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Agrometeorology :: Crop Pattern :: Southern Zone

SOUTHERN ZONE

Districts: Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Sivagangai, Madurai and Dindigul  
Geographical distribution of area
This zone can be broadly divided into three geographical regions.

  • Coastal plain stretching from Pudukottai to Kanyakumari with elevation below 10m above MSL: It comprises the coastal districts of Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Thootthukudi and Tirunelveli.  This region is covered with saline coastal alluvium and river alluvium as well as sand dunes (Teri lands).
  • An undulating plateau, 100-200 m above MSL: This plateau comprises of Sivagangai and Virudhunagar districts excluding the coastal plain and mid portions of Virudhunagar and Thootthukudi districts. The soils comprise of red sandy, river alluvium, red and black soils.
  • The Central undulating plateau, 200-1000 m in elevation: It forms the western part of the southern zone, part of Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi districts.  This region is covered with red sandy soils, red loam soils, black soils and lateritic soils
Principal Crops (Area in Hectare)
District Cereals and Millets Pulses

Sugarcane

Horticultural crops
Virudhunagar 57875 14266 3188 15939
Ramanathapuram 137753 3041 250 19339
Sivagangai 94462 4879 5052 -
Thoothukudi 87000 47100 - -
Tirunelveli 80784 21759 4409 6586

Cropping pattern suggested for different weather situations

1. Madurai district

  • Mean annual rainfall (mm) -869.4
  • Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -33.4
  • Summer (March-May) -157.6
  • South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -305.4
  • North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -373.0

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)
  • Banana - ratoon banana (June-March) - (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)

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)
  • Chillies (Jul-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
  • Chillies (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
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.)
  • Chillies (Jul-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
  • Chillies (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
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

    • Mean annual rainfall (mm) -827.2
    • Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -37.3
    • Summer (March-May) -176.9
    • South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -181.8
    • North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -431.2

    a. 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/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)
    • Chillies (Jul-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
    • Chillies (Sep-Feb) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
    • Cotton (Feb-May) – sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – maize (Oct-Jan)
    • Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing)
    • Pearl millet (June-Aug.) - chillies (Oct.-April)

    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

    • Mean annual rainfall (mm) -875.5
    • Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -34.2
    • Summer (March-May) -136.2
    • South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -289.6
    • North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -415.5

    a. Command areas: heavy clay soils
    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)

    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)
    • Chillies (Jul-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
    • Chillies (Sept-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 / 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.)

    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

    • Mean annual rainfall (mm) -762.2
    • Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -68.7
    • Summer (March-May) -171.1
    • South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -92.6
    • North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -429.8

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

    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.)

    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)
    • Chillies (Jul-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
    • Chillies (Sept-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 / 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

    • Mean annual rainfall (mm) -653.1
    • Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -42.6
    • Summer (March-May) -113.6
    • South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -86.8
    • North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -410.1

    a. Command areas (Thamarabarani project): Alluvial soils
    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
    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

    • 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)
    • Chillies (Jul-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
    • Chillies (Sept-Feb) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
    • Cotton (Feb-May) – sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – maize (Oct-Jan)
    • Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing)
    • Pearl millet (June – Aug.) - chillies (Oct.-April)

    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
    • Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement
    • Dairy, sheep
    • In tankfed it is suggested to include celosia and marigold during June if market prevail
    • Biofuel crops are recommended only with industrial tie-up Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement