Agrometeorology :: Cropping Pattern for Cauvery Delta Zone

Agrometeorology :: Cropping Pattern ::Cauvery Delta Zone

I. CAUVERY DELTA ZONE

Districts: Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Trichy, Ariyalur, Cuddalore and Pudukkottai

Geographical distribution of area

Cauvery Delta Zone (CDZ) lies in the eastern part of Tamil Nadu. It is bounded by the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Palk straight on the south, Trichy district on the west, Perambalur, Ariyalur districts on the north west, Cuddalore district on the north and Puddukkottai district on the south west. CDZ has a total geographic land area of 14.47 lakh ha. The erstwhile Thanjavur district (comprised Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam) occupies 57 percent of CDZ followed by Trichy, Ariyalur, Cuddalore and Pudukkottai districts.
Principal crops.

In this zone, rice is the principal crop. In the rice based cropping system, it is either single or double cropped. Pulses blackgram and greengram are next importance grown in the rice fallows throughout the delta region from January onwards. Gingelly is also sown in April in prepared fields subsequent to summer showers. Vegetables like brinjal, chillies and greens are grown during summer months in limited area in the well drained fertile lands depending upon the underground water source. In light clay loamy soils under garden land condition is brought out where crops like groundnut, maize, gingelly and irrigated pulses are altered. Banana, sugarcane and ornamentals like jasmine, rose, chrysanthemum, crossandra and arali are the annuals occupying the land for more than one year for the successive returns. Coconut gardens, bamboo and wood lots are scattered in the delta in different densities. Mango, jack, citrus, guava, pomegranate, custard, apple etc. are the more prevalent fruit trees in addition to cashew in specific pockets.

Cropping pattern suggested for different weather situations

1. Thanjavur district

Mean annual rainfall (mm) -1045.5
Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -47.1
Summer (March-May) -110.7
South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -342.0
North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -545.7

a. Command areas: alluvial 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 / 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.)

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)
Gloriosa* (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

Mean annual rainfall (mm) - 1124.7
Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) - 57.3
Summer (March-May) - 100.2
South West monsoon season (June-Sept) - 301.8
North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) - 665.4

a. Command areas: alluvial 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.-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.)
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) -1333.8
Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -80.3
Summer (March-May) -93.0
South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -274.1
North 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)

Severe drought year

Pulses/sesame/green manure (June-Sep.) - upland rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses/green manure(Feb.-May)

Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

4. Trichirapalli district

Mean annual rainfall (mm) -759.3
Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -23.8
Summer (March-May) -109.1
South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -270.3
North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -356.1

a. Command areas: alluvial 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.-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* / Vinca 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
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)

Gloriosa - (2 years rotation)
Coleus* (June-Oct)-rice (Nov-Feb.)-pulses (Feb-May)
Flower crops
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)
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.)

5. Perambalur district

Mean annual rainfall (mm) -949.0
Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -33.8
Summer (March-May) -116.0
South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -349.6
North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -449.6

a. Command areas: heavy clay 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.-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)

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

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)

Gloriosa (2 years rotation)
Coleus* (June-Oct.) - rice (Nov.-Feb.) - pulses / gingelly (June-Oct.)
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* (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.)

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

Mean annual rainfall (mm) -917.4
Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -33.2
Summer (March-May) -115.5
South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -350.7
North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -418.0

a. Command areas: alluvial and laterite soils

Existing

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

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)
Ragi (April - July) - rice (July-Nov.) - groundnut
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

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

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

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.)

7. Cuddalore district: (Chidambaram and Kattumannarkovil)

Mean annual rainfall (mm) -1248.1
Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -65.6
Summer (March-May) -92.4
South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -373.6
North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -716.5

a. Command areas: heavy clay soils

Existing

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