Geographical distribution of area

The zone has undulating topography sloping towards west to east with small hillocks. The western and northern parts of the zone are bounded by the western ghats. The Nilgiris on the North-west and Anamalais on the South are the chief ranges. The eastern part of the zone is bordered by the Namakkal, Karur and Dindugul districts. The southern part of the zone lies in Madurai and Theni districts having contours of various altitudes.

The northern part of the zone bordering Karnataka state which contains one block namely Thalavadi, has undulating plains and hills. The rest of the area is an undulating plain sloping gradually from west to east. The mountain pass in the western ghats lining the Coimbatore district brings the South-West monsoon from Kerala to the bordering taluks of the zone.

Palani hills forming the northern spur of the western ghat comprise three valleys viz., Parapalar-Devankarai valley, the Guntur valley and the Upper Amaravathi valley and contain several peaks like Perumal, hill, Vandarani hill. The lower plains consist of a heterogeneous jumble of peaks from 1000-1700 m height separated from one another by steep and beautiful wooded valleys. The hills in this part are Thandikudi and Virupakshi and on the east Sirumalai and Alagarmalai.

The southern part of the zone has dense forest reserves.

Principal Crops

Rice, maize, pulses, groundnut, tomato, onion and drumstick

Cropping pattern suggested for different weather situations

1. Namakkal district (Tiruchengodu taluk only)

• 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 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

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) – green manure (Jun- July)

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

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

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.)

c. Rainfed areas: red and black soils

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

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -703.7
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -18.7
• Summer (March-May) -148.4
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -213.1
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -323.5

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

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)

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) – green manure (Jun-  July)

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

• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) – green manure (Jun- July)

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

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)
• Maize (Aug.-Dec.) - vegetables (Jan.-April)

Moderate drought year

• Pulses (Aug.-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)
• Marigold/ origonum
• Pulses (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (September sowing) (under drip irrigation)

• Fodder sorghum / fodder cumbu (Aug.-Dec.)
• Horsegram (Sep.-Dec.)

Severe drought year

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

c. Rainfed areas: Red and black soils

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

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -691.6
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -18.3
• Summer (March-May) -153.4
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -192.9
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -327.0

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)

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.)

b. Well irrigated areas: red and black soils

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) – green manure (Jun-  July)

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

• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) – green manure (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.)

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

c. Rainfed areas: Red and black soils

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

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -746.8
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -24.7
• Summer (March-May) -107.0
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -249.7
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -365.4

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

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

Existing

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

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)

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

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)
• 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)

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)

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)

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -862.8
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -38.0
• Summer (March-May) -174.2
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -251.4
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -399.2

a. Command areas: Heavy clay soils

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

b. Well irrigated areas: Red and black soils

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)

• Gloriosa (July)

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.)
• Maize (Sep.-Dec.) - fallow

Severe drought year

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

• Millet / pulses (July-Aug.) - fallow

6. Theni district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -832.8
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -47.7
• Summer (March-May) -222.7
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -178.4
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -384.0

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)

b. Well irrigated areas: Red and black soils

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

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)
• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - millets / vegetables / groundnut (Feb.-June)
• 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 / nerium* (Jan.-July)
• Marigold*(Jun-Oct) –coleus*/vegetables(Nov-Apr)
• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) – green manure (Jun-  July)

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

Moderate drought year

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

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

c. Rainfed areas: Red and black soils

Existing

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

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

• Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)

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 area sapota, 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