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Agrometeorology :: Cropping Pattern :: North Western Zone

NORTH WESTERN ZONE

Districts: Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Perambalur
Geographical distribution of area
The zone can be broadly divided into three geographical tracts:

  • Part   of the tableland (which includes Karnataka State). It is an undulating plateau, studded with rocky patches in the north and  east and dense jungles in the south and west.  The greater part of Hosur and Denkanikotta taluks and a small portion of Krishnagiri taluk lie in this tract
  • Extension basin intermediate between the Karnataka tableland and the plains, 350-660 m above MSL.  This tract comprises roughly the taluks of Krishnagiri, Palacode, Dharmapuri, Pennagaram, Harur and Uthangarai and Pappireddipatti.
  • Tract below 350 m above MSL.  It can be divided into two portions by the watershed between the Cauvery and the Vellar river systems, with the taluks of Attur, Rasipuram and Namakkal on the east and Salem, Omalur and Mettur on the west.

Principal crops

  • Cereals – paddy, sorghum, ragi, samai 
  • Pulses – horsegram, blackgram, redgram and greengram. 
  • Oilseeds – groundnut, gingelly, sunflower and castor
  • Commercial crops – cotton, sugarcane
  • Species and condiments - coriander ,chillies, turmeric
  • Horticultural crops – vegetables, tapioca, mango, potato, banana and onion.

Cropping pattern suggested for different weather situations

1. Dharmapuri district

  • Mean annual rainfall (mm) -864.9
  • Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -14.8
  • Summer (March-May) -154.9
  • South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -391.8
  • North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -303.4

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)

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/nerium*/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.)
  • Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas: red and black soils

Existing

  • Tapioca (May - Jan.)
  • Groundnut + pulses / sunflower / castor / sorghum / ragi / samai/ kudiraivali (May-Oct.) - horsegram (Nov.-Jan.)

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

  • Mean annual rainfall (mm) -925.2
  • Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -22.6
  • Summer (March-May) -175.6
  • South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -380.0
  • North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -347.0

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

b. Well irrigated areas: red and black soils

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)
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)

c. Rainfed areas: red and black soils

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

  • Mean annual rainfall (mm) -779.8
  • Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -17.5
  • Summer (March-May) -154.3
  • South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -317.0
  • North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -291.0

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.)

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.)

b. Well irrigated areas: red and black soils

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)

Normal year

  • Fodder / pulses (May-Aug.) - groundnut (Sep.-Dec.)
  • 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) – 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)
  • Ragi/maize/groundnut (June-Sep.) - wheat / cole vegetables (Oct.- Feb.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)
  • Tapioca (Jan.-Dec.)

Moderate drought year

  • 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)

c. Rainfed areas: red and black soils

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