August-Sept.

1020 Extra long staple cotton with 28% ginning outturn and 32 mm MHL, spins 100s

Winter Irrigated tracts of Coimbatore, Erode, Salem and Dharmapuri Districts of Tamil Nadu

1. TCHB 213 (Interspecific Hybrid)

165-175

Aug-Sept.

2500 High yielding, early maturing, Tolerant to leaf spot diseases, Extra long staple cotton and can spun upto 80’s

Winter Irrigated tracts of Coimbatore, Erode, Salem and Dharmapuri Dist. of Tamil Nadu

1. SVPR 2 150 Feb - Mar Aug.- Sept.

2000 High ginning out turn of 36.4%, medium staple (25.1 mm), can spin 40's, moderately resistant to leaf hopper and tolerant to drought, suited to summer irrigated and tankfed rice fallow tracts of Tamil Nadu.

Summer Irrigated tracts and Winter Rainfed tracts of Tamil Nadu

1. SVPR 3 135-140

Jan.-Feb.

1290 Suitable for rice fallow tract. Tolerant to drought

Rice Fallow Tracts of Tamil Nadu

1. KC 2 140-150

Sep - Oct

772 High ginning out turn of 37.5%, medium staple cotton - 24.4 mm tolerant to drought and jassids, suitable for rainfed black cotton soil tract

Winter Rainfed tracts of Tamil Nadu (Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar)

96

6. SUGARCANE

Season, Period of Planting

1. !Main season ! - i) Early- Dec - Jan ii) Mid - Feb - March iii) Late- April - May2. ! Special season - June - July ! - Early season varieties are suitable for special season.

PARTICULARS OF VARIETIES

Variety Duration (Month) Cane yield (T/ha)

CCS% CCS(T/ha)

COC 671 10 123.5 14.20 17.50 COC 771 10 140.0 13.10 18.30 COC 772 10 143.3 14.00 20.00 COC 773 10 97.5 13.20 12.60 COC 800 (C 66191) 10 - 11 102.9 13.20 13.50 COC 774 11 159.8 11.90 17.90 COC 775 11 122.5 13.40 16.40 COC 776 11 112.3 14.00 15.50 COC 777 12 171.3 11.80 20.00 COC 778 12 165.5 11.00 18.10 COC 779 12 204.6 11.80 24.00 COC 419 12 112.5 10.50 11.80 CO 6304 12 115.0 13.50 15.50 COC 8001 10 - 11 102.5 13.20 13.50 COC 85061 10 - 11 128.5 12.90 16.60 COC 86062 10 - 11 133.5 12.60 16.80 COC 86071 10 - 11 131.7 12.20 16.00 COC 90063 10 - 11 124.0 12.30 15.40 CO 8021 10 - 11 137.7 11.00 14.60 COC 91061 10 - 11 131.0 11.30 15.60 COC 92061 8 - 11 132.7 12.76 16.05 CO 8362 11 - 12 124.3 12.40 15.40 COG 93076 11 - 12 132.0 13.20 17.40 CO 8208 11 - 13 141.5 11.07 15.28 COG 94077 11 133.2 13.5 17.6 COG 95076 10 - 11 108.2 11.5 12.4 CO 85019 12 134.5 12.5 16.8 COSI 95071 10 152.0 12.9 21 COSI 96071 10 145.0 11.9 17.3 CO 86010 10 - 12 146.1 10.78 15.64 COC 98061 10 - 11 120.0 11.60 13.80 COSI 98071 12 144.7 12.3 17.7 CO 86249 10 - 12 128.7 11.3 14.3 COC 99061 10 - 12 130.3 11.9 15.6CO 86032 10 - 12 110.0 13.0 14.3COC (SC) 22 10 - 12 135.9 12.1 16.5CO Si (SC) 6 12 148.0 12.3 18.1COG (SC) 5 11 - 12 120.9 13.0 15.6

DISTRICT/SEASON - SUITABLE VARIETIES

97

ALL DISTRICTS (except Kanniyakumari and Nilgiris)

Early season Mid season Late season Special season Factory Jaggery Factory Jaggery Factory Jaggery Factory Jaggery

CO 658 .. CO 658 CO 419 CO 6304 CO 62175 Early varieties are suitable for Special

..

CO 62174 COC 671 CO 62198 CO 449 COC 8201

CO 419 .. ..

CO 62198 COC 771 CO 6304 CO 6304 COC 771 CO 6304 .. ..COC 671 COC 772 COC 774 COC 776 COC 778 COC 8201 .. ..COC 771 COC 773 COC 775 COC

8001 COC 779 CO 740 .. ..

COC 772 COC 8001 COC 8001

.. CO 419 .. .. ..

COC 8001 COC 85061

... .. CO 740 .. .. ..

COC 85061 COC 86062

CO 658 .. .. ..

COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..CoSi 86071 CoSi

86071 .. .. .. .. .. ..

COC 90063 COC 90063

.. .. .. ..

COC 91061 COG 94077

COC 91061 COG 94077

.. .. .. .. .. ..

CO Si 95071 COC 98061CO 86010CO 86249

COG 93076CO 85019COC 99061CO 86032COC (Sc) 22

.. COG 93076 CO 85019COC 99061CO 86032COC (Sc) 22

.. .. ..

7. FORAGES

Sl.No

Varieties /Hybrids

Duration

Seasons Average yield(GFY)

Special features Suitability to Agro-climatic

zones1. BN Hybrid

Co-3Perennial

Round the year

400 t/ha/year More leafyHighly palatableMore green fodder

Suitable for all zones of Tamil Nadu except 3000 feet above MSL in hilly zones.

2. C O F S - 2 9 Sorghum

Perennial

Round the year

65 t/ha/yr Multi cut suitable for silage making

Suitable for all zones except hilly zones

98

3. Fodder Maize (African Tall) + Fodder Cowpea

60-6560-70

Kharif (June-Oct.

55 t/ha/yr20t/ha/yr

Tall growing Suitable for all zones except hilly zones

4. Sorghum +Cowpea

80-85

60-75

Rabi(Nov.-Feb.)

Sorghum: 65 t/ha/yr

Cowpea: 20t/ha/yr

Single cut suitable for silage making

Suitable for all zones except hilly zones

5. Cenchrus + Stylo

Perennial

Suitable for rainfed and dry land situation

Cenchrus: 40t/ha/yr

Stylo: 30t/ha/yr

Drought tolerance

Suitable for rainfed area of Tamil Nadu

100

ANNEXURE - II

HORTICULTURAL CROPS

ANNEXURE II

HORTICULTURAL CROPS

101

Particulars of ruling varieties and hybrids of crops

Varieties /Hybrids

Duration Season Average yield Special features Suitability to Agro

climatic zones1. Sapota

CO 1 Perennial

June- Dec. 175-200 kg/tree/year

Fruits are long oval (egg shaped)

All the seven zones

CO 2 Perennial

June- Dec. 175 kg /tree/year

Fruits are obovate to round in shape

All the seven zones

CO 3 Perennial

June- Dec. 157kg/tree/year Fruits are rich in TSS. In the plains upto 100 m M.S.L.

PKM 1 Perennial June- Dec. 236kg/tree/year

Tree is dwarf, fruits are of two shapes round and oval

All the seven zones

PKM 2 Perennial

June- Dec. 336 kg/tree/year

High yielder All the seven zones

PKM 3 Perennial June- Dec. 14 t/ha

Vertical growth habit and suitable for high density planting

All plain areas in Tamil Nadu under both rainfall & irrigated

PKM 4 Perennial June- Dec. 20.08t/ha

Fruits are spindle shaped suitable for dry flakes production

Varied soil types of tropical conditions

2. Jack

PLR 1 Perennial June- Dec. 80 fruits/tree/

year (900kg)High yielder ; average fruit weight is 12 kg

North eastern zone, High rainfall zone

PPI. 1 Perennial June- Dec. 107 fruits/tree/

year (1018kg)

Suitable for commercial planting as well as in home garden


3. Amla

BSR 1 Perennial

July- August 155 kg /tree /year

Suitable for high density planting


Chakaiya Perennial July- August 100-150 kg/

tree/year Prolific bearer

North western zone, Western zone, Cauvery delta zone and Southern zone

Banarasi Perennial July- August 100-150 kg/

tree/year Upright growth habit


Krishna NA 4

Perennial July- August 100-150 kg/

tree/year Fibreless flesh


Kanchan NA 5

Perennial July- August 100-150 kg/

tree/year Profuse bearer


Francis Perennial July- August 100-150 kg/

tree/yearDrooping habit; fibreless fruits


102

4. Guava

Lucknow 49

Perennial June – Dec. 15 t/ha

Fruits round, white fleshed and adoptable to various localities

Southern zone

5. Watermelon

Arka manik 100-120 days Nov. – Dec. 60 t/ha Flesh- deep crimson

with high TSS 12-15%)

North eastern zone, Cauvery delta zone, Southern zone

PKM 1 120-135 days Nov. – Dec. 36-38 t/ha

Fruits are bigger in size with dark green skin and pinkish red flesh

All zones of Tamil Nadu

Arka joyti 90 days Nov. – Dec. 80-85 t/ha

High sugar content ( 11-13°TSS) and low seed content, Fruits possess good keeping quality


Pusa Bedana 90 days Nov. – Dec. 60 t/ha Seedless fruits


6. Clusterbean

Pusa Sadabahar 90 days June- July

Oct.- Nov.r5-7 t/ha

Suitable for sowing in summer or in rainy season


Pusa Mausami 90 days June- July

Oct. – Nov. 5-7 t/ha Late variety suitable for rainy season


Pusa Naubahar 90 days June- July

Oct. – Nov. 5-7 t/haSuitable for growing in summer or in rainy season


7. Tapioca

CO 2 250 days

Irrigated- through out the year Rainfed -April

35-37 t/ha

Suitable for consumption and starch industry, tolerance to CMD, low HCN content (10µg/g) and low incidence of tuber rot

North eastern zone, Western zone

CO 3 250 days


42 t/haSuitable for starch industry(35.6%) field tolerance to CMD

Entire Tamil Nadu

CO (TP) 4 255-260 days


50.6 t/ha Starch – 40%

Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Erode, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli Districts

103

H 226 300 days


30-35 t/ha Drought tolerant North eastern zone, Western zone

Sree Prakash (S856)

230 days


35-40 t/ha

Resistant to Cercospora leaf spot and tolerant to drought and short duration


Sree Harsha 270 days


35-40 t/ha

Ideal variety for industrial use and poultry feed and short duration


MVD 1 270 days


34 t/ha Starch content- 35.6% North eastern zone, Western zone

8. Cucumber

CO 1 110 days

January- April

14 t/ha Long fruits Entire Tamil Nadu

Pusa Sanyog 90 days January-

April 15 t/ha High yielderNorth eastern zone, Cauvery delta zone, Southern zone

9. Coriander

CO 1 110 days

June- JulyOct.- November

500kg/ha Suitable for green and grain Southern zone

CO 2 90-110 days

June- JulyOct.- Nov. 600-700kg/ha Dual purpose variety

and tolerant to drought Southern zone

CO 3 102 days

June- JulyOct.- Nov.

Kharif- 275kg/haRabi- 644 kg/ha

Dual purpose, medium size grain seed Southern zone

CO(CR) 4 70 days June- JulyOct.- Nov.

Irrigated – 590kg/haRainfed – 540 kg/ha

Seeds are bolder and suitable for rainfed cultivation

All zones specially suitable for drylands in Perambalur and Southern districts of Tamil Nadu

10. Cashew

Vengurla 1 Perennial June – Dec.23.0 kg /tree/

year Early bearing North eastern zone, Cauvery delta zone

Vengurla 2 Perennial June – Dec.24.0 kg/tree/

yearAverage nut weight is 4.0g

North eastern zone,Cauvery delta zone

VRI 1 Perennial June – Dec.7.4 kg/tree/year Average nut weight is

5.0g


VRI 2 Perennial June – Dec.7.4 kg/tree/year Nut weight- 5.0g


104

VRI 3 Perennial June – Dec.14.0 kg/tree/

yearHigh shelling percentage (29.1%)


VRI 4 Perennial June – Dec.18.0kg /tree/

year

Suitable to grow in all types of soil (Red loam to laterite)

Low rainfall regions of Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Sivagangai, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Perambalur, Pudukottai and Cuddalore Districts

11. Arecanut

Mangala Perennial June – Dec.10.0kg nuts per

palm/yearEarly bearing, semi tall variety High rainfall zone

Sumangala Perennial June – Dec.17.25 kg nuts

per palm/yearTall with partially drooping habit High rainfall zone

Sreemangala Perennial June – Dec.15.63 kg nuts

per palm/yearEarly bearing, tall with partially drooping habit High rainfall zone

12. African marigold

MDU 1 130-150 days

Throughout the year 41.54 t/ha Medium tall and

moderate branching Southern zone

13. Celosia

Local 130 days July 3.75t/haComes up well in places receiving warm temperature.

Southern zone

14. Periwinkle

Nirmal 365 days June- July

Roots- 750-1500kg/haStem- 1000- 2500kg/haLeaves- 1000- 2000kg/ha

Suitable for rainfed and irrigated condition

Cauvery delta zone

15. Senna

KKM .1150-170 days

Rain.-Sept- OctIrri.- Jan- Feb

Leaves- 1000-1500kg /haSeed- 50 –700 kg/ha

Suitable for rainfed and irrigated condition

Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts under rainfed condition

16. Aloe

Aloe vera var. Chinensis

180-210 days

June- JulySept.- Oct. 15 t/ha-leaves Drought tolerant Western zone

17.

Oreganum

2 years Dec - Jan 10t/ha/year Drought tolerant Southern zone

105

CELOSIA (Kozhikondai) – Celosia cristata

SoilSoil should be with good drainage along with good quantity of sand and red loamy soil.

Soil pH should be around 6.5.

Climate

It comes up very well in places receiving warm temperatures. Very low temperatures and the extremes of temperature leads to flower abortion.

Propagation and Nursery

Seeds are used as the propagating materials. Nearly 875 g of seeds are used for raising seedlings for 1 ha. Seeds are sown in the nursery beds. Seeds start germinating in 14 days and the when the seedlings attain a age of 1 month old, they are transplanted in the main field.

Transplanting

25 tons of FYM are incorporated in the main field. The seedlings are transplanted in the main field at a spacing of 20 x 20 cm or 25X 25 cm. Usually the seedlings are transplanted in the month of July.

Manural dose

10:20:10 g of NPK are applied to the main field for 1 m2. In addition to this the foliar spray of NPK is given at the rate of 0.2%.

Irrigation

As the roots are situated superficially on the top layer of the soils, the field is irrigated once in 4 or 5 days interval.

Harvesting

Flowers are harvested during the month of October – November

Yield

3. 75 tons of flower heads can be harvested from 1 ha of land area.

Cost economics per hectare

S.No Details Amount (Rs./ha)

1. 875 g per ha @ Rs. 1000 per kg 875

2. Labour cost 12750

3. Fertilisers, pesticides and growth regulators 5250

4. Harvesting 3000

5. Yield @ 3.75 tons per haRs. 20 per kg of flowers

75000

Net income 53125

106

ALOE (Soththu Katrazhai) - Aloe vera

Soil : Sandy coastal to loamy soils of plains

Climate : Warm humid/dry climate, Rain fall- 35-40 cm/annum

Spacing : 60 x 60 cm (27750 plants/ha)

Manurial dosage : Organic cultivation: FYM-10 t/acre

Vermicompost- 1t/acre/year

Chemical fertilizer: NPK - 50 : 50: 50 kg/ha

Harvest : Eight months after planting, Manual harvesting, succeeding crop raised by root

suckers in the field. Economic yield from 2nd to 5th year. Yield - 25000 kg fresh leaves/ha in

Ist year

50-75 t/ha from 2nd year onwards (Upto 5 years)

Cost Economics :

No. Details Cost (Rs/ha)

1 First year

Cost of cultivation 75000

Gross income (@ Rs.2/kg leaf x 25 t) 50000

Net income -

2 Second year

Cost of cultivation 25000

Gross income (@ Rs.2/kg leaf x 50 t) 100000

Net income

107

PERIWINKLE (Nithyakalyani) - Catharanthus roseus

Soil : Light sandy soil

Climate : Tropical and subtropical areas, tolerates dry condition

Spacing : 45 x 30 cm

Manurial dosage : NPK - 100:50:50 kg / ha

Harvest : 12 months after planting

Yield

Details Rain fed Irrigated

Stem (Kg/ha) 1000 1500

Roots (Kg/ha) 750 1500

Leaves (Kg/ha) 2000 3000

Cost Economics

No. Details Cost (Rs / ha)

Rainfed Irrigated

1 Cost of cultivation 12500 25000

2 Gross income

Dry stem @Rs.10/kg

Dry roots @Rs.20/kg

Dry leaves @Rs.6/kg

37000 63000

Net income 24500 38000

108

SENNA - Cassia angustifolia

Soil : Red loam, sandy loam and lateritic soil, pH- 7-8.5

Climate : Warm and dry weather, sensitive to heavy rainfall


Manurial dosage : NPK - 80: 25: 40 kg/ ha

Harvest : Leaves : 1st harvest at 90 days after planting, next 2 harvest at 30 days interval

Pods : 15 days after fruit set indicated by golden yellow colour.

Yield

Details Rain fed Irrigated

Leaves (kg/ha) 1000 2000

Pods (kg/ha) 100 200

Cost Economics

No. Details Cost (Rs / ha)

Rainfed Irrigated

1 Cost of cultivation 7500 15000

2 Gross income

Dry leaves @ Rs.10/kg

Dry pods @ Rs.15/kg

11500 23000

Net income 4000 8000

109

OREGANO - Origanum vulgare L.

Soil : Humus rich soils with acidic pH

Climate : Prefers cool weather (Medium hill ranges)


Manurial dosage : Organic cultivation

Harvest : Leaves : 1 st harvest at 6th month and later on at every

three months intervalYield

Details Yield

Dry Leaves(kg/ha) 2.5 ton

Cost Economics

No. Details Rs./acre/year

1 Cost of cultivation 25000

2 Gross income

dry leaves @ Rs.40/kg

100000

Net income 75000

110

ANNEXURE III

DECISION INFORMATION FOR WATER MANAGEMENT

TECHNOLOGIES

111

ALTERNATIVE CROPPING PATTERN AND THE WATER MANAGEMENT

TECHNOLOGIES FOR DIFFERENT CROPS AND IRRIGATION SOURCES

I. COMMAND AREAS AND TANKFED AREAS

RICE

• Maintain water to a height of 2 – 2.5 cm.• Irrigate after hairline cracking upto panicle initiation stage• Irrigate the field after disappearance of ponded water before the soil cracks

develop• Provide drainage channel of 15 cm depth and 15 cm wide inside the field bunds• Total number of irrigations will be 18 in Kar / Kuruvai and 11 in Pishanam /

Thaladi• Water saving upto 50% as compared to conventional flooding in the cane of SRI• Irrigating the crop one day after disappearance of ponded water• At the time of transplanting, a shallow depth of 2 cm of water is adequate since

high depth of water will lead to deep transplanting resulting in reduction in tillering. Upto seven days after transplanting, maintain 2 cm of water. During this period, establishment of seedlings take place. After the establishment stage, cyclic submergence has to be continued throughout the crop period.

• If levelling of field is perfect, maintaining 2.5 cm water throughout the crop period could result in the maximum water use efficiency (8.6 kg ha-1mm-1).

• Under a specific situation (low infiltration, evaporation and underground water replenishment) irrigating rice crop to 2.5 cm depth of water once in 10-13 days registered the maximum water production function of 15.71 kg ha-1mm-1.

• During kuruvai, irrigating the field through separate field irrigation channels saves about 6.5 - 12 per cent water, when compared to the traditional method of field to field irrigation.

• Plot size of around 50 or 25 cents are ideal respectively, for a flow of 0.50 or 0.25 cusec water.

Integrated water management in rice

• Small plot size (0.2 – 0.24 ha) with small bunds• Perfect levelling of main field • Rotational water supply• Azospirillum (seed, soil and main field treatments)• Use of pre-emergence herbicide• Additional dose (25 per cent) of recommended N to make good volatilization

loss of N

112

• Top dressing of potassium• In situ rain water conservation by impounding more water in the field during

rainy season• Cleaning and strengthening field bunds• Forming small bund parallel to the main bund of the field at a distance of 30 to

45 cm within the field to avoid leakages of water through main bund crevices• Use of short duration drought resistant varieties • Irrigation at critical stages• Timely hand weeding• Small channels with less depth and width• Mid season drainage at maximum tillering• Plugging rodent holes• Spray of anti-transpirants• Spray of potassium chloride• Seed treatment with seed hardening chemicals

SUGARCANE

Drip irrigation & fertigation

• Planting sugarcane setts under 150 cm (super factory model) • Two budded setts are placed 10 cm apart along the row perpendicular to the

furrow• Laterals of 16 mm LDPE pipe to be laid along each row 1.5 m apart with 8 LPH

pressure compensating drippers at 0.75 m spacing along the lateral. • Water soluble solid fertilizers at 75% dose (206:47:85 kg NPK/ha) has to be

applied through fertigation with fertigation pump for increased WUE & FUE• Fertilizers are to be applied at 4 stages viz., 30-60 days, 61-120 days, 121-180

days and 181-270 days after planting.• Drip irrigation has to be scheduled at 2 days interval based on evapotranspiration

at local sites. Approximately 75,000 lits of water/ha should be irrigated through drip once in 2 days with operating pumpset for 63 minutes with a dripper discharge of 8 LPH. Operation pressure of 1.25 kg / cm2 has to be maintained during drip irrigation for distribution uniformity.

• During fertigation first wetting has to be done for 20 minutes then fertigation for 30 minutes and flushing for 10 minutes. This will keep drip system clean

• Through this method 25-30% of irrigation water is saved with an additional area of 0.3 ha under cultivation. Fertilizer saving is 25% from the recommended level.

• Alternate furrow irrigation is also the most suitable irrigation method for sugarcane. During any one run of irrigation a particular set of furrows is irrigated. During the next run, the left over furrows are irrigated. The interval of irrigation should be shortened when compared to the conventional irrigation.

113

• Next to alternate furrow irrigation method, broad bed furrow method of irrigation is ideal.

• Shallow wetting with 2 or 3 cm of water at shorter interval especially for sandy soil can also be practiced for enhancing the germination.

Intervals of irrigation in each phase for sugarcane

StagesDays of irrigation interval

Sandy soil Clay soil

Tillering phase(36-100 days) 8 10

Grand growth phase(101-270 days) 8 10

Maturity phase(271-harvest) 10 14

• Gradual widening of furrows At the time of planting, form furrows at a width of 30 cm initially. After that, widen the furrows to 45 cm on 45th day during first light earthing up and subsequently deepen the furrow on 90th day as high level earthing up to save 35 per cent of water.

• Skip furrow irrigationSuited to heavy soils like clay and loam. Alternate furrows should be skipped and may be converted to ridges having a wider bed. Short crops like pulses can be raised in wider bed without excessive irrigation. Water saving is 50 per cent when compared to conventional system.

BANANA

Drip fertigation

• Planting of banana suckers at 1.8 x 1.8 m • Laying out of drip system at 1.8 m apart, 16 mm lateral for one row and one 8

LPH PC dripper for one plant.• Water soluble fertilizers at 75% dose (278:167:556 kg NPK/ha) has to be applied

through fertigation pump. Fertilizers are to be dissolved in water at 1:5 ratio.• Fertizers are to be applied at 4 stages viz., 30-60 days, 61-120 days, 121-180

days and 181-240 days.• Drip irrigation can be scheduled once in 2 days based on evapotranspiration at

local sites. For young plants drip irrigation once in 2 days with 20 litres per plant upto 2 months and for grown up plants 32 litres per plant is given.

• During fertigation first wetting has to be done for 60 minutes then fertigation for 150 minutes and then flushing for 30 minutes once in 2 days. This will keep the drip system clean for next fertigation.

114

• Water saving by this method is 47% in with an additional area of 0.47 ha under cultivation.

• Gradual widening of basins upto 150th day

II. WELL IRRIGATED AREAS

SORGHUM

• Irrigation according to the following growth phase of the crop

Stages Transplanted crop Direct sown crop

Growth phase 1 to 40 days 1 to 33 days

Flowering phase 41 to 70 days 34 to 65 days

Maturity phase 71 to 95 days 66 to 95 days

Stages No.of irrigation

Days of transplanting/sowing of crop

Transplanted Direct sown

Light soils

Germination 1 1st day 1st day

2 4th day 4th day

Irrigation during vegetative phase

1 15th day 15th day

2 28th day 28th day

Flowering phase

1 40th day 40th day

2 52nd day 52nd day

3 64th day 64th day

Maturity phase1 65th day 76th day

2 88th day 88th day

Stop irrigation thereafter

Heavy soils

Germination 1 1st day 1st day

2 4th day 4th day

115

Irrigation during vegetative phase

1 17th day 17h day

2 30th day 30th day

Flowering phase

1 40th day 45th day

2 52nd day 60th day

3 75th day 75th day

Maturity phase 1 85th day 90th day


Note: Adjust according to the weather conditions and depending upon the receipt of rains.

116

MAIZE• Maize crop requires irrigation immediately after sowing, life irrigation on

4th day, irrigation once in 10-15 days upto 15 days prior to harvest.• In maize crop, higher water use efficiency was obtained when irrigation was

scheduled at 75 per cent Available Soil Moisture Depletion (ASMD).• Irrigation has to be regulated according to the following growth phases of the

crop. Germination phase - 1 to 14 days Vegetative phase - 15 to 39 days Flowering phase - 40 to 65 days Maturity phase - 66 to 95 days

Irrigation schedule according to the growth phase of the crop

Stage No. of irrigation

Days after sowing K1/COH 1 Ganga 5

Heavy soils

Germination1 Irrigate after sowing Irrigate after sowing2 Life irrigation on 4th day Life irrigation on 4th

day

Vegetative phase

1 12th day 12th day

2 25th day 25th day

3 36th day 36th day

Irrigate copiously during the flowering phase

1, 2 48th day, 60th day 48th day, 60th day

Control irrigation during maturity phase

1 72nd day 76th day

Note: Maize crop is sensitive to both moisture stress and excessive moisture, hence regulate irrigation according to the requirement.Stop irrigation 10 days prior to harvestNote : Ensure optimum moisture availability during the most critical phase (40 to 65 DAS), otherwise yield will be reduced to a considerable extent. Skipping irrigation at seedling, knee high and dough stage may be followed under water scarce situation.Light soilsGermination

1, 2 Irrigate after sowing, life irrigation on 4th day

Irrigate after sowing, life irrigation on 4th day

Vegetative phase

1 12th day 12th day

2 22nd day 22nd day

3 31st day 32nd day

4 40th day

Irrigate copiouslyduring flowering

1 42nd day 50th day

2 52nd day 50th day

3 62nd day 72nd day

4 72nd day 80th day

Control irrigation during maturity phase

1 75th day 99th day

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Stop irrigation 10 days prior to harvest

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PEARL MILLET

Pearl millet requires irrigation according to the growth phases of the crop. Heading and flowering are the critical phases for water demand.

Seedling - 1 to 18 daysTillering - 19 to 35 daysFlowering phase - 36 to 55 days Maturity phase - 56 to 85 days

Irrigation according to the growth phase of pearl millet for light and heavy soils.

Stages No.of irrigationTransplanted crop(DAT)

Direct sown crop(DAS)

Light soilsi. Germinationii. Vegetative phaseiii. Flowering phaseiv. Maturity phasev. Stop irrigation thereafter Heavy soilsi. Germinationii. Vegetative phase iii. Flowering phaseiv. Maturity phasev. Stop irrigation thereafter

1, 21, 21, 21

1, 21, 21, 21

1, 415, 2840, 5259

1, 415, 2842, 4454

1417, 3042, 55, 7073

1, 515, 3045, 6075

FINGER MILLET

• Irrigation to finger millet (CO 10) once in 10-12 days during vegetative stage (22-55 DAT) and once in a week during reproductive stage (56 DAT-10 days prior to harvest) was found better.

• Higher water use efficiency can be obtained by scheduling irrigation at 50 per cent and 75 per cent ASMD respectively during vegetative and reproductive stages.

Irrigation to finger millet in nursery under different soil types.

No. of irrigations Red soils Heavy soils

1st Immediately after sowing Immediately after sowing

2nd 3rd day after sowing 4th day after sowing

3rd 7th day after sowing 9th day after sowing

4th 12th day after sowing 16th day after sowing

5th 17th day after sowing -

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Note: 1. One irrigation is given on the 3rd day in case of red soil to soften the hard crust formed on the soil surface and also to facilitate seedlings to emerge out.2. Do not allow cracks to develop in the nursery bed by properly adjusting the

quantity of irrigation water.

Irrigations according to the growth phases of finger millet

StagesNo.of

irrigationsCrop duration

80 days 100 days 120 daysVegetative phase (nursery)

1 to 16 1 to 18 1 to 20

Vegetative phase (in main field)

1 to 18 1 to 20 1 to 22

Flowering phase 19 to 40 21 to 55 23 to 69

Maturity phase Beyond 40 days Beyond 55 days Beyond 69 days

Heavy soilsEstablishment(1-7 days)

12

1st day5th day

1st day5th day

1st day5th day

Vegetative phase (8-20 days)

12

18th day31st day

20th day33rd day

20th day30th day

Flowering phase (21-55 days)

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41st day51st day

-

42nd day52nd day

-

37th day44th day63rd day

Maturity phase (56-120 days)

12

61st day-

62nd day-

78th day93rd day


Light soilsEstablishment (1-7 days)

Vegetative (8-20 days)

Flowering (21-55 days)

Maturity(56-120 days)

12

12

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12

1st day5thday

15th day26th day

36th day45th day

-

58th day70th day

1st day5th day

16th day28th day

36th day45th day54th day

69th day-

1st day5th day

16th day28th day

36th day45th day54th day

78th day93rd day

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Note: The irrigation schedule is given only as a general guideline. Regulate irrigation depending upon the prevailing weather conditions and receipt of rain.

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GROUNDNUT

Groundnut requires irrigation immediately after sowing, life irrigation on 3rd day, irrigation at 15 days and 12 days interval during vegetative and reproductive phases respectively.

Pre-flowering phase : 1 to 25 days Flowering phase : 26 to 60 days Maturity phase : 61 to 105 days

If Irrigation based on physiological growth phases, irrigate at pegging, flowering and pod development phases, during which period adequate soil moisture is essential.

Give irrigation as follows:

i) Sowing or pre-sowing ii) Life irrigation, 4-5 DAS, irrigation to break the surface crust. iii) Irrigation 20 DAS iv) Two irrigations at flowering stage v) One or two irrigations at pegging stage vi) In pod development stage, 2-3 irrigations depending on the soil type

Note: 0.5 per cent potassium chloride spray during flowering and pod development stages will aid to mitigate the ill effects of water stress. Composted coir pith increases moisture availability and better drainage in heavy textured soil is required.

GINGELLY

• Irrigation at sowing and life irrigation 7 DAS depending on the soil and climatic condition and allowing excess water to percolate.

• One pre-flowering irrigation (25 days): One at flowering and one or two at pod setting. Irrigation at flowering period is critical.

• Irrigation at once in 15 days, withholding of irrigation after 65 days.• TMV 3, irrigation at 25 per cent depletion during pre-flowering stage and 100 per

cent depletion during post flowering stage recorded higher yield.• The variety TMV 4 irrigated at 50 per cent and 100 per cent depletion of ASM

during pre-flowering and post- flowering stages respectively recorded higher yield.• Gingelly responds favourably to irrigation. Each additional irrigation gave positive

response upto a total of three irrigations. Irrigations at sowing and 20 DAS were found to give better crop growth and yield.

• The critical stage for moisture requirement is flowering phase i.e., between 35 to 45 DAS. During the maturity phase, moisture status should be low. If more water is given during this phase, maturity of seeds is affected and filling up of the capsules will be poor. Therefore, stop irrigation after 65 DAS.

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SUNFLOWER

• Irrigation once in a week through ridges and furrows with 40 kg N ha-1 recorded higher grain yield, with water use efficiency of 25.7 kg ha-1 cm-1 in kharif.

• Life irrigation on 3rd day after sowing. Thereafter, irrigation once in 7-10 days.• Irrigation through long furrows in feasible locations (surge irrigation)• Skip /alternate furrows under scarcity conditions.

SOYBEAN

• Ridges and furrow method of irrigation• Irrigation immediately after sowing. Life irrigation on the 3rd day. Further

irrigations at intervals of 7-10 and 10-15 days during summer and winter seasons respectively may be given depending on soil and weather conditions.

• Soybean is very sensitive to excess moisture and the crop is affected if water stagnates in the field. The crop should not suffer due to water stress from flowering to maturity. In Erode district, soybean + castor with irrigation once in 10 to 12 days is recommended to realize maximum benefits.

COCONUT

• Drip irrigation is the best method of irrigation for coconut. • Monthwise water requirement under drip irrigation for coconut is as follows

Month Water requirement(lit./tree/day)

January 73

February 86

March 105

April 111

May 113

June 98

July 86

August 108

September 95

October 78

November 52

December 73

• In the first year, surface irrigation on alternate days and from the second year till the time of maturity, irrigation should be given twice a week and afterwards once

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in 10 days. During summer months and also whenever there is no rain, irrigation is a must depending upon soil moisture.

• Application of coconut husks about 30 cm depth around the coconut trees at a radius of 1 m and covering it up with earth will conserve soil moisture in light textured soil. `

COTTON

Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phases of the cropGermination phase : 1 to 15 daysVegetative phase : 16 to 44 daysFlowering phase : 45 to 100 days for Jayalakshmi, TCHB 213 and Suvin,

45 to 87 days for all other varietiesMaturity phase : Beyond 100 days for Jayalaxmi and TCHB 213, beyond

88 days for all other varietiesIrrigations according to the growth phases of cotton

Stages No.of irrigations Light soil Heavy soilGermination phase

Irrigate for germination

1, 2 Immediately after sowing, give a life irrigation on 5th day of sowing to facilitate the seedlings to emerge out

Immediately after sowing, give a life irrigation on 5th day of sowing to facilitate the seedlings to emerge out

Vegetative phaseRegulate

1 Irrigate on the 20th day of sowing, three days after hoeing and weeding

Irrigate on 20th or 21st day of sowing, three days after hoeing and weeding

2 Irrigate again on 35th or 36th day of sowing

Irrigate again on 40th day of sowing.

Flowering phaseIrrigate copiously

1 2 3 4 5

48th day60th day72nd day84th day96th day

55th day70th day85th day100th day**

For all varieties other than Suvin, Jayalaxmi and TCHB 213

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Maturity phase 1234Stop irrigation after 150th day Control irrigation during maturity phase

108th day120th day130th day144th day

115th day130th day

For Suvin, Jayalaxmi and TCHB 213

12345 Stop irrigation after160th day

108th day120th day132nd day144th day158th day

115th day130th day145th day160th day-

Note: i) If irrigation is given on climatological approach, schedule irrigation once in 10-12 days and 15 days during vegetative and reproductive phases respectively.

ii) The irrigation schedule given above is only a guideline and regulate the irrigation depending upon the prevailing weather condition and receipt of rains. iii) Adopt alternate furrow or skip furrow irrigation to save irrigation water

PULSES

• Irrigation immediately after sowing followed by life irrigation on third day. Irrigation at intervals of 10 to 15 days depending upon the soil and climatic conditions. For wetland bunds, pot water daily for a week after sowing. Flowering and pod formation stages are critical periods when irrigation is a must.

• Irrigation to blackgram once in 10-12 days •Under sandy clay loam soils, two irrigations to greengram with an interval of

20-25 days are sufficient.

VEGETABLES

Drip irrigation

• Approximately 66,666 litres/ha of water is required for hybrid tomato under drip system once in 2 days with operating pump set for 90 minutes with a dripper discharge of 4 LPH.

• For radish microsprinklers having 55 LPH discharge to give a wetting dia of 3 m have to be connected along the laterals. Microsprinklers are connected at 1.5 m spacing to have 100% overlapping. Approximately 71290 litre per ha of water should be irrigated through microsprinkler once in 2 days with operating pump set for 35 minutes with an operating pressure of 1.5 kg/cm2.

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• For hybrid bhendi drip irrigation has to be scheduled at 2 days interval based on hapotranspiration at local sites. Approximately 1,18,500 litres per ha of water through drip once in 2 days with operating pump set for 95 minutes with a dripper discharge of 4 LPH.

• Brinjal - corrugated furrow irrigation with 5 cm depth , drip irrigation at 75 per cent of surface irrigation

• Bhendi - ridges and furrows method of irrigation at 40 percent ASM.• Chillies - irrigation once in 12-15 days• Tomato - drip irrigation at 75 per cent of cumulative pan evaporation

FODDER CROPS

• Irrigation immediately after sowing/planting , life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in 10 days.

• Raingun can be effectively used for irrigation with a water saving of 25-30%.

Alternate Cropping System of Tamil Nadu

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