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Agrometeorology :: Cropping Pattern :: High Rainfall Zone

HIGH RAINFALL ZONE

District: Kanyakumari

Geographical distribution of area

Delineation and general description
                  The high rainfall zone of Tamil Nadu consists of Kanyakumari district, located in the southern tip of the peninsular India, between 77.05 and 77.36 longitude and 8.03 and 8.35oN, latitude. It is bordered by Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu in the North and North-East, and Kerala State in the North-West, and sea in the West and the South.

Principal Crops
Cropping pattern, major crops and crop sequences
                  The cropping pattern differs in the two identified physiographic regions.
                  In the hills, the major crops are rubber, clove, tapioca and banana. Generally, there is no crop rotation since majority of the crops are perennial in nature.  In the elas, two crop of rice, the first from May - June to August - September and the second from September - October to February - March are cultivated.  Occasionally a third crop of pulse is grown.
                  In the plains, the major area is under rice and two crops are raised in a year.  During summer season, blackgram or greengram or gingelly is grown in some areas.  Paddy - banana - paddy rotation is followed in about 10 per cent of the area.  In addition to these crops, tapioca, cashew, mango, vegetables, flower crops, palmyrah, tamarind etc., also exist. 

Rice based farming system
                  The rice based farming system is prevalent in hill and 'Ela' region and in plains.  In hill and 'Ela' region rice is cultivated only in the 'Elas'.  Two crops of rice are cultivated in both the situations.  A third crop of pulse is cultivated depending upon the availability of moisture at the time of harvest of the second crop of rice.  In areas where soil moisture is not adequate, the land will be kept fallow during summer or vegetables like cucumber, bhendi, gourds etc., are cultivated by engaging family labour for pot watering.  Also in southern part of the district i.e. in Thovalai and Agasteeswaaram taluks where semi-dry rice is cultivated in April - May, the land will be kept fallow after the harvest of second crop of rice.  In these areas summer ploughing will be done taking advantage of summer showers.  In rice-based cropping system, crop rotation is followed in places where rice is cultivated continuously for number of years.  Crops like banana and tapioca are cultivated in rice fields.  After the harvest of banana or tapioca, rice is again grown during the second year, the cropping system followed is as follows.


                I Year                               II Year
            Rice - Rice - Pulse - Banana   - Rice
            Rice - Rice -  --      - Tapioca  - Rice


Coconut - based farming system
                  Coconut is cultivated as a rainfed crop in this district.  In plains it is cultivated as a sole crop.  In the hill and 'ela' region coconut is cultivated along the slopes.  As intercrops arecanut, cocoa and clove are cultivated.  In the newly planted coconut gardens and also in the young gardens annual crops like tapioca, pulses and banana are cultivated depending on the age of the coconut plants for maximum out turn from unit area.

Tapioca-based farming system
                  Tapioca is cultivated purely as a rainfed crop in plains and in the lower slopes of the hills.  It is planted in April - May and September - October synchronising with the south-west monsoon and north-east monsoon in different locations.  Short duration pulses like blackgram and horsegram are cultivated as intercrops during the early stage of growth of the crop is being practised. 

Homestead farming system
                  Homestead farming is an   operational farm unit in which crops, livestock, poultry and fisheries are carried out mainly for the purpose of satisfying the home needs of the farmers.  This farming system is being practised by marginal and above marginal farmers by utilising the available backyard of their houses.  The different perennial crops include jack, mango, guava etc., and the annuals include different varieties of banana.  Mixed farming of crops and livestock including poultry is common.  Fish production is taken up recently by the department of fisheries in the ponds available in the district.  Farmers are yet to take up fish production in their own lands.

Cropping pattern suggested for different weather situations

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 year

  • 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)

Normal year

  • Tapioca + pulses (Sep-July)
  • 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
  • Gingelly (Sep.-Dec.)
  • 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
  • Biofuel crops are recommended only with industrial tie-up
  • Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement