Alternate Cropping System Of Tamil Nadu

ALTERNATIVE CROPPING PATTERN FOR TAMIL NADU

Authors Dr.C.Ramasamy Dr.S.Ramanathan Dr.T.N.Balasubramanian Dr.N.Ragupathi Dr.S.Natarajan Dr.P.Devasenapathy Dr.N.Natarajan

DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCH Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore – 641 003

2 TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY Dr.C.Ramasamy Vice-Chancellor

Coimbatore-3 FOREWORD

Cropping pattern followed in a domain is controlled by many factors, that include climate, soils, economic condition of the farmers, market demand, farmers preference, technology availability, pest and disease problem etc. Majority of the cropping pattern are practiced time-immemorial in Tamil Nadu and farmers have introduced concerned high yielding crop varieties in that pattern with the release of crop varieties from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. However there are some evidences to indicate shift in cropping pattern in some pockets of Tamil Nadu due to price fluctuations, insufficient availability of ground water, labour non-availability etc. but that shift gets reverted back to the original cropping pattern after that problem is over. Continued unforeseen agricultural drought from 2000 to 2003 made the agriculture unsustainable in Tamil Nadu and farmers have lost their hope to revive agriculture subsequently. Considering this scenario, the Government of Tamil Nadu has intervened and requested Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to prepare an alternate cropping pattern to meet this challenge. Based on the research conducted so far by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, experiences of extension officials of State Department of Agriculture, ground truth condition of the farm holdings and surface water availability. An alternate cropping pattern was prepared and presented before policy makers of Tamil Nadu Government and higher officials of State Department of Agriculture. Their comments were critically reviewed and incorporated in this document. Though attempts have been made to test the technical feasibility, biological suitability, economical viability and socio cultural acceptability to a larger extent still the suggested cropping pattern needs testing across farm holdings of Tamil Nadu through on farm field testing and recommended for adoption. Cropping pattern has been suggested for different weather situations viz. normal rainfall year, moderate drought year and severe drought in respect of command areas, tankfed areas, well irrigated areas and rainfed areas of the concerned district. Based on the seasonal rainfall forecast given by Department of Agricultural Meteorology before the start of the season, the concerned cropping pattern in the document may be picked up and adopted. I hope this document would be much useful for field workers of State Department of Agriculture, farmers of Tamil Nadu and students and scientists of agricultural research institutions in Tamil Nadu. I appreciate the scientists involved in this noble cause of preparing this document.

C.RAMASAMY Place : Coimbatore Date :

3

PREFACE The State Tamil Nadu is geographically located between 8°5' and 13°35' North latitude and between 76°14' and 80°21' East longitude. As a result of this geographical position, Tamil Nadu enjoys semi arid climate, which permits higher crops productivity under irrigation. Out of 13 million hectares of geographical area, which is 3.95 per cent of total geographical area of India, the cultivable area in Tamil Nadu is around 7 million hectares and 55 per cent of which is dryland. Though red soil is the dominant soil type in Tamil Nadu, both black and alluvial soils also spread over Tamil Nadu next in extent to red soils. Monsoon rainfall is the basic resource for water availability in Tamil Nadu. Based on annual rainfall of Tamil Nadu and total geographical area, the tentative annual water availability is 12.285 Mha.M and out of which the annual availability is 4.74 m.ha.M The dominant monsoon for rainfall is north-east monsoon (Oct.-Dec.) which contribute about 42 to 48 per cent to total annual rainfall of each district of Tamil Nadu (30 districts). Neverthless the contribution from south-west monsoon (June-September) to Tamil Nadu is around 32 per cent and it benefits Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Kanyakumari, The Nilgiris, Vellore and parts of Villupuram, Cuddalore, Karur, Thiruvallur and Perambalur districts. If any negative deviation from normal rainfall occurs in Tamil Nadu either during North East monsoon season or during south west monsoon season, in an year, the water availability in Tamil Nadu would affect three major water sources of irrigation viz., canals, wells and tanks. The normal rainfall in Tamil Nadu is 46.4, 140.9, 334.0 and 459 mm respectively for cold weather period (January-February) hot weather period (MarchMay), south-west monsoon period (June-September) and north east monsoon period (October-December). The study on measured rainfall for the past four years from the year 2000 indicated that continuous meterological drought occurred in both the monsoons that led to agricultural drought in Tamil Nadu against the normal pattern of continuous four years normal rainfall followed by one year deficit rainfall. This situation has driven to think on the development of alternate crops to Tamil Nadu. In the past, because of the sound soil health, limited human population, and unlimited water availability, farmers have their own set of cropping pattern in command areas, tankfed areas, well-irrigated areas and dryland areas. Because of changing rainfall pattern over years due to deforestation, urbanization, over population etc., groundwater depletion is triggered to be faster. Considering them it is time to reduce the area under rice by 20 per cent and for sugarcane by 40 per cent to accommodate other demanding crops like oilseeds, pulses, cotton, maize etc., The aim of substituting rice and sugarcane

4 by other crops is not only because of shrinking water resource, but also due to the fact that surplus in rice and sugarcane production achieved in the State of Tamil Nadu. Hence, it is imperative to design alternate cropping pattern based on soil and climatic resources in addition to social requirements of Tamil Nadu. Scientists from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University have prepared a document for alternate cropping pattern for command areas, tank fed areas, well irrigated areas and dryland areas with reference to normal rainfall year (+19 to -19% from normal rainfall), moderate drought year (-19 to -59% from normal rainfall) and serve drought year (-59 to -99% from normal rainfall). The rainfall forecast for the forth coming season may be culled out from India Meteorological Department long range forecast and seasonal climate forecast of Department of Agricultural Meteorology of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and accordingly the suggested optional crops could be recommended and adopted. The document was presented before Hon'ble Ministers for Agriculture and Finance, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Member Secretary State Planning Commission, Agricultural Production Commissioner and Secretary to Government, Department of Agriculture and Special Commissioner to Department of Agriculture during January 2004. A policy paper on the need of alternate cropping pattern to Tamil Nadu was submitted to Government of Tamil Nadu. The document was circulated among all District Joint Directors of Agriculture and got refined for ground truth condition and brought as publication which will be very useful to the farming community of Tamil Nadu. Many scientists from TNAU have contributed their knowledge in preparing this document, for whom we record our sincere gratitude. The users are requested to critically analyse the content of the publication and your feed back is highly valid in terms of further improvement to be made in this document for larger scale practical adoption. Before introducing the suggested cropping pattern, the biological feasibility, agronomic adoptability, on farm compatability, community compatability (village compatability) economic viability and socio-cultural acceptability have to be assessed in real sense.

AUTHORS

5

INTRODUCTION From time immemorial due to the good soil health and plentiful water availability, Tamil Nadu farmers have a set cropping pattern in command areas, tank-fed areas and well irrigated areas, which predominantly as in for paddy, sugarcane, coconut and other hydrophilic crops. Due to the changing rainfall pattern over the years, ground water depletion, lack of flows in the perennial rivers, scarcity of labour and hike in wages, the existing cropping pattern has ceased to be economically viable. Considering the scarce water availability, it is time now to reduce the area under rice, sugarcane, banana and other hydrophilic crops in order to accommodate other less water intensive crops like oilseeds, pulses, including cotton and maize and cover more area. The State has also experienced drought both during Southwest and Northeast Monsoon seasons consecutively for the past 4 years from 2000. This was compounded by lack of flows in rivers due to various reasons as it is a lower riparian state. Presently, there is greater intra and inter season rainfall variability causing agricultural drought consecutively for the past 4 years from 2000. If the ground water exploitation continues still further at the present level, due to continuous drought, all the blocks in Tamil Nadu would come under the dark category. The existing traditional cropping pattern may not be viable in the coming years because of continuous ground water depletion, the deterioration in soil health, change in rainfall pattern, high cost of cultivation, lack of river water flows, implications of WTO etc. Hence, it is the time to design a new alternate-cropping pattern based on the agro climatic zone. This must be demonstrated in the farmer’s holdings by a massive research cum extension in order to effectively utilise the natural resources and also to stabilize productivity and profitability. Agriculture in Tamil Nadu Area coverage Land Utilisation / Cropping Intensity in Tamil Nadu (Lakh ha.) Sl. No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Item Total area Cultivable waste Current fallows Other fallows Net area sown Cultivable area (2+3+4+5) Area sown more than once

1990-1991 1995-1996 130.19 2.90 12.49 10.44 55.78 81.61 10.53

130.04 3.48 12.93 11.30 53.42 81.13 9.25

2000 2001-2002 -2001 129.91 129.91 3.52 3.87 11.34 10.26 12.28 14.09 53.03 51.72 80.17 79.94 10.34 10.53

6 8 9 10

Gross cropped area (5+7) Cropping Intensity Ratio of net sown area to cultivable area (5/6) % (indicating extent of use of cultivable area)

66.32 118.9 68.34

62.67 117.3 65.84

63.38 119.5 66.15

62.26 120.3 64.70

The net sown area has declined over the last 10 years from 55.78 lakh ha. to 51.72 lakh ha. The cultivable area also declined from over 81.50 lakhs ha. to around 80 lakh ha. With the cropping intensity remaining around 118 to 120, the gross cropped area declined from over 66 lakh ha. to little over 62 lakh ha and in the past 10 years period it has been nowhere near the cultivable area of around 80 lakh ha. Area under Irrigation The total net irrigated area in Tamil Nadu is 26.9 lakh hectares. Among the three irrigation resources viz., wells, tanks and canals, the area irrigated by wells has been increasing significantly both in absolute and relative terms. Decline in canals and tanks were more or less compensated by the significant growth in the areas irrigated by wells. Tamil Nadu agriculture largely depends on Southwest and Northeast monsoons and also release of adequate water in river Cauvery and comfortable storage position in the major reservoirs of the state. Taking advantage of the Southwest monsoon, large-scale coverage of oilseeds, pulses and cotton crops are taken up under rain-fed cultivation in the state. Though rice is cultivated mainly under irrigated conditions, substantial area is also brought under semi dry cultivation in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Ramanathapuram districts, where sowing is taken-up utilising early rains of the SouthWest monsoon, later sustained by irrigation using tank water. The Northeast monsoon rains are also very crucial for recharge of sub soil water Rainfall The actual rainfall received during 2003 is compared with normal rainfall and actual rainfall received during the last year (2002) in the following Table. (mm) Sl. No

Season

Normal Rainfall

Actual Rainfall

Deviation: %

2002

2003

Normal

Last Year

1

Winter (Jan.-February)

36.7

70.0

8.7

(-) 76.2

(-) 87.5

2

Summer (April-May) Southwest monsoon (June-September) Northeast monsoon (October-December) Total

134.2

85.8

124.9

(-) 6.9

(+) 45.5

331.6

185.4

329.7

(-) 0.5

(+) 77.8

464.7

407.2

404.7

(-) 12.9

(-) 0.6

967.2

748.4

867.8

(-) 10.2

(+) 15.9

3 4

7

The rainfall received during 2003 was more or less normal with a deviation of only -10.2 per cent from the normal rainfall. However, it was 15 per cent more compared to the previous year (2002), even though shortfall during months like Sept. ( -40.30%) and Dec.(-76.4%) created lot of water stress for the Samba paddy crop.

8 The rainfall received during the last six years is given below:

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Normal Rainfall : 967.2 mm : 1036.4 mm : 837.3 mm : 847.5 mm ; 774.7 mm : 748.4 mm 2003 :

867.8 mm

The short fall during the crucial months during 2003 coupled with deficit rains during the previous years (1999-2000 and 2001-2002) had resulted in poor storage position in the reservoirs and depletion of ground water level. This has had a cumulative cascading effect. The rainfall situation is also not favourable for the past two years. The actual rainfall registered during the last six years was far less than the normal rainfall of 967.2 mm (a moving average based on last 5 years annual rainfall). In fact during 2001 and 2002 the immediately preceding years of 2003, the rainfall received was less than normal by around 20 per cent and 22 % respectively. Besides, the uncertainty in release of water in Cauvery worsened the problem. The ground water situation is also not very encouraging with 287 blocks out of the total of 384 blocks categorized either as dark or grey. Thus, the declining land area (in fact the cultivable land area that consists of net sown area, total fallows and cultivable waste declined over a 10 years period from 81.61 lakhs hectares to 79.94 lakh hectares) and the dwindling water resources point to the problems that Tamil Nadu agriculture confronts at the current juncture. Such an extreme situation calls for resolute action on a firm footing. The Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has therefore; suggested to the farmers to go in for alternate crops that require less water which at the same time assure reasonable returns. Such a scenario only shows that with a little adjustment, it is possible for the state and its farmers to tide over the crisis situation. The key to the success lies on how we perceive the present grave situation, prepare ourselves in the form of placing a policy framework that encourages alternate crops tailored to the various regions into which our state is divided. Monsoon rainfall performance in seven agro climatic zones of Tamil Nadu A study was undertaken to understand the performance of both monsoon rainfall (Southwest and North east) in Tamil Nadu from the year 2000 (by the Dept.of Agrl.Meteorology, TNAU, Coimbatore-3). The study was undertaken for agroclimatic zone wise and the results are presented hereunder. North Eastern Zone

9

The study indicated that out of eight seasons in four years (south west monsoon and North east monsoon of 2000 to 2003) four districts viz., Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur, Cuddalore and Thiruvannamalai recorded below average rainfall in seven seasons. Overall deviation from normal rainfall in this agro climatic zone was (-) 16.9% for the past eight seasons. Negative anomalies found in at least 3 out of 4 North east monsoon seasons in the past four years in all the districts of this agro climatic zone. North Western Zone This zone is to be mostly benefited from Southwest monsoon rainfall. but in the study period between 2000 and 2003 in 3 of the 4 Southwest monsoon seasons, these district did record below average rainfall (-3 to -58%). These district in addition recorded below average rainfall from (-) 3 to (-) 49% in all the four North east monsoon seasons. Western Zone This zone consists of Erode, Coimbatore, Karur, Dindugul and Theni districts. These districts in Tamil Nadu are well known for low annual rainfall record and the annual average rainfall is around 650 mm. The study indicated that six out of eight seasons had below average rainfall in Erode, Coimbatore and Karur districts. Karur was mostly affected district, recording below average seasonal rainfall in all the eight seasons of the study period from (-) 2 to (-) 76 percent. Southern Zone Madurai, Ramnad, Vridhunagar, Sivagangai, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi form this zone. Out of eight seasonal rainfall study from 2000 to 2003, seven seasons had below average rainfall (-) 14 to (-) 76 in Virdhunagar and Thoothukudi districts, while below seasonal rainfall was recorded for six seasons in Madurai and five seasons each in Ramnad and Sivagangai districts respectively. The over all deficiency in the last four years for this agroclimatic zone was (-) 16.9 percent. Cauvery Delta Zone This zone consists of six districts viz., Trichirapalli (part of district), Perambalur (part of district), Pudukottai (part of district). Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur. Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur district recorded deficit rainfall from (-) 3 to (-) 61% in all the eight seasons of study. while it was deficit in six seasons in Trichirapalli, Perambalur and Thanjavur districts. The over al deficit in rainfall at this zone is computed to (-) 16.8 percent over the past four years. High Rainfall Zone

10 The district Kanyakumari is the only one district that falls under this zone. This district is meteorologically known for bi modal heavy rainfall area. Interestingly in all the seasons, except Northeast monsoon 2002, this district recorded below average rainfall from (-) 4 to (-) 83 percent. Hilly and High Altitude Zone This zone is mostly dominated by South west and North east monsoon seasonal rainfall. Except North east monsoon 2003, in all the seven seasons, the rainfall deficit was from (-)7 to (-) 64%. The over all study indicated the following 1) Continuous meteorological drought occurred in both season of four years study period in all the district of Tamil Nadu against the regular pattern of four years of normal seasonal rainfall followed by one year deficit rainfall. This must be the reason for lesser surface run off in the geographical (130069 km2)area of Tamil Nadu. Scientifically from the information of different types of hydrographs of catchments, it might be due to two reasons. 2) Rainfall intensity is lesser than rate of infiltration and 3) Volume of infiltered water is lesser than soil moisture deficiency in all the four years of study (eight seasons) This situation has created water crisis in Tamil Nadu presently. Historic cultivation Pattern The historic cultivation practice especially in Cauvery delta region, Tamarabarani basin, etc. is rice during Rabi and Kharif seasons. The rice crop, which uses a lot of water must be limited to Rabi in future, since it is the only crop that can be grown in water logged condition. Impact of lack of river flows Position of water level in Mettur Dam (Last 12 Years) Sl. No

Year

(1)

(2)

DAM OPENING Date (3)

Water level (ft) (4)

OUT FLOW (TMC)

Capacity (TMC) (5)

For Irrigation (6)

DAM CLOSING

Surplus

Total

Date

Capacity

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

1

1991-92

21.07.91

84.20

46.27

250.626 10.534

261.160

28.01.92

72.222

2

1992-93

12.06.92

99.30

63.94

328.797 6.769

335.566

28.01.93

64.092

3

1993-94

12.06.93

95.75

59.47

202.591 0.000

202.591

28.01.94

60.523

4

1994-95

12.06.94

97.18

61.25

333.721 46.735

380.456

28.01.95

32.018

5

1995-96

03.07.95

74.07

36.30

197.977 0.000

197.977

28.01.96

5.000

11 6

1996-97

26.07.96

50.75

18.29

174.191 0.000

174.191

28.01.97

62.440

7

1997-98

12.06.97

97.38

61.50

219.671 21.667

241.338

28.01.98

75.667

8

1998-99

20.06.98

105.40

72.04

252.891 0.000

252.891

28.01.99

36.878

9 1999-2000

01.07.99

87.33

49.65

223.179 1.383

224.562

05.02.00

71.490

10

2000-01

12.06.00

104.08

70.23

272.292 25.548

297.840

28.01.01

58.626

11

2001-02

12.06.01

98.09

62.39

201.878 0.000

201.878

02.02.02

18.310

12

2002-03

06.09.02

66.86

30.06

96.057 0.000

96.057

20.02.03

6.850

13

2003-04

07.10.03

72.26

34.69

54.674 0.000

54.674

05.01.04

7.700

(Up to Jan, 2004) Till 1974, we were receiving about 280 TMC of water every year. Afterwards, the flows started becoming variable.

12 IMPACT Date of release of water and its impact Sl. No

Year

Date of opening

Coverage of crop in Lakh Ha. Kuruvai

Samba

Thaladi

Total

1

1991-92

21.7.91

0.59

5.09

0.57

6.25

2

1992-93

12.6.92

1.67

3.97

1.67

7.31

3

1993-94

12.6.93

1.40

4.29

1.28

6.97

4

1994-95

12.6.94

1.68

3.94

1.38

7.00

5

1995-96

3.7.95

0.86

3.92

1.30

6.08

6

1996-97

26.7.96

0.44

5.12

0.43

5.99

7

1997-98

12.6.97

1.13

4.48

0.98

6.59

8

1998-99

20.6.98

1.18

4.48

0.97

6.63

9

1999-2000

1.7.99

0.96

4.65

0.88

6.49

10

2000-2001

12.6.2000

1.26

4.37

1.12

6.75

11

2001-2002

12.6.2001

1.30

4.22

1.15

6.67

12

2002-2003

6.9.2002

0.51

3.98

0.52

5.02

13

2003-2004

7.10.2003

0.47

3.53

0.42

4.42

The area under Kuruvai paddy in delta districts was only 0.46 lakh ha. against the normal area of 2.07 lakh ha., recording a steep fall by nearly 80%. Similarly, in Samba, against the normal area of 3.72 lakh Ha. the coverage was 3.53 lakh ha. of which 1.24 Lakh ha.. was direct sown crop. It is note worthy that the direct sowing technique to save water and curtail the cropping period in Paddy popularised by the department in 2002 has become popular. During Thaladi, only 0.42 lakh ha. was brought under cultivation against the normal area of 1.77 Lakh ha.. in these districts. As a result, only 4.42 Lakh ha. was brought under paddy cultivation against the normal area of 7.56 Lakh ha. in the delta districts. In such a situation, the Mettur reservoir scheduled to be opened on 12th June was opened only on 7.10.2003 and closed on 5.1.2004 due to inadequate storage position. Thus, the survival of the standing paddy crop due for harvest during the February 2004 was largely affected due to non receipt of further rains. Agro climatic zones Tamil Nadu has been divided into 7 agro- climatic zones based on type of soils, climate and irrigation. The drought situation that prevailed including crop loss during the last 3 years necessitated the development of an alternative cropping pattern in place of the hydrophilic crops viz. Paddy, Banana and Sugarcane. The details of alternate zonal cropping pattern for the seven agro-climatic zones formulated by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has been drawn up in consultation with the District Joint

13 Directors of Agriculture. It is suggested for three types of scenarios viz.; Normal Rainfall, Moderate Drought and Severe Drought. While an Alternative Cropping pattern was announced by the Hon. Chief Minister in 2003 to combat the failure of the Kuruvai season, this policy is further refined now as a result of experience gained to ameliorate and tackle future adverse seasonal conditions as also to have alternate crops for cultivation in a normal season so that farmer can get higher profit also. Meteorological Forecast The forecast for normal rainfall is +19 to -19, moderate is –19 to –59 and below -59 to - 19 indicates severe drought. These figures are the deviation from average rainfall. The distribution of rain is also plays a vital roll in crop productivity. Seasonal climate forecast for each season will be issued by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Meteorology Department 15 days before the commencement of each season. South-West monsoon : North-East monsoon :

15th of May 15th of September.

The cropping pattern corresponding to the forecast will be implemented by the extension departments viz. the Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture and Agricultural Engineering. The greater inter and intra season rainfall variability causing drought periodically in turn causes hydrological drought, followed by agricultural drought and socioeconomic drought. Tamil Nadu is at the forefront of implementation of new technologies that enhance water use efficiency. Development of many crop varieties , which use minimal water and are drought resistant has taken place. The alternate cropping pattern tailored to the Agro climatic zone will effectively utilise the available natural resources with maximum efficiency. Fodder crops and horticulture have also been built in wherever feasible. Any policy needs continuous refinement as conditions keep changing in the real world. Ceteris is never paribus. This refinement will also be done as when necessary. This new cropping pattern it is hoped will improve productivity and profitability of the primary sector. It is hoped that this policy will solve the problem of declining water availability and lead to sustainable agriculture for a better tomorrow.

14

15

CROPPING PATTERN OPTIONS FOR AGRO CLIMATIC ZONES OF TAMIL NADU

16

I. North Eastern Zone 1. Kancheepuram district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

- 1253.8 27.2 66.7 - 462.7 - 697.2

a. Tankfed areas : Tank Alluvium - Heavy clay and laterite soils Existing Normal year

: :

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - rice (Jan.-April) Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - rice (Jan.-April) Rice (Aug.-Jan) - maize (Jan.-April) Maize/sesame/pearl millet/vegetables (lablab, clusterbean, brinjal) (Aug.-Nov.) - pulses (Dec.-Mar) • Wheat / fodder maize/fodder cowpea/vegetables (lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi) (Nov.-Feb.) • • • •

b. Well irrigated areas : Laterite, red and black soils Existing

:

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 year rotation • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - rice (Jan.-April.) - groundnut (April-June) • Rice (Aug.-Nov.)-rice (Dec.-March) - rice(Mar-July) • Banana (July-Aug.) - ratoon banana (Sep.-Aug.) Vegetables (Sep.-Feb.) - Maize (Feb.-May) - 3 year rotation

17 Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• Rice/vegetables/marigold(June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May) • Maize (June-Sep.) - cabbage / knolkhol (Oct.-Feb.) pulses (Feb.-May) • Maize (June-Sep) - rice (Oct-Feb)– pulses (Feb-May) • Rice/vegetables/marigold(June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May) • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) - gingelly • Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation • Sambangi (Tuberose) (June-May) - 2 year rotation • Sunflower (May-Aug.) – marigold (Sep.-Dec.) • Maize (June-Sep.) – marigold (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May) • Chrysanthemum (May-March) - ratoon chrysanthemum - 2 years rotation • Sweet sorghum** (Jun-Sep) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) – Gingelly (Feb-May) • Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum** (Feb-May) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – Jatropha* (Sept. sowing) • Vegetables / sunflower / maize (May-Aug.) – gingelly (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-March) • Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut / gingelly (Jan.-April) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation) • Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-Apr) • Pearl millet/sorghum/Periwinkle*/senna* (July-Oct.) wheat (Nov-Feb)-clusterbean / watermelon (Feb-May) • Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas : lateritic, red and black soils Existing

:

• • • • •

Pearl millet (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses (Dec.-Mar.) Groundnut (June-Sep.) - ragi (Nov.-Feb.) Groundnut (June-Sep.) - gingelly(Dec.-Mar.)

18 Normal year

:

Moderate drought year Severe drought year

: :

• • • • • • • • •

Maize (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) Rice (July-Nov.) Groundnut / maize (July-Nov.) Aswagantha* (June-Jan.) - pulses (Jan.-April) Groundnut (July-Oct.) - coriander (Nov.-Jan.) Gingelly(June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Dec.-Mar.) Maize + pulses (July-Dec.) - pulses (Jan.-April) Horsegram / pearl millet / pulses / ragi / minor millet (Oct.-Jan.)

2. Thiruvallur district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

- 1147.3 30.5 63.2 - 449.5 - 604.1

19 a. Tankfed areas : Tank alluvium (Heavy clay and red soils) Existing Normal year

: :

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / groundnut (Jan.-April) • Rice/Vegetables/watermelon (Aug.-Jan.)- groundnut/ gingelly /pulses (Feb.-May) • Ragi/maize/pearl millet & clusterbean (Aug.-Jan.) pulses / sesame/ vegetables /watermelon (Feb.-April) • Pulses (June-Sep.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) • Tapioca (Aug.-May) • Wheat/fodder (Nov.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas : Red and laterite soils Existing

:

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation • Rice (April-Aug.) - groundnut (Sep.-Dec.) vegetables/gingelly (Jan.-March) • Banana (July-May) - ratoon banana (June-March) vegetable (April - July) - maize (July-Oct.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - 3 years rotation

20 Normal year

:

: Moderate drought year

Severe drought year

:

• Rice (April-Aug.) - groundnut (Sep.-Dec.) vegetables / gingelly (Jan.-March) • Vegetables (June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May) • Maize (June-Sep.) - cabbage / knolkhol (Oct.-Feb.) - Pulses (Feb.-May) • Maize (Jun-Sep)-marigold (Oct-Feb)-pulses (FebMay) • Chrysanthemum (May-March) - ratoon chrysanthemum - 2 years rotation • Rice (Aug.-Jan.)-groundnut (Feb.-Apr)-gingelly (April - June) • Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) – Gingelly (Feb-May) • Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) • Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation • Banana (July-May) - ratoon banana (June-March) vegetable (April - July) - maize (July-Oct.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - 3 years rotation • Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower/ groundnut / pulses /sesame/pearl millet/water melon (Aug.-Jan.) • Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut/gingelly (Jan.-April) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation) • Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-Apr) • Pearl millet/sorghum / Periwinkle*/ senna*/vegetables (lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi) (July-Oct.) - wheat / vegetables (lab lab /cluster bean/ bhendi / water melon) (Nov.-Feb.) • Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas : laterite and red soils

21 Existing

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• Dry rice (June-Aug.) - pulses / vegetables / gingelly (Sept.-Jan.) • Pulses (June-Sep.) – groundnut / gingelly (Sep.-Feb.) • Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) • Dry rice (June-Aug.)-maize/Vegetable/ groundnut / pulses (Sept.-Jan.) • Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses/gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) • Pulses (June-Sep.) - groundnut / gingelly (Sep.-Feb.) • Maize (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) • Aswagandha* (June-Jan.) pulses/lablab (Feb.-May) • Dry rice (June-Aug.)-maize/vegetable/ groundnut / pulses (Sept.-Jan.) • Maize/sunflower/groundnut/pulses (Oct.-Jan.) • Tapioca + groundnut (June-Feb.) • Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses / gingelly (Oct.-Feb. • Pearl millet / ragi / horsegram / sunflower / minor millets/pulses / aloe* (Oct.-Jan.)

3. Villupuram district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

- 1030.0 35.1 77.1 - 433.0 - 484.8

a. Command areas (Sathanur) - Heavy clay and sandy soils Existing Normal year

: :

Moderate drought year Severe drought year

: :

• • • • • •

Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/gingelly (Jan.-April) Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Jan.-April) Rice (Aug.-Jan) – pulses/sesame/maize (Jan.-April) Maize/pearl millet (Aug.-Dec.)-pulses (Jan.-March) Pearl millet / sorghum / fodder (Oct.-Jan.) Vegetables (lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi) (Oct.-an.) for heavy soils

b. Tank fed areas : Tank alluvium (Heavy clay and laterite soils) Existing Normal year

: :

Moderate drought year

:

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Jan.-April) • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) – pulses (including dewgram) (Jan.Apr.) • Pearl millet (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April) • Pulses (June-Sep.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)

22 Severe drought year

:

• Wheat / fodder (Nov.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas : Laterite, red and black soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (April - June) • Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) – ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June - Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation • Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (April - June) • Maize (June-Sep) – marigold (Oct.-Feb.)- pulses (Feb.-May) • Vegetables (June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May) • Vegetables (Jun.-Oct) – sugarbeet* (Nov.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May) • Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) – ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June - Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation • Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) – Gingelly (Feb-May) • Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) • Vegetables (lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi) (May-July) - maize/sunflower (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut / gingelly (Jan.-April) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation) • Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-Apr) • Pearl millet / sorghum / Periwinkle*/ senna* (JulyOct.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) – lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi / watermelon (Feb.-May) • Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

23 d. Rainfed areas : Laterite, Red and Black soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• Pearl millet (June - Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) • Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) • Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) • Maize /pearl millet (June-Sep.)-groundnut (Oct-Feb) • Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) • Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.) • Ashwaganda* (June-Jan)-pulses (lablab) (Feb-May) • Maize (heavy soils)/sunflower + pulses (dewgram) / gingelly (Oct.-Jan.) • Pearl millet / horsegram / sunflower / minor millets / pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

4. Thiruvannamalai district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

- 1039.8 31.3 - 102.9 - 465.8 - 439.8

a. Command areas (Sathanur) - Heavy clay and sandy soils Existing Normal year Moderate drought year Severe drought year

: : : :

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly(Jan.-April) • Rice/maize (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/gingelly (Jan.-Apr.) • Groundnut / maize (Aug.-Dec.) - pulses (Jan. - Apr) • Pearl millet / sorghum / fodder (Oct.-Jan.) • Cluster bean/vegetable beans (Oct-Jan.) in heavy soils

b. Well irrigated areas : Red and laterite soils Existing

:

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (Apr.-June)

24 Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (Apr. - June) • Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep.) – 3 years rotation • Vegetables (June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - cotton / pulses (Feb.-May) • Maize (June-Sep.) – marigold (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May) • Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) • Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower (Aug.-Dec.) - pearl millet / groundnut / gingelly/ palmarosa (Jan.-April) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation) • Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-Apr) • Pearl millet / sorghum / Periwinkle*/ senna* (JulyOct.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) - cluster bean / lab lab / bhendi /water melon (Feb.-May) • Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas : Red, laterite and heavy clay soils Existing Normal year

: :

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• Pearl millet (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) • Groundnut / maize (June-Sep.); Groundnut / pulses / fingermillet (Oct.-Feb.) • Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) • Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) • Maize (heavy soils) / sunflower + ragi/pulses (Oct.-Jan.) • Pearl millet / horsegram / minor millets / pulses (Oct.Jan.) • Aloe* (Oct. -Jan)

5. Vellore district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb)

- 915.4 - 18.2

25 Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

- 102.2 - 442.0 - 353.0

a. Tankfed areas : Tank alluvium (Heavy clay and red soils) Existing Normal year

: :

• •

Moderate drought year

:

•

:

• •

Severe drought year

Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Jan.-April) Rice/vegetables (Aug.-Jan.) - gingelly/ pulses (Feb.May) Pearl millet / sorghum (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / ragi / maize (Feb.-May) Pulses (June-Sep.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) Wheat / fodder (Nov.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas : Red and laterite soils Existing

:

•

• •

Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.)rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) 3 years rotation Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – sesame/ pulses/maize / greens (April-June) Banana (July-Aug.) - ratoon banana (Sep.-Aug.) vegetable (Sep.-Feb.) - maize (Feb.-May) 3 years rotation

26 Normal year

:

•

• • • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• • • •

Severe drought year

:

•

•

Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.)rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) 3 years rotation Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) - sesame/ pulses/maize (April - June) Vegetables (June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May) Maize (June-Sep.) - cabbage / knolkhol (Oct.-Feb.) pulses (Feb.-May) Maize (June-Sep.) – marigold/ ragi (Oct.-Feb.) pulses (Feb.-May) Chrysanthemum (May-March) - ratoon chrysanthemum (2 years rotation) Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May) Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) Banana (July-Aug.) - ratoon banana (Sep.-Aug.) vegetable (Sep.-Feb.) - maize (Feb.-May) 3 years rotation Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower / ragi (Aug-Dec.) - groundnut/gingelly (Jan.-Apr.) Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation) Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-Apr) Pearl millet/sorghum/Periwinkle*/ senna* (July-Oct.) wheat (Nov.-Feb.) - cluster bean / bhendi / lab lab / watermelon (Feb.-May) Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas : Red and laterite soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year Severe drought year

: :

• • • • • • • •

Pearl millet / sorghum (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.Feb.) Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) Pearl millet/sorghum(June-Sep.)-groundnut (Oct-Feb.) Maize (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) Aswagantha* (June-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May) Maize (heavy soils) / sunflower/ gingelly (Oct.-Jan.) Pearl millet / horsegram / sunflower / minor millets / pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

27

6. Cuddalore district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

- 1248.1 65.6 92.4 - 373.6 - 716.5

a. Command Areas (Chidambaram and Kattumannarkoil areas) : Heavy clay soils Existing

:

• • •

Normal year

:

• • • •

Moderate drought year

:

•

Severe drought year

:

•

Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May) Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/sesame/cotton (Jan.-Apr) Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) 3 years rotation Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses/gingelly (Feb.-May) Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/sesame/cotton (Jan.-April) Maize /vegetables/pulses/sesame/green manure (June-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May) Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) 3 years rotation Maize/vegetables/sesame/green manure (Jun.-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Feb.) - gingelly (Feb.-May) Millets/green manure/gingelly (June-Sep.) - maize/ fodder (Oct.-Feb.) – gingelly (Feb.-May)

b. Tankfed areas : Tank alluvium (Heavy clay soils) Existing Normal year

: :

• •

Moderate drought year

:

•

:

• •

Severe drought year

Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Jan.-Apr.) Rice/vegetables (Aug.-Jan.) - gingelly/ pulses (Feb.May) Pearl millet + cluster bean (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April) Pulses (June-Sep.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) Wheat / fodder / pulses (Nov.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas : Laterite, red and black soils

28 Existing

:

•

• Normal year

:

• • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• • •

Severe drought year

:

•

•

Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./ Oct.) 3 years rotation Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-Apr.) – gingelly (Apr.-June) Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (April - June) Maize (June-Sep.) – marigold (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May) Vegetables (June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May) Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May) Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./ Oct.) 3 years rotation Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower (Aug.-Dec.) groundnut gingelly (Jan.-April) Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation) Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-Apr) Pearl millet / sorghum / Periwinkle*/ senna* (JulyOct.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) - cluster bean / bhendi / lab lab/ watermelon (Feb.-May) Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

d. Rainfed areas : Laterite and black soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

•

Severe drought year

:

•

• • • • • •

Pearl millet (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) Gingelly(June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.) Groundnut (June-Sep.) - gingelly(Oct.-Feb.) Maize/pearl millet (Jun.-Sep)-groundnut (Oct-Feb) Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses / gingelly (Oct.-Jan.) Ashwagandha (June – Jan.) (June-Jan.) - pulses/gingelly (Feb.-May) Maize (heavy soil) / sunflower + dewgram/ sesame/ varagu (Oct.-Jan.) Pearl millet / horsegram /sunflower / minormillets / pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

29

• • • • •

Perennial crop - 12% of cultivable area Mango, sapota, jack, casuarina, cashew, Jatropha*, 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

30

II. North Western Zone 1. Dharmapuri district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

864.9 14.8 154.9 391.8 303.4

a. Command areas (Krishnagiri Reservoir Project) : Red and Heavy clay soils Existing Normal year

: :

• • •

Moderate drought year

:

• •

Severe drought year

:

•

Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Dec.-March) Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - greengram / cowpea (Feb.-April) Bhendi / cluster bean / water melon (June-Sep.) rice / ragi (Dec.-March) Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Dec.-March) Green manure / pulses / radish/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (May-Aug.) - rice (Aug.-Jan.) 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)

31 Normal year

:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• •

• •

Severe drought 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) 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/neerium*/stevia*/agathi (June planting) Fodder (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) (under drip irrigation) Maize (June-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) 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.)

32 Normal year

:

• •

• Moderate drought year

Severe drought year

:

•

:

• • •

Tapioca (May-Jan.) Ragi / groundnut / sunflower / castor / sorghum + redgram + mochai / ragi / samai / kudiraivali (MayOct.) - horsegram (Nov.-Jan.) Rainfed tomato (June-Sep.) - horsegram (Oct.-Dec.) Groundnut spreading /sunflower/redgram/samai (June-Sep.) - horsegram / wheat (Oct.-Dec.) Castor / redgram + pulses (July - Dec.) Samai / fodder / senna* / aloe* /castor (July-Dec.) Castor + pulses (July-Dec.)

2. Salem district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

925.2 22.6 175.6 380.0 347.0

33 a. Command areas : Heavy clay and red soils Existing

:

• • • •

Normal year

:

• • •

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• • • •

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) 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 Green manure / pulses (May-Jul) - rice(Aug.-Jan.) Millets /pulses (June-Aug.) - rice (Aug.-Jan.) 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)

34 Normal year

:

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• • • • • •

Severe drought 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) 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) Fodder sorghum/pearl millet/pulses (July-Oct.) wheat (Nov.-Feb.) Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas : Red and black soils

35 Existing

:

• • • •

Normal year

:

• • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• • • • •

Severe drought year

:

• • •

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.) 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.) 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.) Sorghum/pearl millet/ragi/minor millets/pulses/ fodder (May-Dec.) Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)

3. Namakkal District Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

779.8 17.5 154.3 317.0 291.0

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.)

36 Normal year

:

• • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought 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.) Green manure/pulses (June-July)-rice (Aug.-Jan.) Pulses (June-Aug.) - groundnut (Nov.-Feb.) Tapioca (Dec.-Nov.) 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)

37 Normal year

:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Moderate drought year :

• • • • • • • •

Severe drought year

:

• • • •

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) – 2 years rotation Groundnut (Apr-Jul)-maize(Aug-Nov.)-ragi (DecMar) 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.) 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) Sorghum / pearl millet / pulses (Aug.-Feb.) Wheat (Nov.-Feb.) Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

38 c. Rainfed areas : Red and black soils Existing

Normal year

:

:

• • • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

Severe drought year

• • • • •

:

:

• • • • • •

Tapioca (June-May) Groundnut + castor / pulses (May-Jan.) Groundnut + castor (May-Jan.) - horsegram (Oct.Jan.) as an intercrop Sorghum + pulses (June-Dec.) 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.) 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.) Minor millet + pulses / castor / fodder / pulses (JulyDec.)

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

39

III. Western Zone 1. Namakkal district (Tiruchengodu Taluk only) Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

779.8 17.5 154.3 317.0 291.0

a. Command areas (Mettur East Bank canal river pumping areas), red and black soils Existing

:

• • • •

Normal year

:

• • • • • •

Moderate drought year

Severe drought year

:

:

• • • •

Rice (Aug-Nov)-groundnut/pulses/gingelly (DecMarch) 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 / 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) Tapioca (Oct.-Sep.) Maize (June-Sep.) - vegetables / sunflower / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-May) Groundnut (Nov.-Feb.) Pearl millet / fodder sorghum / pulses / gingelly/ sorghum (Sep.-Dec.)

b. Well irrigated areas : Red soils

40 Existing

:

• • • • • • • • •

Normal year

:

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

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) 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) – greenmanure (Jun-July) Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* /sunflower (Sep.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb.-May) Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

41 Moderate drought year

:

• • • • • •

Severe 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) Minor millets / sorghum / castor / fodder / gingelly(June - Dec.)

c. Rainfed areas : Red and black soils Existing

:

• • •

Normal year

:

• • • •

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• • • • •

Tapioca (June-March) Groundnut + castor (May-Jan.) - horsegram (Oct.-Jan.) as an intercrop Millets (June-Sep.) - maize / pulses (Oct.-Jan.) 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 Sorghum / maize + pulses (Aug.-Jan.) Castor + pulses (July-Jan.) Tapioca (June-Dec.) Groundnut + castor (May-Jan.) Sorghum / pulses/pearl millet/fodder/minor millets (Oct.-Jan.)

2. Erode district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

703.7 18.7 148.4 213.1 323.5

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

42 Existing

:

• • • • •

Normal year

:

• • • • •

Moderate drought year

Severe drought year

:

:

• • • • • • • • • • •

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) 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) 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 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)

43 Normal year

:

• • • • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought 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) – greenmanure (Jun-July) Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Mar-May) Cotton (Aug-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) – greenmanure (Jun-July) Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sep.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb.-May) Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) Maize (Aug.-Dec.) - vegetables (Jan.-April) 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.) Senna* (Sep.-Jan.) Minor millets (Sep.-Jan.)

44 c. Rainfed areas : Red and black soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought 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 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 Castor + groundnut (July-Feb.) Pearl millet / sorghum/ pulses/gingelly (July-Oct.) Maize (July-Oct.) Horsegram (Sep.-Dec.) Sorghum / phillipesara (Sep.-Jan.) Castor / redgram/ pulses (July-Feb.) Fodder / minor millets (Oct.-Jan.) Senna* / Periwinkle* (Oct.)

3. Coimbatore district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

691.6 18.3 153.4 192.9 327.0

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)

45 Normal year

:

• • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought 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) Maize (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Dec.) Vegetables / sunflower / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) Sorghum / fodder sorghum / pulses (Aug.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas : Red and black soils Existing

:

• • • • •

Normal year

:

• • • • • • • • • • •

Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (DecNov.) - 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.) 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) – greenmanure (Jun-July) Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Mar-May) Cotton (Aug-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) – greenmanure (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.)

46 Moderate drought year

:

Severe 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) • Fodder sorghum / sorghum / pulses (Aug.-Feb.) fallow • •

c. Rainfed areas : Red and black soils Existing

:

• • • •

Normal year

:

• • •

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• • •

Maize / millets (July-Sept.) - pulses (Sep.-Dec.) Cotton (July-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) Groundnut (July-Oct.) - fallow Maize (July-Oct.) – bengalgram / sunflower (Nov.Feb.) Maize / millets (July-Sept.) - pulses (Sep.-Dec.) Cotton (July-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) Maize (July-Oct.) – bengalgram / coriander (Nov.Feb.) Sorghum / maize + pulses (Aug.-Jan.) Castor + pulses (July-Jan.) 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) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

746.8 24.7 107.0 249.7 365.4

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

47 Existing

:

• • • • • • •

Normal year

:

• • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• •

Severe drought year

:

•

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) 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) Sorghum / maize (June-Sep.) - fallow clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sunflower / pulses / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) - fallow 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)

48 Normal year

:

• • • • • •

Moderate drought year

Severe drought 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) Sorghum / pulses / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi gingelly (Oct.-Jan.) Coleus* (June-Dec.) - pulses (Jan.-March) 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) 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) Rice (Aug.-Dec.) - Gingelly/ Groundnut / pulses (Jan.-April)

49 Normal year

:

•

• • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• • • • • •

Severe drought 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) 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) Sorghum / gingelly/ pearl millet / minor millets / fodder (Oct.-Feb.) Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

For Kulithalai Taluk : Red soils Existing

:

• • • •

Normal year

:

• • • •

Moderate drought year

:

•

Rice (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut / sunflower / cotton / pulses / gingelly (Dec.-April) Vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.Dec.) - rice (Jan.-April) Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) rice (Jan.-April) - 2 years rotation Rice (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut / sunflower / cotton / pulses / gingelly (Dec.-April) Vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.Dec.) - rice (Jan.-April) Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) rice (Jan.-April) - 2 years rotation Maize / sorghum (Aug.-Dec.) - sunflower / gingelly (Dec.-April)

50 Severe drought year

:

• •

Sorghum / pearl millet + pulses (Sep.-Jan.) Bhendi (July-Dec.) - watermelon/cluster bean / cucumber (Jan.-April)

c. Rainfed areas Karur district except Kulithalai taluk : Red and black soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Maize/millets (July-Aug.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.) Groundnut + pulses (July-Oct.) - fallow Millets + pulses (Aug.-Nov.) - fallow Annual moringa - ratoon (2 years rotation) 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) Sorghum / maize + pulses (Aug.-Jan.) - fallow Castor + pulses (July-Jan.) - fallow Gingelly/ horsegram (Nov.-Feb.) Sorghum / pearl millet / fodder / minor millet (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow Horsegram / wheat (Nov.-Feb.) - fallow

For Kulithalai taluk : Red and black soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• • • • • • •

Groundnut + redgram (July-Feb.) Sorghum / pearl millet + redgram (July-Feb.) Groundnut + redgram (July-Feb.) Sorghum / pearl millet + redgram (July – Feb.) Sorghum / pearl millet + redgram (July-Feb.) Horsegram / gingelly / gingelly / wheat (Oct.-Feb.) Horsegram / gingelly / gingelly / wheat (Oct.-Feb.)

5. Dindigul district (Except Natham and Dindigul taluks) Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) a. Command areas : Heavy clay soils

-

862.8 38.0 174.2 251.4 399.2

51

Existing

:

• • •

Normal year

:

• • •

Moderate drought year

:

• •

Severe drought year

:

•

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 Rice (Oct.-Jan.) - vegetables / groundnut/ gingelly (Feb.-May) Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - single crop Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) – 2 years rotation Maize (Aug.-Nov.) - pulses/ gingelly (Dec.-Mar.) Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sunflower / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) Pulses / gingelly/ fodder sorghum / pearl millet (Aug.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas : Red and black soils Existing

:

• • • •

Normal year

:

• • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• • • • •

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) 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) 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) Chloriosa (July)

52 Severe drought year

:

• •

Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.) Minor millets / fodder (Aug.-Dec.)

:

•

:

• •

Groundnut / maize / millets / pulses (July-Oct.) pulses (Oct.-Jan.) Groundnut (June-Sep.)-maize/pulses (Oct.-Nov.) Groundnut + pulses / maize / millets / pulses (JulyOct.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.) Groundnut (June-Sep.)-maize/pulses/sunflower (Oct.-Nov.) Castor + pulses (July-Jan.) Castor + pulses (July-Jan.) Millet / pulses (July-Aug.) - fallow Maize (Sep.-Dec.) - fallow Sorghum / pearl millet / minor millets / pulses / sunflower / fodder (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow

c. Rainfed areas Existing

Normal year

•

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• • • • •

6. Theni district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

832.8 47.7 222.7 178.4 384.0

a. Command areas (Vaigai Periyar project) : Red and alluvial soils Existing

:

•

Normal year

:

•

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• • •

Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure / pulses (Feb.-April) Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure / pulses (Feb.-April) Rice (Aug.-Jan.) – green manure (Feb.-May) Maize (June-Sep)-rice (Oct.-Jan.)-pulses(Feb.-May) Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sunflower (Sep.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-March)

b. Well irrigated areas : Red and black soils

53 Existing

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

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 • Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.Dec.) - green manure (Jan.-Feb.) – 2 years rotation • 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 / neerium* (Jan.-July) • Marigold*(Jun-Oct) –coleus*/vegetables(Nov-Apr) • Cotton (Aug-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) – greenmanure (Jun-July) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sep-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) • Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) • 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) • 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.)

54 Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• • • • • •

• • • • • •

Millets / maize / groundnut / pulses (June-Oct.) horsegram / pulses (Nov.-Feb.) Castor + pulses (July - Jan.) Pearl millet / sorghum / maize / pulses (Aug.-Jan.) Castor + pulses (July-Jan.) 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

55

IV. Cauvery Delta Zone 1. Thanjavur district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

1045.5 47.1 110.7 342.0 545.7

a. Command areas : Alluvial soils Existing

:

• • • •

Normal year

:

•

• • Moderate drought year

:

•

• • Severe drought year

:

•

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 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) 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) 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.)

56 Normal year

:

• • • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• • •

Severe drought 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) Gloriorsa* (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) 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) 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) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

1124.7 57.3 100.2 301.8 665.4

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

57 Normal year

:

•

• • Moderate drought year

:

•

• • Severe drought 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) 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) 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

:

•

Normal year

:

•

• • • Moderate drought year

:

• • •

Severe drought year

:

• •

Rice (Aug.-Dec.) – groundnut (Dec.-Mar.) vegetables (June-Sep.) – rice (Oct.-Feb.) 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.) 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) 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) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May)

-

1333.8 80.3 93.0

58 South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

274.1 886.4

a. Command areas : Alluvial and sandy soils Existing

:

• •

Normal year

:

• • •

• • Moderate drought year

:

•

• • Severe drought year

:

•

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 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) 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) 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

:

•

Normal year

:

•

• • • Moderate drought year

:

• • •

Rice (June.-Sept.) – rice (Oct.-Feb) - pulses (Feb.April) 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) 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)

59 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) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

759.3 23.8 109.1 270.3 356.1

a. Command areas : Alluvial soils Existing

:

• • • •

Normal year

:

•

• • Moderate drought year

:

•

• • • Severe drought year

:

• •

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) 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) Maize/vegetables/pulses/sesame/green manure (June-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Feb.) - pulses / senna* (Feb.-May) Coleus* / Vincea 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) 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

60

Existing

Normal year

:

:

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• • •

• Severe drought year

:

• • •

Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Jan.-April) Banana (Jan.-Dec.) - ratoon banana (Jan.-Dec.) - rice (Dec.-April) Vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.) 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) Gloriossa - (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) 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) 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 Normal year

: :

Moderate drought year

:

• • • •

Severe drought year

:

•

Groundnut + redgram (Oct.-Feb.) Groundnut + redgram (Oct.-Feb.) Green chilli/cluster bean / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.) Sorghum/millets+pulses /gingelly/cucurbits (OctFeb) Fodder sorghum / minor millets/fodder/coriander (Oct.-Feb.)

61

5. Perambalur district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

949.0 33.8 116.0 349.6 449.6

a. Command areas : Heavy clay soils Existing

:

• • • • •

Normal year

:

• •

• • Moderate drought year

:

•

• • Severe drought year

:

• •

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) 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) 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) Pulses (June-Sep.) - sunflower/coriander/cotton (Oct.-Feb.) - fallow Millets / green manure / gingelly (June-Sep.) maize/ fodder (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

h. Well irrigated areas : Red, black and laterite soils

62 Existing

:

• • • • •

Normal year

:

• • • • • • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• •

• • Severe drought year

:

• • •

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) 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) Gloriossa (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) 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) 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.)

63 Normal year

:

• • •

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• • •

Gingelly (July-Oct.) - cotton + coriander (Nov.-Feb.) Gingelly (July-Oct.) - horsegram (Nov.-Feb.) Pearl millet / sorghum / maize (July-Oct.) coriander / groundnut (Nov.-Feb.) Cotton (Aug.-Feb.) - fallow Gingelly (July-Oct.) - horsegram (Oct.-Feb.) Fodder sorghum / minor millets / fodder / coriander (Oct.-Feb.)

6. Pudukottai district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

917.4 33.2 115.5 350.7 418.0

a. Command areas : Alluvial and laterite soils Existing

:

• • • • • • •

Normal year

:

• • • • • • •

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) 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)

64 Moderate drought year

:

• • • •

• Severe 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) 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

:

• • • •

Normal year

:

• • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• •

Severe drought year

:

•

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.) Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April) Rice (June-Sep.)-ragi (Sep-Dec.)-pulses (Jan.-Apr) Rice (July-Nov.) - groundnut / ragi (Dec.-March) fallow Ragi (April - July) - rice (July-Nov.) - groundnut/ pulses (Dec.-Feb.) Maize (Aug.-Nov.) - ragi (Dec.-March) - fallow Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow Fodder maize/ fodder cowpea / water melon / cucumber (Oct.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas : Laterite, red and sandy soils

65 Existing

:

• • • • •

Normal year

:

• • • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• • •

Severe drought year

:

• •

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) 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) 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) 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.)

66 Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• • • • • • • •

Groundnut + redgram (June-Jan.) Groundnut + castor (June-Jan.) Varagu + pearl millet (Aug.-Jan.) Groundnut (June-Sep.) - ragi (Sep.-Jan.) Ragi + castor (June-Jan.) Pulses (June-Sep.) - ragi (Oct.-Feb.) Ragi + castor (June-Jan.) Fodder sorghum / fodder cowpea/castor / cucurbits (June-Jan.)

67 7. Cuddalore district : (Chidambaram and Kattumannarkovil) Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

1248.1 65.6 92.4 373.6 716.5

a. Command areas : Heavy clay soils

Existing

:

• • •

Normal year

:

• • • •

Moderate drought year

:

•

• Severe drought year

:

•

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) 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) 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) 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

68

V. Southern Zone 1. Madurai district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

869.4 33.4 157.6 305.4 373.0

a. Command areas (Periyar Vaigai Project) : Alluvial soils Existing

:

• • • •

Normal year

:

• • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• • •

Severe drought 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) 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) 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) Maize / millets (Jun-Sep)-pulses/senna* (Oct.-Jan.)

b. Tankfed areas : Red, black and laterite soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

• • • • • •

Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.) Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-April) Rice (Sep.-Dec.) - senna* (Jan.-March) Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.) Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-April) Rice (Sep.-Dec.) - senna* (Jan.-March)

69 Moderate drought year

:

•

Severe drought year

:

•

Millets / maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Oct.) - pulses (Nov.-Feb.) Millets / gingelly/ fodder crops / pulses / senna* / minor millets / water melon (Sep.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas : Red, black and laterite soils Existing

Normal year

:

:

• • • • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• •

Severe drought year

:

• •

Vegetables / groundnut (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.Jun) Rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April) Pearl millet (June-Aug.) - vegetables (Oct.-April) Vegetables /groundnut (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Jun) Rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April) Chilles (Jul-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) Chilles (Sep-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) Cotton (Feb-May) – Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – maize (Oct-Jan) Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) Maize / millets / sunflower / senna* (Oct.-Jan.) pulses (Feb.-April) Maize (Jun-Sept) – Jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (Under drip irrigation) Millets / fodder/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / pulses (Oct.-Feb.) Jatropha* (September sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

d. Rainfed areas : Red, black and laterite soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

• • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• •

Severe drought year

:

•

2. Ramanathapuram district

Cotton + pulses (Sep.-Feb.) Sorghum/gingelly /groundnut /sunflower (Sep.-Jan.) Cotton + pulses (Sep.-Feb.) Sorghum / gingelly / pulses (Sep.-Jan.) - senna* (Jan.-April) Maize / pulses / coriander / sunflower (Jan.-April) Pearl millet + clusterbean / coriander / sunflower (Sept-Jan.) Millets + pulses (Sep.-Jan.)

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

-

817.6 49.9 124.2 136.1 507.4

71 a. Command areas (system tank areas) : Heavy clay soils Existing Normal year Moderate drought year

: : :

• • • •

Severe drought year

:

•

Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Jan.-Feb.) Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Jan.-Feb.) Rice / ragi / chillies / maize (Sep.-Jan.) Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) – pulses (Feb-May) Ragi / kuthiraivali /gingelly(Sep.-Jan.)

b. Tankfed areas : Heavy clay soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

• • • • •

Severe drought year

:

•

Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.) Rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.) Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.) Rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.) Maize/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi /rice/ ragi/ pulses/chillies (Sep.-Feb.) Minor millets / gingelly / horsegram / fodder / water melon (Sep.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas : Red, black and laterite soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Severe drought year

:

• •

Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.) Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-May) Groundnut (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.) Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.) Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-May) Groundnut (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.) Chilles (Jul-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) Chilles (Sep-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) Cotton (Feb-May) – Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – maize (Oct-Jan) Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep)–jatropha* (Oct.sowing) Maize/chillies /senna* / sunflower (Oct.-Feb.) pulses (March-July) Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation) Minor millets/sesame/horsegram/millets (Sep.-Feb.) Jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

d. Rainfed areas : Red, black and laterite soils

72 Existing

:

•

Normal year

:

•

Moderate drought year

:

•

Severe drought year

:

•

Upland rice/millets / pulses/groundnut/cotton / chillies (Sep.-Feb.) Upland rice/millets / pulses / groundnut / cotton / chillies (Sep.-Feb.) Rice/ragi/cowpea/sesame/minor millets/sunflower / coriander (Sep.-Jan.) Minor millets / coriander (Sep.-Jan.)

3. Virudhunagar district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

827.2 37.3 176.9 181.8 431.2

a. Tankfed areas : Heavy clay soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

• • • • •

Severe drought year

:

•

Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.) Rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.) Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.) Rice/maize (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.) Maize/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Oct.) pulses (Nov.-Feb.) Sorghum / minor millets / gingelly/ fodder / water melons / gourds/ senna* (Sep.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas : Red, black and laterite soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

• • • • • • • • •

Chillies / groundnut (Jul-Jan.)-cotton (Feb.-June) Pearl millet (June-Aug.) - chillies (Oct.-April) Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July) Chillies / groundnut (July-Jan.)-cotton (Feb.-June) Chilles (Jul-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) Chilles (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)

73 Moderate drought year

:

• •

Severe drought year

:

• •

Maize / chillies / sunflower / senna* / Periwinkle*(Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July) Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation) 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

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

•

Severe drought year

:

•

• • • •

Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.) Sorghum/groundnut /sesame/sunflower (Sep.-Jan.) Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.) Sorghum / maize/groundnut /sunflower / gingelly(Sep.-Jan.) Pearl millet + cluster bean / minor millets / chillies / coriander / gingelly/ sunflower (Sep.-Jan.) Minor millets / pearl millet / cowpea (Sep.-Jan.)

4. Sivagangai district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

875.5 34.2 136.2 289.6 415.5

a. Command areas : Heavy clay soils Existing

Normal year

:

•

:

• • •

Moderate drought year

:

• • •

Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton / pulses / millets / vegetables / gingelly (Feb.-Aug.) Rice (Sep.-Oct.)-groundnut/vegetables (Oct.-Feb.) Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton / pulses/ millets / vegetables / gingelly(Feb.-Aug.) Rice/groundnut / vegetables / maize (Jun-Sep.) chillies (Oct.-Feb.) 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)

74 Severe drought year

:

•

Sorghum / maize / pulses / gingelly/ fodder / water melon / gourds / senna* (Sep.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas : Laterite and sandy soils Existing

:

• • • •

Normal year

:

• • • • • • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• •

Severe drought year

:

• •

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) 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) Chilles (Jul-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) Chilles (Sept-Feb) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) Cotton (Feb-May) – sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – maize (Oct-Jan) Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) Maize / groundnut / sunflower (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (March-July) Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (Under drip irrigation) 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

:

• •

Normal year

:

• •

Groundnut + pulses (June-Sep.)-gingelly(Oct.-Jan.) Sorghum / groundnut / sunflower / gingelly (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.) Groundnut + pulses (June-Sep.)-gingelly(Oct.-Jan.) Maize/ sorghum / groundnut / sunflower / gingelly (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

75 Moderate drought year

:

• •

Severe drought year

:

•

Groundnut + pulses (Sep.-Jan.) Pearl millet / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sunflower /sesame(Sep.-Jan.) Varagu / Sorghum + redgram / pearl millet / cowpea (Sep.-Jan.)

5. Tirunelveli district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

762.2 68.7 171.1 92.6 429.8

a. Command areas (Thamarabarani Project area) : Alluvial soils Existing

:

• • •

Normal year

:

• • •

Moderate drought year

:

• •

Severe drought year

:

•

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) 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) Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) – fallow Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) – pulses (Feb-May) Cowpea / Green manure (June-Jan.)

b. Tankfed area (without wells) : Heavy clay soils Existing Normal year Moderate drought year Severe drought year

: : : :

• • • •

Rice (Sep.-Dec.) - pulses (Jan.-April) Rice (Sep.-Dec.) - pulses (Jan.-April) Maize / vegetables (Sep.-Dec.) – pulses (Jan.-Apr) Cowpea / green manure (June-Jan.)

76 c. Well irrigated areas : Red and laterite soils Existing

Normal year

:

•

:

• • • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• •

Severe drought year

:

• •

Chillies / groundnut / rice (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.June) Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July) Chillies / groundnut / rice (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.June) Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March - July) Chilles (Jul-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) Chilles (Sept-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) Cotton (Feb-May) – Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – maize (Oct-Jan) Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) Maize / chillies / sunflower / senna* (Oct.-Feb.) pulses (March - July) Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation) Millets / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / minor millets / fodder (Oct.-Feb.) Jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

d. Rainfed areas : Red and black soils Existing

:

• •

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

• • •

Severe drought year

:

•

Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.) Sorghum / groundnut / gingelly/ pearl millet / sunflower (Sep.-Jan.) Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.) Maize / millets / groundnut / sunflower (Sep.-Feb.) Coriander / pulses / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / minor millets (Sep.-Jan.) Cowpea / water melon / senna* (Sep.-Jan.)

6. Thoothukudi district Mean annual rainfall (mm) Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) Summer (March-May) South West monsoon season (June-Sept) North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.)

-

653.1 42.6 113.6 86.8 410.1

a. Command areas (Thamarabarani project) : Alluvial soils

77 Existing

:

• •

Normal year

:

• •

Moderate drought year

:

• •

Severe drought year

:

•

Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / green manure (Feb.-April) Banana (July-June) - ratoon banana (June-March) 2 years rotation Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-April) Banana (July-June) - ratoon banana (June-March) (2 years rotation) Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) – fallow Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) – pulses (Feb-May) Maize / sunflower (June-Sep.) - senna* (Oct.-Jan.)

b. Tankfed areas : Heavy soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

• • • • • • • •

Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.) Rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.) Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.) Maize / rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.) Rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.) Chillies (Sep.-Feb.) Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / pulses (Sep.Feb.) Pearl millet / gingelly/ fodder / senna* / minor millets / water melon / gourds (Sep.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas : Red, laterite and sandy soils Existing

:

Normal year

:

• • • • • • • • • •

Chillies / groundnut (Jul-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June) Pearl millet (June – Aug.) - chillies (Oct.-April) Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July) Chillies / groundnut (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June) Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March - July) Chilles (Jul-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) Chilles (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)

78 Moderate drought year

:

• •

Severe drought year

:

• •

Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / maize / chillies / (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March - July) Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) (Under drip irrigation) 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

:

• •

Normal year

:

• •

Moderate drought year

:

•

Severe drought year

:

•

• • • • • • •

Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.) Sorghum / groundnut / gingelly/ sunflower (Sep.-Jan.) Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.) Maize / pearl millet / sorghum / groundnut / gingelly/ sunflower (Sep.-Jan.) Sunflower / pearl millet / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Sep.-Jan.) 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 Dairy, sheep In tankfed it is suggested to include celosia and marigoldduring June if market prevails Biofuel crops are recommended only with industrial tie-up Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement

79

VI. High Rainfall Zone (Kanyakumari District) a. Command areas (Pechiparai, Perunchani) : Laterite and sandy soils Existing

:

• • •

Normal year

:

• • •

Moderate drought year

Severe drought 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) Rice (April-Aug.) - rice (Sep.-March) - fallow Rice (June-Oct.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May) Banana - ratoon banana (April - Jan.) - (2 years rotation) Short duration rice (Oct.-Jan.) Maize/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.) pulses (Feb.-May) Groundnut (Aug.-Nov.) Tapioca (Sep.-March) Sorghum/sesame/minor millets/fodder/horsegram (Oct.-Feb.)

b. Tankfed areas : Laterite soils Existing Normal

: :

• •

Moderate drought year

:

•

:

• •

Severe drought year

• •

Rice (June-Oct.)-rice (Oct.-Feb.)-pulses (Feb.-May) Rice / Maize (June-Oct.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May) Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.) pulses (Feb.-May) Tapioca (Sept.-Mar.) 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)

80 Normal year

:

• • • • • •

Moderate drought year

:

• • • • •

Severe drought year

:

• • •

Tapioca + pulses (Sep.-July) Red banana (June-May) Flowers Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May) Jatropha* (Jun-July sowing) (Under drip irrigation) Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – tapioca (Sept-July) – Red banana (July-May) – Two years rotation 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) 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

:

Normal year

:

Moderate drought year

:

Severe drought year

:

•

• • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Tapioca + pulses (April-Dec.) Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.) Vegetables including yam/ medicinal plants (JuneSep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.) Tapioca (April-Dec.) Tapioca + pulses (April-Dec.) Millets + pulses (Oct.-Jan.) Groundnut (June-Sep.) - fallow Castor (Sep.-Feb.) - fallow Gingelly (Sep.-Dec.) – fallow Tapioca (April-Dec.) 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 Beekeeping

81 • •

Biofuel crops are recommended only with industrial tie-up Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement

82

VII. Hilly and High Altitude Zone The zone comprises of Nilgiris, Kodaikannal, Shevroys, Elagiri, Jevadhi, Kollimalai, Palanis and Podhgaimalai. The annual rainfall of this zone is more than 1500 mm. The soils are mainly lateritic. Plantation and horticultural crops are the predominant crops being grown in the zone. Nilgiris • • •

Reduce 10% area under tea and coffee during next five years Replace by rosemary and thyme, potato, cabbage, radish and carrot (grow these crops in terrace) Cut flowers

Kodaikanal • • •

Lower Palani hills – Coffee, Mandarin, Cocoa, Vanilla, Chowchow, Pineapple, French beans, Avocado, Cardamom, Pepper Cut flowers Upper Palani hills – Potato, Pear, Peaches, Plums, Apple Garlic, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Ginger

83

ANNEXURE I AGRICULTURAL CROPS

84

Particulars of ruling varieties and hybrids of crops 1. RICE Varieties/ Duration Season Averag Hybrids (days) e yield (kg/ha) a) Short duration ADT 43

110

AprilMay

Special features

Suitability to Agro climatic zones

5900 Medium Slender white rice,All districts of Tamil Nadu short duration, resistant to except Kanyakumari & GLH Tuticorin ADT(R)45 110 April- 6137 Medium Slender white rice,Entire Tamil Nadu except May Gall midge (biotype 1) Madurai, Dharmapuri, June-July resistant Theni, Karur, The Nilgiris Mayand Kanyakumari June CO 47 110-115 April- 5800 Medium slender white rice, Erode, Thiruvannamalai, May resistant to blast Dindigul, Cuddaore, MaySalem, Dharmapuri, June Coimbatore, Trichy, June-July Thanjavur and Tuticorin ASD 20 110 April- 6700 Long slender white rice, All districts of Tamil Nadu May semi dwarf, non lodging Dec- Jan alternate to IR 50 Sep-Oct MDU 5 95 – 100 June-July 4500 Medium slender, white All districts of Tamil Nadu Sep-Oct rice, drought tolerant. as dry and semidry crop Jan-Feb Suited for direct seeding suited Ramanathapuram, Marand transplanting Sivagangai, Viruthunagar, April Tuticorin and Chengalpet districts TRY 2 115-120 June-July 5360 Salt tolerant, tolerant to Salt affected soils of entire Dec- Jan blast, long slender grain Tamil Nadu TKM 12 115 – July-Aug 3040 Drought resistant, good Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, 120 Aug-Sept cooking quality suitable for Virudhunagar, Ramnad, dry and semi dry Thoothukudi and cultivation Sivagangai PMK (R) 3 115 Sept-Oct 3025 Drought resistant, suitable Ramnad, Sivagangai, for direct seeding Virudhunagar and Thoothukudi ADTRH 1 115 April- 6400 Long slender, short All districts of Tamil Nadu (hybrid) May duration high tillering June-July ADT (R) 47 118 April- 6200 Medium slender white rice, Throughout Tamil Nadu May high yielder MayJune June-July

85 ADT (R) 48 94-99

June-July 4800 Very early, Long slender white rice, better than MDU 5 in quality, Resistant to stem-borer, green leaf hopper and gall midge

Suitable for direct seeding under water scarce contingent situations as well as for transplanting for late Kuruvai season in Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur districts

b) Medium duration CO 43

135-140 Aug Sep-Oct

CO 46

125

ASD 19 ADT 39

ADT 46

I.W. Ponni

CORH 2

5200 Fine grain, tolerant to alkalinity & salinity

Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Karur, Villupuram, Trichy, Perambalur, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramnad, Kanyakumari, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, Erode, The Nilgiris Coimbatore and Erode districts Southern districts

Aug 6020 Long slender white rice, Sept-Oct resistant to BPH 125 Oct-Nov 5800 Short slender white rice, (Pishnam drought tolerant ) 120-125 Late 5600 Medium slender white rice, Kancheepuram, thaladi in tolerant to blast BLB, leaf Thiruvallur, Vellore, Cauvery spot Cuddalore, Villupuram, Delta Trichy, Karur, Perambalur, zone Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Pudukottai, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Kancheepuram, Salem, Namakkal, Coimbatore and Erode 135 Sep-Oct 6170 Long Slender white rice, Thanjavur, field resistant to stem borer, Thiruvannamalai, Theni, leaf folder and moderately Kancheepuram, resistant to RTD and brown Pudukottai, Salem, spot Perambalur, Madurai, Erode, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri and Trichy districts 135-140 Aug 6750 Fine grain quality rice, All districts of Tamil Nadu Sampa resistant to RTV Thaladi Pishanam 125 July-Oct 6100 Medium slender, white Coimbatore, Pudukottai, rice, non lodging Madurai, Virudhunagar, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Villupuram, Nagapattinam, Ramnad and Tuticorin

86 c) Long duration ADT 44

145-150 Aug-Sept6200

Short bold white rice, All districts resistant to blast and GLH

2. MILLETS Varieties Durati / on Hybrids (days)

Season

Average yield (kg/ha) Grain yield Fodder yield

Special features

Suitability to Agro climatic zones

a) Sorghum CO 26

105 -110

Irrigated : Summer Rainfed : June-July June-July Sept-Oct April-May

Rainfed : 5000 Rainfed : Irrigated: 6250 12500 Irrigated: 19000 Rainfed : 2493 Rainfed : Irrigated: 2864 12660 Irrigated: 17700 Rainfed : 2619 Rainfed : 8090

CO (S) 28

100 -105

APK 1

105 -110

June-July Sept-Oct (Rainfed)

BSR 1

105 -110

June-July (Rainfed) Dec-Jan (irrigated)

K8

95

Purattasipatta Rainfed : 2440 Rainfed : m (Rainfed) 7300

Tolerant to drought, moderate resistant to shootfly, stemborer

COH 2

90

All seasons

Suitable for grain and fodder

COH 4

105 -110

Irrigated : Jan-Feb

Rainfed : 2500 -3500 Irrigated: 6000 -6500

Rainfed : 2500-3000 Irrigated: 9500-10000

Rainfed : 3750 Rainfed : Irrigated: 4250 11250 Irrigated: 13250 Irrigated: 6500 Irrigated: 20000

High yield, White grain, juicy fodder

All zone of Tamil Nadu except hill zone

White grain

All sorghum growing districts of Tamil Nadu

Non lodging Resistant to downy mildew, leaf spot and stem borer Moderate resistance to earhead bug

Southern districts of Tamil Nadu as rainfed crop Western zone of Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore, Erode, Thiruchencode taluk of Salem and Karur taluk of Tiruchirappali) Dindigul, Madurai, Ramnad, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai, Tuticorin and Tirunelveli All zones of Tamil Nadu except Nilgiri.

High yield, low Vellore, incidence of Thiruvannamalai, leaf diseases, Villupuram, grain mould Cuddalore, and sugary Coimbatore, disease. Salem, Erode, Suitable for Tuticorin, Trichy, both grain and Dindigul dists. fodder

87 Paiyur 1 145 -150

June-July

Rainfed : 970

Rainfed : 9350

Paiyur 2 90-95 Adi Rainfed : 2113 Rainfed : (Rainfed), 8789 Purattasi(Rain fed)

Varieties / Hybrids

Duration (days)

Season

Sweet juicy thin straw

Dual purpose red grain sorghum suited to rainfed tract of salem, Namakkal district. Tolerant to downy mildew and charcoal rot diseases.

Average grain yield (kg/ha)

Special features

Dharmapuri, Salem, Vellore and Thiruvannamalai districts under rainfed conditions Salem districts

Suitability of agro-climate zones

b) Cumbu CO 7

95-100 days

CO(Cu) 9

80-85

Irrigated : June –July FebMarch Rainfed : July, Sept.- Oct. Irrigated : Jan. – Feb. MarcApril Rainfed : June – July Sept. – Oct.

Irrigated : 3000 High yielding Suitable to all Kg/ha Resistance to Pearl millet Rainfed : 2500 downy mildew growing Kg/ha districts. Irrigated : 2865 kg/ha Rainfed : 2354kg/ha

Lengthy ear Suitable to all heads Pearl millet More no. of growing tillers districts of Resistance to Tamil Nadu downy mildew

c) Maize CO 1

105-110

Hybrid COH(M) 4

90-95

Irrigated : June-July Irrigated : 5250 Rainfed : Sept. – kg/ha Oct. Rainfed : 3500 kg/ha

Resistance to downy mildew Suitable for grain and fodder orange, flint grains Irrigated : June-July Irrigated : 5694 Resistance to All maize Jan. – kg/ha downy mildew growing Feb. Rainfed : 4251 of Stem borer, districts of Rainfed : Sept. – kg/ha high yielder Tamil Nadu Oct.

88 Baby corn COBC 1

55-65

Irrigated : June-July Jan. – Feb. Rainfed : Sept. – Oct.

6700 kg/ha (Fresh cobs) Green fodder – 32.3 t/ha

Suited for All maize green cob growing areas consumption 2 of Tamil Nadu -3 cobs/plant

105-110

Irrigated : Dec.-Jan Irrigated : 2892 Apr.-May kg/ha Rainfed : June-July Rainfed : 2794 Sept.-Oct. kg/ha

High yielding long fingers, synchronized maturity.

Suitable for all ragi growing districts. Except Kanyakumari and Nilgiris

CO 6

85-90

June – July Sept. – Oct.

Suitable for irrigated and Rainfed

For all districts of Tamil Nadu

CO (Te) 7

85-90

d) Ragi CO (Ra) 14

e) Tenai 1900 Kg/ha (Rainfed) 3850 kg/ha (Irrigated) Kharif (Adipattam) 1855 kg/ha and Rabi (Purattasi pattam)

Bold grains, Resistant to lodging, Suitable for rainfed condition, High protein (13.62%) and Calcium (0.5%),

Salem, Villupuram, Namakkal, Thiruvannamala i, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Tuticorin, Madurai, Vellore,Virudhu nagar, Erode Suitable for low and Nilgiri rainfall and low districts fertile soils

f) Samai CO 3

80-85

June – July July- August Sept. – Oct.

1066 kg/ha

Suitable for All samai biscuit making growing districts of Tamil Nadu

75

July-Aug Dec-Jan

1400 kg/ha

High tillering –-wider adoptability

120

Rainfed : July – August

3000 kg/ha

Non-lodging, -drought tolerant.

Rainfed : Sept. – October Irrigated : Feb. – March

1750 kg/ha

No major pest -& disease notice.

g) Panivaragu CO 4 h) Varagu CO 3

i) Kuthiraivali CO 1

j) Wheat

75

89 HW 3094

85-90

15th October to 1st 2364 kg/ha week of November

COW (W) 1

85-90

Irrigated : 2364 kg/ha 15thOctober to 15th November

Bread wheat type, free transable resistance to yellow and black rust. Bread wheat type, High yielding, Rust resistant, Having better chappathi and bread making quality

Southern Hills and areas adjoining to hills and plaints of Tamil Nadu. Plains and adjoining areas near to hills and hills in Theni, Dindigul, Karur, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Thiruvannamala i& Kancheepuram dist.

3. PULSES Varieties / Hybrids

Duration (days)

Season

Average yields (Kg/ha) Irrigat Rainfed ed

Special features

Suitability to Agro climatic zone

a) Redgram SA 1

CO 5

CO 6

COPH 2

Vamban 1

180

June – July

-

1250 Long duration All zones * variety for rainfed condition, entire State 120 – 130 June – July 1500 700- 800 Photo insensitive All Zones * Sept. – Nov. moderately resistant Sept. – Nov. Feb. – to pod fly, root rot, North East and March SMD Western zone 170 – 180 June – Aug 900 Suitable for pure Throughout the and mixed crop. state Tolerant to pod borer 120- 130 June – July 1050 Suitable for pure All districts of Sep – Oct crop in irrigated and Tamil Nadu Jan- Feb rainfed situations, except Nilgiris synchronized and flowering of female Kanyakumari and male parents 95 - 100 June – 1200 840 Suitable for single August harvest. High yield Feb. – suitable for March intercropping in groundnut

90 Vamban 2

170- 180

June August

-

1050 High yielding All districts of resistant to sterility Tamil Nadu and mosaic, high protein Coimbatore 20.3%

APK 1

95 – 105

June-July Sept-Oct Feb-March

-

905

CO(RG) 7

120 – 130 June – July Sept. – Oct Feb. – March

BSR 1

Perennial June-July 1st harvest from 150 days

VBN (Rg) 3

100-105

All seasons

ADT 5

70

K1

70 – 75

April-May 1320 (Rice fallows in New Cauvery Delta zone of Thanjavur district) Sept. – Oct to Nov – Dec

S h o r t d u r a t i o nVirudhunagar, resistant to SMD Ramnad, Sivagangai, Madurai, Theni, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Trichy, Salem, Dharmapuri 1168 915 Photoinsensitive, Coimbatore, high protein content Salem, (23.5%), very low Dindigul, incidence of SMD Pudukottai, and pod fly Namakkal, Vellore, Thiruvannamal ai, Sivagangai, Theni, Madurai and Tirunelveli districts 0.750 Perennial, suitable Virudhunagar, -1.00 kg for entire State Ramnad, of green Sivagangai, pods per Madurai, Theni, plant Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Trichy, Salem, Dharmapuri and Coimbatore 884 Resistant to Sterility Entire Tamil Mosaic Disease Nadu. Suitable (SMD), Tolerant to to all types of pod borer soil

b) Blackgram -

700

Resistant to major Cauvery delta, diseases like YMV, North East zone root rot, leaf crinkle virus and pest like stemfly.

YMV resistant, 24.2% protein, suitable for intercropping in cotton

Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Ramnad and Sivagangai districts

91 TMV 1

65 – 70

June – Aug. Feb. – March

800

-

Resistant to YMV Southern zone and tolerant to root North East and rot North West zone

Vamban 3

65 – 70

820

775

Resistant to YMV

All districts of Tamil Nadu

VBN (Bg) 4

75 - 80

June – July Sept. – Oct., Feb. – March June – July Sept. – Oct. Feb. – March

890

790

High yielder

CO 5

70 – 75

June – July Sept. – Oct. Feb. – March

1270

740

High biomass, resistant to tip blight, tolerant to powdery mildew, suitable for rainfed conditions

All districts of Tamil Nadu except problem soils and heavy clay soils North East, North West, Western zones

ADT 3

65-70

Rice fallow (Jan. – Feb.)

-

Paiyur 1

85 – 90

-

K1

70 – 75

June – July Sept. – Oct. Feb. – March Sept. – Oct.

KM 2

60 – 65

-

760

VRM(Gg) 1

60

June – July Sept. – Oct. Feb. – March June – July Sep – Oct

970

-

VBN(Gg) 2

65 – 70

c) Greengram

-

1000 Resistant to YMV Cauvery delta -1200 and stemfly and Southern (Rice zone fallow) 700 High grain yield, North East, low incidence of North West, YMV, suited to Western zones rainfed condition 670 Tolerant to drought, Rainfed tracts of suitable for pure and Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and cotton based intercropping system Virudhunagar districts

June-July 820 Sep – Oct Feb – March

750

Tolerant to YMV and pod borer

All zones *

High yielder, short duration, high crude protein content, resistant to YMV, stemfly and pod borer High yielder, moderately resistant to YMV and pod borer

Vellore and Thiruvannamal ai districts

Entire Tamil Nadu

92 CO 4

85

CO 6

62 – 67

June – July 1250 – 700-900 High biomass, Sept. – Oct. 1500 suitable for rainfed Feb. – condition March June – July 1300 980 Resistant to YMV Sept. – Oct. Feb. – March

All zones *

Suited to all greengram growing tracts to Tamil Nadu.

d) Soyabean

CO (Soy) 3

85 – 90

June-July,

1366

Photoinsensitive, Erode and Creamy yellow Coimbatore seeds with high oil districts and protein content, Resistant to Yellow Mosaic Virus at field condition

Sept.October

e) Cowpea

Paiyur 1

90

June – Aug. Sept. – Nov.

-

VBN 1

55 – 65

-

Vamban 2

75 – 85

April – May June – Aug. Sept. – Nov. Throughout the year

P 152

70 – 75

June – July Sept. – Nov.

-

740

Suited to rainfed tracts

North East, North West and Western zones 950 Suited to rainfed All districts of conditions, white Tamil Nadu as grain type rainfed crop 10580 Vegetable type, All districts of kg green Ivory coloured seeds Tamil Nadu pods 970 Suitable for rainfed All zones * conditions

4. OILSEEDS Sl. Varieties / Durati No. hybrids on (Days) a) Groundnut 1. CO 3 2. COGn 4

3. COGn 5

Season

105 June – July Sept – Oct April – May 110 Irrigated Dec – Jan April – May Feb – March Rainfed April – May June – July Oct 125 Rainfed June – July July – Aug

Average yield (kg/ha)

Special features

R-1750 Bold kernels I – 2150 I – 1950 Large seeded, bunch, R – 1500 high oil content

Suitability to Agroclimatic zones All groundnut growing districts of Tamil Nadu All groundnut growing areas of Tamil Nadu

R – 1585 Semispreading, Erode, Salem, drought resistant, Red Namakkal, and kernel Dharmapuri and Perambalur

93 4. VRI 2

5. VRI 3

6. VRI (Gn) 5 7. TMV 7 8. ALR 3

105 June – July (Rainfed) Dec – Jan (Irrigated) 90 Rainfed June – July Oct – Nov Irrigated Dec – Jan 105 June – July -110 Dec – Jan 105 June – July (Rainfed) 110 Rainfed -115 April – May June – July Dec – Jan (Irrigated)

R – 1700 Cosmopolitan, Bunch All districts I – 2000 1830

Early maturing

All districts

R – 2133 One to two seeded All groundnut I – 2384 dormancy for 45 days growing areas of Tamil Nadu 1800 Cosmopolitan, Bunch All districts R – 1680 Resistant to rust, Coimbatore, Erode, I – 1880 Haulms remains grown Salem, still harvest Virudhunagar, Dindigul, Trichy and Tuticorin districts

b) Sesamum 1. TMV 3

85

All seasons

Cosmopolitan, Black seeds

All districts

Cosmopolitan, Black seeds

All districts

Feb– March

700 (Rainfed) 900 (Irrigated) 700 (Rainfed) 900 (Irrigated) 900

2. CO 1

85

All seasons

3. TMV 4

85

Brown seeds

All districts

4. TMV 5

85

(Irrigated) Feb– March

900

Brown seeds

All districts

700

Brown seeds

All districts

700-800

White seeds

(Irrigated) Oct. - Nov. (Rainfed) June – July (Rainfed) 6. SVPR 1 70-80 Nov – Jan (Irrigated) Feb.-march (Irrigated) 7. VRI (Sv) 2 80-85 Rainfed : Rabi (November – December) Irrigated : Summer (February – March) c) Sunflower 5. TMV 6

85

706 Moderately resistant to Sesame growing (Rainfed) shoot webber and root districts in Tamil 726 rot , high yielder Nadu (Irrigated)

94 1. CO 4

80-85 Rainfed June-July Oct-Nov Dec-Jan

1200-1500 Large head size high yielder

Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Tirunelveli, Tirunelveli and Dindigul Hybrid, compact head, Coimbatore, uniform seeds set; less Namakkal, hull content. Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli Rainfed – Erode, Salem, Madurai Irrigated – Cuddalore, Trichy

2. TCSH 1

85-90 June – July Oct – Nov Dec – Jan April – May

(R) 1650 (I) 1850

d) Castor 1. TMV 6

160 June – July

2. TMVCH 1 160 June – Sept -170

(RF) – 843 High oil content, non (I) – 1130 shattering 1180

Hybrid high oil content, good for intercropping

Pure and mixed / intercropping in Salem, Dharmapuri and Erode districts Salem, Namakkal and Erode

5. COTTON Sl. Varieties Durati Season Average Special features No. / hybrids on yield (kg/ (Days) ha) 1. MCU 5 165 Aug.1850 Extra long staple (29 mm 1. Oct. MHL), Feb.Can spun upto 70s, ginning Mar. 34% Jan.1500 Medium staple cotton (23.7 1. MCU 7 135 Feb. mm MHL), Can spun upto 30s, early maturing with 33.2% ginning outturn. Tolerant to Blackgram Aug.1570 Can spun upto 60s 1. MCU 12 150 -160 Sep.

1. MCU 13 150

Aug.Sep.

1. LRA

Aug.Sep.

-160

5166

165

Suitability to Agroclimatic zones Winter Irrigated / Summer Irrigated tracts of Tamil Nadu Rice Fallow tracts of Tamil Nadu

Coimbatore, Erode, Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Cuddalore, Villupuram 1735 Extra long staple cotton can Winter Irrigated tracts spun upto 50s, synchronized of maturity with high fibre Coimbatore, Erode, strength Salem, Dharmapuri, Namakkal, Dindigul and Theni districts 1500 Medium staple (26 mm), Winter Irrigated tracts (Irrigated) Can spun upto 40s, ginning and Winter Rainfed 1000 36.2% and tolerant to tracts of Tamil Nadu (Rainfed) drought

95 1. MCU 5

165

1. Supriya

165

1. Anjali

150

1. Surabhi

165

VT

1. Sumangal 165 a

1. Sruthi

165

1. K 11

130 -135

1. Suvin

165

(Interspec ific Hybrid)

1. TCHB

1.

165 213 -175 (Interspec ific Hybrid) SVPR 2 150

1. SVPR 3 135 1. KC 2

-140 140 -150

Aug.Sep.

2000

Extra long staple, Verticillium wilt tolerant

Winter Irrigated tracts of Tamil Nadu Aug.2000 White fly tolerant Winter Irrigated tracts Sep. of Tamil Nadu Jan. 1800 Dwarf, semi compact plant Rice Fallow Tracts of -Feb. type with early maturing Tamil Nadu Aug.2200 Extra long staple, Winter Irrigated tracts Sep. Verticillium wilt resistant of Tamil Nadu Sept.2000 Suitable for rainfed tract Winter Irrigated and Oct. (Irrigated) Rainfed tracts of Tamil 1200 Nadu (Rainfed) Sept.2500 Extra long staple cotton Winter Irrigated tracts Oct. of Coimbatore, Erode, Salem and Dharmapuri Districts of Tamil Nadu Oct – 1100 Highly tolerant to drought Winter rainfed tracts of Nov and sucking pests Turicorin, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar districts August1020 Extra long staple cotton Winter Irrigated tracts Sept. with 28% ginning outturn of Coimbatore, Erode, and 32 mm MHL, spins Salem and 100s Dharmapuri Districts of Tamil Nadu Aug2500 High yielding, early Winter Irrigated tracts Sept. maturing, Tolerant to leaf of Coimbatore, Erode, spot diseases, Extra long Salem and staple cotton and can spun Dharmapuri Dist. of upto 80’s Tamil Nadu Feb 2000 High ginning out turn of Summer Irrigated Mar 36.4%, medium staple (25.1 tracts and Winter Aug.mm), can spin 40's, Rainfed tracts of Sept. moderately resistant to leaf Tamil Nadu hopper and tolerant to drought, suited to summer irrigated and tankfed rice fallow tracts of Tamil Nadu. Jan.1290 Suitable for rice fallow tract.Rice Fallow Tracts of Feb. Tolerant to drought Tamil Nadu Sep 772 High ginning out turn of Winter Rainfed tracts Oct 37.5%, medium staple of Tamil Nadu cotton - 24.4 mm tolerant to (Tirunelveli, drought and jassids, suitable Thoothukudi and for rainfed black cotton soil Virudhunagar) tract

96 6. SUGARCANE Season, Period of Planting 1. ! Main season! - i) Early- Dec - Jan ii) Mid - Feb - March iii) Late- April - May 2. ! Special season - June - July ! Early season varieties are suitable for special season. PARTICULARS OF VARIETIES Duration (Month) Cane yield (T/ha) COC 671 10 123.5 COC 771 10 140.0 COC 772 10 143.3 COC 773 10 97.5 COC 800 (C 66191) 10 - 11 102.9 COC 774 11 159.8 COC 775 11 122.5 COC 776 11 112.3 COC 777 12 171.3 COC 778 12 165.5 COC 779 12 204.6 COC 419 12 112.5 CO 6304 12 115.0 COC 8001 10 - 11 102.5 COC 85061 10 - 11 128.5 COC 86062 10 - 11 133.5 COC 86071 10 - 11 131.7 COC 90063 10 - 11 124.0 CO 8021 10 - 11 137.7 COC 91061 10 - 11 131.0 COC 92061 8 - 11 132.7 CO 8362 11 - 12 124.3 COG 93076 11 - 12 132.0 CO 8208 11 - 13 141.5 COG 94077 11 133.2 COG 95076 10 - 11 108.2 CO 85019 12 134.5 COSI 95071 10 152.0 COSI 96071 10 145.0 CO 86010 10 - 12 146.1 COC 98061 10 - 11 120.0 COSI 98071 12 144.7 CO 86249 10 - 12 128.7 COC 99061 10 - 12 130.3 CO 86032 10 - 12 110.0 COC (SC) 22 10 - 12 135.9 CO Si (SC) 6 12 148.0 COG (SC) 5 11 - 12 120.9 Variety

CCS%

CCS(T/ha)

14.20 13.10 14.00 13.20 13.20 11.90 13.40 14.00 11.80 11.00 11.80 10.50 13.50 13.20 12.90 12.60 12.20 12.30 11.00 11.30 12.76 12.40 13.20 11.07 13.5 11.5 12.5 12.9 11.9 10.78 11.60 12.3 11.3 11.9 13.0 12.1 12.3 13.0

17.50 18.30 20.00 12.60 13.50 17.90 16.40 15.50 20.00 18.10 24.00 11.80 15.50 13.50 16.60 16.80 16.00 15.40 14.60 15.60 16.05 15.40 17.40 15.28 17.6 12.4 16.8 21 17.3 15.64 13.80 17.7 14.3 15.6 14.3 16.5 18.1 15.6

DISTRICT/SEASON - SUITABLE VARIETIES

97

ALL DISTRICTS (except Kanniyakumari and Nilgiris) Early season Mid season Late season Special season Factory Jaggery Factory Jaggery Factory Jaggery Factory Jaggery CO 658 .. CO 658 CO 419 CO 6304 CO 62175 Early varieties .. are suitable for Special CO 62174 COC 671 CO 62198 CO 449 COC CO 419 .. .. 8201 CO 62198 COC 771 CO 6304 CO 6304 COC 771 CO 6304 .. .. COC 671 COC 772 COC 774 COC 776 COC 778 COC 8201 .. .. COC 771 COC 773 COC 775 COC COC 779 CO 740 .. .. 8001 COC 772 COC 8001 COC .. CO 419 .. .. .. 8001 COC 8001 COC ... .. CO 740 .. .. .. 85061 COC 85061 COC CO 658 .. .. .. 86062 COC 86062 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. CoSi 86071 CoSi .. .. .. .. .. .. 86071 COC 90063 COC .. .. .. .. 90063 COC 91061 COC .. .. .. .. .. .. COG 94077 91061 COG 94077 CO Si 95071 COG .. COG .. .. .. COC 98061 93076 93076 CO CO 86010 CO 85019 CO 86249 85019 COC COC 99061 99061 CO CO 86032 86032 COC COC (Sc) 22 (Sc) 22 7. FORAGES Sl. No

Varieties / Hybrids

Duratio Seasons n

Average yield Special features Suitability to (GFY) Agro-climatic zones 1. BN Hybrid PerenniRound the 400 t/ha/year More leafy Suitable for all Co-3 al year Highly palatable zones of Tamil More green Nadu except 3000 fodder feet above MSL in hilly zones. 2. C O F S - 2 9PerenniRound the 65 t/ha/yr Multi cut Suitable for all Sorghum al year suitable for zones except hilly silage making zones

98 3. Fodder Maize60-65 (African Tall) +60-70 Fodder Cowpea 4. Sorghum 80-85 + Cowpea 60-75 5. Cenchrus + Stylo

Kharif 55 t/ha/yr (June-Oct. 20t/ha/yr

Tall growing

Rabi Sorghum: 65 t/ Single cut (Nov.-Feb.) ha/yr suitable for silage making Cowpea: 20t/ha/ yr PerenniSuitable for Cenchrus: 40t/ Drought al rainfed and ha/yr tolerance dry land situation Stylo: 30t/ha/yr

Suitable for all zones except hilly zones Suitable for all zones except hilly zones Suitable for rainfed area of Tamil Nadu

99

100

ANNEXURE II ANNEXURE - II

HORTICULTURAL CROPS HORTICULTURAL CROPS

101

Particulars of ruling varieties and hybrids of crops Varieties / Duratio Hybrids n 1. Sapota CO 1 CO 2 CO 3 PKM 1 PKM 2 PKM 3

PKM 4

Season

Average yield

Special features

Suitability to Agro climatic zones

Perenni June- Dec. 175-200 kg/ Fruits are long oval All the seven zones al tree/year (egg shaped) Perenni June- Dec. 175 kg /tree/ Fruits are obovate to All the seven zones al year round in shape Perenni June- Dec. 157kg/tree/year Fruits are rich in TSS. In the plains upto 100 al m M.S.L. Tree is dwarf, fruits are Perenni June- Dec. 236kg/tree/year of two shapes round All the seven zones al and oval Perenni June- Dec. 336 kg/tree/ High yielder All the seven zones al year All plain areas in Vertical growth habit Perenni Tamil Nadu under June- Dec. 14 t/ha and suitable for high al both rainfall & density planting irrigated Fruits are spindle Perenni Varied soil types of June- Dec. 20.08t/ha shaped suitable for dry al tropical conditions flakes production

2. Jack High yielder ; average fruit weight is 12 kg Suitable for Perenni 107 fruits/tree/ June- Dec. commercial planting as al year (1018kg) well as in home garden

North eastern zone, High rainfall zone

BSR 1

Perenni July- August 155 kg /tree / al year

Suitable for high density planting

Chakaiya

Perenni 100-150 kg/ July- August al tree/year

Prolific bearer

Banarasi

Perenni 100-150 kg/ July- August al tree/year

Upright growth habit

Krishna NA 4

Perenni 100-150 kg/ July- August al tree/year

Fibreless flesh

Kanchan NA 5

Perenni 100-150 kg/ July- August al tree/year

Profuse bearer

Francis

Perenni 100-150 kg/ July- August al tree/year

Drooping habit; fibreless fruits

Throughout Tamil Nadu North western zone, Western zone, Cauvery delta zone and Southern zone North western zone, Western zone, Cauvery delta zone and Southern zone North western zone, Western zone, Cauvery delta zone and Southern zone North western zone, Western zone, Cauvery delta zone and Southern zone North western zone, Western zone, Cauvery delta zone and Southern zone

PLR 1 PPI. 1

Perenni 80 fruits/tree/ June- Dec. al year (900kg)

Throughout Tamil Nadu

3. Amla

102 4. Guava Lucknow 49

Perenni June – Dec. 15 t/ha al

Fruits round, white fleshed and adoptable Southern zone to various localities

5. Watermelon Arka manik

100-120 Nov. – Dec. 60 t/ha days

PKM 1

120-135 Nov. – Dec. 36-38 t/ha days

Arka joyti 90 days Nov. – Dec. 80-85 t/ha Pusa Bedana

90 days Nov. – Dec. 60 t/ha

North eastern zone, Flesh- deep crimson Cauvery delta zone, with high TSS 12-15%) Southern zone Fruits are bigger in size All zones of Tamil with dark green skin Nadu and pinkish red flesh High sugar content ( 11 North eastern zone, -13°TSS) and low seed Cauvery delta zone, content, Fruits possess Southern zone good keeping quality North eastern zone, Seedless fruits Cauvery delta zone, Southern zone

6. Clusterbean Pusa 90 days June- July 5-7 t/ha Sadabahar Oct.- Nov.r

Suitable for sowing in North eastern zone, summer or in rainy Cauvery delta zone, season Southern zone North eastern zone, Late variety suitable for Cauvery delta zone, rainy season Southern zone Suitable for growing in North eastern zone, summer or in rainy Cauvery delta zone, season Southern zone

Pusa Mausami

90 days

June- July 5-7 t/ha Oct. – Nov.

Pusa Naubahar

90 days

June- July 5-7 t/ha Oct. – Nov.

250 days

Irrigatedthrough out the year 35-37 t/ha Rainfed -April

Suitable for consumption and starch industry, tolerance to North eastern zone, CMD, low HCN Western zone content (10µg/g) and low incidence of tuber rot

250 days

Irrigatedthrough out the year 42 t/ha Rainfed -April

Suitable for starch industry(35.6%) field tolerance to CMD

Entire Tamil Nadu

Starch – 40%

Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Erode, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli Districts

7. Tapioca

CO 2

CO 3

Irrigatedthrough out 255-260 CO (TP) 4 the year 50.6 t/ha days Rainfed -April

103

H 226

300 days

Sree Prakash (S856)

230 days

270 Sree Harsha days

MVD 1

270 days

Irrigatedthrough out the year Rainfed -April Irrigatedthrough out the year Rainfed -April Irrigatedthrough out the year Rainfed -April Irrigatedthrough out the year Rainfed -April

North eastern zone, Western zone

30-35 t/ha

Drought tolerant

35-40 t/ha

Resistant to Cercospora leaf spot and tolerant to North eastern zone, drought and short Western zone duration

35-40 t/ha

Ideal variety for industrial use and North eastern zone, poultry feed and short Western zone duration

34 t/ha

Starch content- 35.6%

North eastern zone, Western zone

8. Cucumber 110 CO 1 days

JanuaryApril

14 t/ha

Long fruits

Entire Tamil Nadu

Pusa Sanyog

JanuaryApril

15 t/ha

High yielder

North eastern zone, Cauvery delta zone, Southern zone

500kg/ha

Suitable for green and Southern zone grain

600-700kg/ha

Dual purpose variety Southern zone and tolerant to drought

90 days

9. Coriander CO 1 CO 2 CO 3

June- July Oct.November 90-110 June- July days Oct.- Nov. 110 days

102 days

CO(CR) 4 70 days

June- July Oct.- Nov. June- July Oct.- Nov.

Kharif- 275kg/ Dual purpose, medium ha Southern zone size grain seed Rabi- 644 kg/ha All zones specially Irrigated – Seeds are bolder and suitable for drylands 590kg/ha suitable for rainfed in Perambalur and Rainfed – 540 cultivation Southern districts of kg/ha Tamil Nadu

10. Cashew Vengurla 1 Vengurla 2 VRI 1 VRI 2

Perennia 23.0 kg /tree/ June – Dec. l year

North eastern zone, Cauvery delta zone North eastern Perennia 24.0 kg/tree/ Average nut weight is June – Dec. zone,Cauvery delta l year 4.0g zone North eastern Perennia Average nut weight is June – Dec.7.4 kg/tree/year zone,Cauvery delta l 5.0g zone North eastern Perennia June – Dec.7.4 kg/tree/year Nut weight- 5.0g zone,Cauvery delta l zone Early bearing

104

VRI 3

Perennia 14.0 kg/tree/ June – Dec. l year

VRI 4

Perennia 18.0kg /tree/ June – Dec. l year

11. Arecanut Perennia 10.0kg nuts per Mangala June – Dec. l palm/year Perennia 17.25 kg nuts Sumangala June – Dec. l per palm/year Perennia 15.63 kg nuts Sreemangala June – Dec. l per palm/year 12. African marigold 130-150 Throughout MDU 1 41.54 t/ha days the year 13. Celosia Local

130 days July

3.75t/ha

North eastern zone,Cauvery delta zone Low rainfall regions of Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Suitable to grow in all Sivagangai, Madurai, types of soil (Red loam Theni, Dindigul, to laterite) Perambalur, Pudukottai and Cuddalore Districts High shelling percentage (29.1%)

Early bearing, semi tall High rainfall zone variety Tall with partially High rainfall zone drooping habit Early bearing, tall with High rainfall zone partially drooping habit Medium tall and moderate branching

Southern zone

Comes up well in places receiving warm Southern zone temperature.

14. Periwinkle

Nirmal

Roots- 750 -1500kg/ha 365 days June- July Stem- 1000- Suitable for rainfed and Cauvery delta zone 2500kg/ha irrigated condition Leaves- 10002000kg/ha

15. Senna KKM .1

150-170 Rain.-Sept- Leaves- 1000 Suitable for rainfed and Tirunelveli and days Oct -1500kg /ha irrigated condition Thoothukudi districts Irri.- Jan- Seed- 50 –700 under rainfed Feb kg/ha condition

16. Aloe Aloe vera var. 180-210 June- July Chinensis days Sept.- Oct. 15 t/ha-leaves Drought tolerant 17. Oreganum

2 years Dec - Jan 10t/ha/year

Drought tolerant

Western zone Southern zone

105

CELOSIA (Kozhikondai) – Celosia cristata Soil

Soil should be with good drainage along with good quantity of sand and red loamy soil. Soil pH should be around 6.5. Climate It comes up very well in places receiving warm temperatures. Very low temperatures and the extremes of temperature leads to flower abortion. Propagation and Nursery Seeds are used as the propagating materials. Nearly 875 g of seeds are used for raising seedlings for 1 ha. Seeds are sown in the nursery beds. Seeds start germinating in 14 days and the when the seedlings attain a age of 1 month old, they are transplanted in the main field. Transplanting 25 tons of FYM are incorporated in the main field. The seedlings are transplanted in the main field at a spacing of 20 x 20 cm or 25X 25 cm. Usually the seedlings are transplanted in the month of July. Manural dose 10:20:10 g of NPK are applied to the main field for 1 m2. In addition to this the foliar spray of NPK is given at the rate of 0.2%. Irrigation As the roots are situated superficially on the top layer of the soils, the field is irrigated once in 4 or 5 days interval. Harvesting Flowers are harvested during the month of October – November Yield 3. 75 tons of flower heads can be harvested from 1 ha of land area. Cost economics per hectare S.No

Details

Amount (Rs./ha)

1.

875 g per ha @ Rs. 1000 per kg

875

2.

Labour cost

3.

Fertilisers, pesticides and growth regulators

5250

4.

Harvesting

3000

5.

Yield @ 3.75 tons per ha Rs. 20 per kg of flowers Net income

12750

75000 53125

106

ALOE (Soththu Katrazhai) - Aloe vera

Soil : Sandy coastal to loamy soils of plains Climate : Warm humid/dry climate, Rain fall- 35-40

cm/annum

Spacing : 60 x 60 cm (27750 plants/ha) Manurial dosage : Organic cultivation: FYM-10 t/acre Vermicompost- 1t/acre/year Chemical fertilizer: NPK - 50 : 50: 50 kg/ha Harvest : Eight months after planting, Manual harvesting, succeeding suckers in the field. Economic

yield from

2nd

to

5th

crop raised by root

year. Yield - 25000 kg

fresh leaves/ha in

Ist year 50-75 t/ha from 2nd year onwards (Upto 5 years) Cost Economics : No. 1

Details First year Cost of cultivation

75000

Gross income (@ Rs.2/kg leaf x 25 t)

50000

Net income 2

Cost (Rs/ha)

-

Second year Cost of cultivation Gross income (@ Rs.2/kg leaf x 50 t) Net income

25000 100000

107

PERIWINKLE (Nithyakalyani) - Catharanthus roseus Soil : Light sandy soil Climate : Tropical and subtropical areas, tolerates dry

condition

Spacing : 45 x 30 cm Manurial dosage : NPK - 100:50:50 kg / ha Harvest : 12 months after planting Yield Details

Rain fed

Irrigated

Stem (Kg/ha)

1000

1500

Roots (Kg/ha)

750

1500

Leaves (Kg/ha)

2000

3000

Cost Economics No.

Details

1

Cost of cultivation

2

Gross income Dry stem @Rs.10/kg Dry roots @Rs.20/kg Dry leaves @Rs.6/kg Net income

Cost (Rs / ha) Rainfed

Irrigated

12500

25000

37000

63000

24500

38000

108

SENNA - Cassia angustifolia

Soil : Red loam, sandy loam and lateritic soil, pH- 7-8.5 Climate : Warm and dry weather, sensitive to heavy rainfall Spacing : 45 x 30 cm Manurial dosage : NPK - 80: 25: 40 kg/ ha Harvest : Leaves : 1st harvest at 90 days after planting, next Pods

: 15 days after fruit set indicated by golden yellow

2 harvest at 30 days interval colour.

Yield Details

Rain fed

Irrigated

Leaves (kg/ha)

1000

2000

Pods (kg/ha)

100

200

Cost Economics No.

Details

Cost (Rs / ha) Rainfed

Irrigated

7500

15000

Dry leaves @ Rs.10/kg

11500

23000

Dry pods @ Rs.15/kg Net income

4000

8000

1

Cost of cultivation

2

Gross income

109

OREGANO - Origanum vulgare L. Soil : Humus rich soils with acidic pH Climate : Prefers cool weather (Medium hill ranges) Spacing : 30 x 30 cm Manurial dosage : Organic cultivation Harvest : Leaves : 1 st harvest at 6th month and later on at every three months interval

Yield

Details

Yield

Dry Leaves(kg/ha)

2.5 ton

Cost Economics No.

Details

Rs./acre/year

1

Cost of cultivation

25000

2

Gross income

100000

dry leaves @ Rs.40/kg Net income

75000

110

ANNEXURE III DECISION INFORMATION FOR WATER MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES

111

ALTERNATIVE CROPPING PATTERN AND THE WATER MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES FOR DIFFERENT CROPS AND IRRIGATION SOURCES I. COMMAND AREAS AND TANKFED AREAS RICE • • • • • • • •

• •

•

•

Maintain water to a height of 2 – 2.5 cm. Irrigate after hairline cracking upto panicle initiation stage Irrigate the field after disappearance of ponded water before the soil cracks develop Provide drainage channel of 15 cm depth and 15 cm wide inside the field bunds Total number of irrigations will be 18 in Kar / Kuruvai and 11 in Pishanam / Thaladi Water saving upto 50% as compared to conventional flooding in the cane of SRI Irrigating the crop one day after disappearance of ponded water At the time of transplanting, a shallow depth of 2 cm of water is adequate since high depth of water will lead to deep transplanting resulting in reduction in tillering. Upto seven days after transplanting, maintain 2 cm of water. During this period, establishment of seedlings take place. After the establishment stage, cyclic submergence has to be continued throughout the crop period. If levelling of field is perfect, maintaining 2.5 cm water throughout the crop period could result in the maximum water use efficiency (8.6 kg ha-1mm-1). Under a specific situation (low infiltration, evaporation and underground water replenishment) irrigating rice crop to 2.5 cm depth of water once in 10-13 days registered the maximum water production function of 15.71 kg ha-1mm-1. During kuruvai, irrigating the field through separate field irrigation channels saves about 6.5 - 12 per cent water, when compared to the traditional method of field to field irrigation. Plot size of around 50 or 25 cents are ideal respectively, for a flow of 0.50 or 0.25 cusec water.

Integrated water management in rice • • • • • •

Small plot size (0.2 – 0.24 ha) with small bunds Perfect levelling of main field Rotational water supply Azospirillum (seed, soil and main field treatments) Use of pre-emergence herbicide Additional dose (25 per cent) of recommended N to make good volatilization loss of N

112 • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Top dressing of potassium In situ rain water conservation by impounding more water in the field during rainy season Cleaning and strengthening field bunds Forming small bund parallel to the main bund of the field at a distance of 30 to 45 cm within the field to avoid leakages of water through main bund crevices Use of short duration drought resistant varieties Irrigation at critical stages Timely hand weeding Small channels with less depth and width Mid season drainage at maximum tillering Plugging rodent holes Spray of anti-transpirants Spray of potassium chloride Seed treatment with seed hardening chemicals

SUGARCANE Drip irrigation & fertigation • • • • • •

• •

•

Planting sugarcane setts under 150 cm (super factory model) Two budded setts are placed 10 cm apart along the row perpendicular to the furrow Laterals of 16 mm LDPE pipe to be laid along each row 1.5 m apart with 8 LPH pressure compensating drippers at 0.75 m spacing along the lateral. Water soluble solid fertilizers at 75% dose (206:47:85 kg NPK/ha) has to be applied through fertigation with fertigation pump for increased WUE & FUE Fertilizers are to be applied at 4 stages viz., 30-60 days, 61-120 days, 121-180 days and 181-270 days after planting. Drip irrigation has to be scheduled at 2 days interval based on evapotranspiration at local sites. Approximately 75,000 lits of water/ha should be irrigated through drip once in 2 days with operating pumpset for 63 minutes with a dripper discharge of 8 LPH. Operation pressure of 1.25 kg / cm2 has to be maintained during drip irrigation for distribution uniformity. During fertigation first wetting has to be done for 20 minutes then fertigation for 30 minutes and flushing for 10 minutes. This will keep drip system clean Through this method 25-30% of irrigation water is saved with an additional area of 0.3 ha under cultivation. Fertilizer saving is 25% from the recommended level. Alternate furrow irrigation is also the most suitable irrigation method for sugarcane. During any one run of irrigation a particular set of furrows is irrigated. During the next run, the left over furrows are irrigated. The interval of irrigation should be shortened when compared to the conventional irrigation.

113 • •

Next to alternate furrow irrigation method, broad bed furrow method of irrigation is ideal. Shallow wetting with 2 or 3 cm of water at shorter interval especially for sandy soil can also be practiced for enhancing the germination.

Intervals of irrigation in each phase for sugarcane Stages

Days of irrigation interval Sandy soil

Clay soil

Tillering phase(36-100 days)

8

10

Grand growth phase(101-270 days)

8

10

Maturity phase(271-harvest)

10

14

•

Gradual widening of furrows At the time of planting, form furrows at a width of 30 cm initially. After that, widen the furrows to 45 cm on 45th day during first light earthing up and subsequently deepen the furrow on 90th day as high level earthing up to save 35 per cent of water.

•

Skip furrow irrigation Suited to heavy soils like clay and loam. Alternate furrows should be skipped and may be converted to ridges having a wider bed. Short crops like pulses can be raised in wider bed without excessive irrigation. Water saving is 50 per cent when compared to conventional system.

BANANA Drip fertigation • • • • •

•

Planting of banana suckers at 1.8 x 1.8 m Laying out of drip system at 1.8 m apart, 16 mm lateral for one row and one 8 LPH PC dripper for one plant. Water soluble fertilizers at 75% dose (278:167:556 kg NPK/ha) has to be applied through fertigation pump. Fertilizers are to be dissolved in water at 1:5 ratio. Fertizers are to be applied at 4 stages viz., 30-60 days, 61-120 days, 121-180 days and 181-240 days. Drip irrigation can be scheduled once in 2 days based on evapotranspiration at local sites. For young plants drip irrigation once in 2 days with 20 litres per plant upto 2 months and for grown up plants 32 litres per plant is given. During fertigation first wetting has to be done for 60 minutes then fertigation for 150 minutes and then flushing for 30 minutes once in 2 days. This will keep the drip system clean for next fertigation.

114 • •

Water saving by this method is 47% in with an additional area of 0.47 ha under cultivation. Gradual widening of basins upto 150th day

II. WELL IRRIGATED AREAS SORGHUM •

Irrigation according to the following growth phase of the crop Stages

Transplanted crop

Direct sown crop

1 to 40 days

1 to 33 days

41 to 70 days

34 to 65 days

71 to 95 days

66 to 95 days

Growth phase

Flowering phase Maturity phase

Stages

No.of Days of transplanting/sowing of crop irrigation Transplanted Direct sown

Light soils Germination Irrigation during vegetative phase Flowering phase

Maturity phase

1

1st day

1st day

2

4th day

4th day

1

15th day

15th day

2

28th day

28th day

1

40th day

40th day

2

52nd day

52nd day

3

64th day

64th day

1

65th day

76th day

2

88th day

88th day

1

1st day

1st day

2

4th day

4th day

Stop irrigation thereafter Heavy soils Germination

115 Irrigation during vegetative phase Flowering phase Maturity phase Stop irrigation thereafter

1

17th day

17h day

2

30th day

30th day

1

40th day

45th day

2

52nd day

60th day

3

75th day

75th day

1

85th day

90th day

Note: Adjust according to the weather conditions and depending upon the receipt of rains.

116 MAIZE • Maize crop requires irrigation immediately after sowing, life irrigation on 4th day, irrigation once in 10-15 days upto 15 days prior to harvest. • In maize crop, higher water use efficiency was obtained when irrigation was scheduled at 75 per cent Available Soil Moisture Depletion (ASMD). • Irrigation has to be regulated according to the following growth phases of the crop. Germination phase - 1 to 14 days Vegetative phase - 15 to 39 days Flowering phase - 40 to 65 days Maturity phase - 66 to 95 days Irrigation schedule according to the growth phase of the crop Stage Heavy soils Germination

Vegetative phase

No. of irrigation

Days after sowing K1/ COH 1

Ganga 5

1 2

Irrigate after sowing Life irrigation on 4th day

Irrigate after sowing Life irrigation on 4th day 12th day

1

12th day

2

25th day

25th day

3

36th day

36th day

Irrigate copiously during the 1, 2 48th day, 60th day 48th day, 60th day flowering phase Control irrigation during 1 72nd day 76th day maturity phase Note: Maize crop is sensitive to both moisture stress and excessive moisture, hence regulate irrigation according to the requirement. Stop irrigation 10 days prior to harvest Note : Ensure optimum moisture availability during the most critical phase (40 to 65 DAS), otherwise yield will be reduced to a considerable extent. Skipping irrigation at seedling, knee high and dough stage may be followed under water scarce situation. Light soils 1, 2 Irrigate after sowing, life Irrigate after sowing, Germination irrigation on 4th day life irrigation on 4th day

Vegetative phase

Irrigate copiously during flowering

Control irrigation during maturity phase

1

12th day

12th day

2

22nd day

22nd day

3

31st day

32nd day

4

40th day

1

42nd day

50th day

2

52nd day

50th day

3

62nd day

72nd day

4

72nd day

80th day

1

75th day

99th day

117 Stop irrigation 10 days prior to harvest

118 PEARL MILLET Pearl millet requires irrigation according to the growth phases of the crop. Heading and flowering are the critical phases for water demand. Seedling - 1 to 18 days Tillering - 19 to 35 days Flowering phase - 36 to 55 days Maturity phase - 56 to 85 days Irrigation according to the growth phase of pearl millet for light and heavy soils. Stages Light soils i. Germination ii. Vegetative phase iii. Flowering phase iv. Maturity phase v. Stop irrigation thereafter Heavy soils i. Germination ii. Vegetative phase iii. Flowering phase iv. Maturity phase v. Stop irrigation thereafter

No.of irrigation

Transplanted crop(DAT)

Direct sown crop(DAS)

1, 2 1, 2 1, 2 1

1, 4 15, 28 40, 52 59

1 4 17, 30 42, 55, 70 73

1, 2 1, 2 1, 2 1

1, 4 15, 28 42, 44 54

1, 5 15, 30 45, 60 75

FINGER MILLET •

•

Irrigation to finger millet (CO 10) once in 10-12 days during vegetative stage (22-55 DAT) and once in a week during reproductive stage (56 DAT-10 days prior to harvest) was found better. Higher water use efficiency can be obtained by scheduling irrigation at 50 per cent and 75 per cent ASMD respectively during vegetative and reproductive stages.

Irrigation to finger millet in nursery under different soil types. No. of irrigations

Red soils

Heavy soils

1st

Immediately after sowing

Immediately after sowing

2nd

3rd day after sowing

4th day after sowing

3rd

7th day after sowing

9th day after sowing

4th

12th day after sowing

16th day after sowing

5th

17th day after sowing

-

119

Note: 1. One irrigation is given on the 3rd day in case of red soil to soften the hard crust formed on the soil surface and also to facilitate seedlings to emerge out. 2. Do not allow cracks to develop in the nursery bed by properly adjusting the quantity of irrigation water.

Irrigations according to the growth phases of finger millet Stages

No.of irrigations

Vegetative phase (nursery) Vegetative phase (in main field) Flowering phase Maturity phase Heavy soils Establishment (1-7 days) Vegetative phase (8-20 days) Flowering phase (21-55 days)

Crop duration 80 days 1 to 16

100 days 1 to 18

120 days 1 to 20

1 to 18

1 to 20

1 to 22

19 to 40

21 to 55

23 to 69

Beyond 40 days Beyond 55 days Beyond 69 days

1 2 1 2 1 2 3 1 2

1st day 5th day 18th day 31st day 41st day 51st day st 61 day -

1st day 5th day 20th day 33rd day 42nd day 52nd day nd 62 day -

1st day 5th day 20th day 30th day 37th day 44th day 63rd day 78th day 93rd day

Light soils Establishment (1-7 days)

1 2

1st day 5thday

1st day 5th day

1st day 5th day

Vegetative (8-20 days)

1 2

15th day 26th day

16th day 28th day

16th day 28th day

Flowering (21-55 days)

1 2 3

36th day 45th day -

36th day 45th day 54th day

36th day 45th day 54th day

1 2

58th day 70th day

69th day -

78th day 93rd day

Maturity phase (56-120 days) Stop irrigation thereafter

Maturity (56-120 days)

120 Stop irrigation thereafter Note: The irrigation schedule is given only as a general guideline. Regulate irrigation depending upon the prevailing weather conditions and receipt of rain.

121 GROUNDNUT Groundnut requires irrigation immediately after sowing, life irrigation on day, irrigation at 15 days and 12 days interval during vegetative and reproductive phases respectively. 3rd

Pre-flowering phase Flowering phase Maturity phase

: 1 to 25 days : 26 to 60 days : 61 to 105 days

If Irrigation based on physiological growth phases, irrigate at pegging, flowering and pod development phases, during which period adequate soil moisture is essential. Give irrigation as follows: i) Sowing or pre-sowing ii) Life irrigation, 4-5 DAS, irrigation to break the surface crust. iii) Irrigation 20 DAS iv) Two irrigations at flowering stage v) One or two irrigations at pegging stage vi) In pod development stage, 2-3 irrigations depending on the soil type Note: 0.5 per cent potassium chloride spray during flowering and pod development stages will aid to mitigate the ill effects of water stress. Composted coir pith increases moisture availability and better drainage in heavy textured soil is required.

GINGELLY • • • • • •

•

Irrigation at sowing and life irrigation 7 DAS depending on the soil and climatic condition and allowing excess water to percolate. One pre-flowering irrigation (25 days): One at flowering and one or two at pod setting. Irrigation at flowering period is critical. Irrigation at once in 15 days, withholding of irrigation after 65 days. TMV 3, irrigation at 25 per cent depletion during pre-flowering stage and 100 per cent depletion during post flowering stage recorded higher yield. The variety TMV 4 irrigated at 50 per cent and 100 per cent depletion of ASM during pre-flowering and post- flowering stages respectively recorded higher yield. Gingelly responds favourably to irrigation. Each additional irrigation gave positive response upto a total of three irrigations. Irrigations at sowing and 20 DAS were found to give better crop growth and yield. The critical stage for moisture requirement is flowering phase i.e., between 35 to 45 DAS. During the maturity phase, moisture status should be low. If more water is given during this phase, maturity of seeds is affected and filling up of the capsules will be poor. Therefore, stop irrigation after 65 DAS.

122 SUNFLOWER Irrigation once in a week through ridges and furrows with 40 kg N ha-1 recorded higher grain yield, with water use efficiency of 25.7 kg ha-1 cm-1 in kharif. Life irrigation on 3rd day after sowing. Thereafter, irrigation once in 7-10 days. Irrigation through long furrows in feasible locations (surge irrigation) Skip /alternate furrows under scarcity conditions.

• • • •

SOYBEAN • •

•

Ridges and furrow method of irrigation Irrigation immediately after sowing. Life irrigation on the 3rd day. Further irrigations at intervals of 7-10 and 10-15 days during summer and winter seasons respectively may be given depending on soil and weather conditions. Soybean is very sensitive to excess moisture and the crop is affected if water stagnates in the field. The crop should not suffer due to water stress from flowering to maturity. In Erode district, soybean + castor with irrigation once in 10 to 12 days is recommended to realize maximum benefits.

COCONUT • •

Drip irrigation is the best method of irrigation for coconut. Monthwise water requirement under drip irrigation for coconut is as follows Month

•

January

Water requirement (lit./tree/day) 73

February

86

March

105

April

111

May

113

June

98

July

86

August

108

September

95

October

78

November

52

December

73

In the first year, surface irrigation on alternate days and from the second year till the time of maturity, irrigation should be given twice a week and afterwards once

123

•

in 10 days. During summer months and also whenever there is no rain, irrigation is a must depending upon soil moisture. Application of coconut husks about 30 cm depth around the coconut trees at a radius of 1 m and covering it up with earth will conserve soil moisture in light textured soil. `

COTTON Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phases of the crop Germination phase : 1 to 15 days Vegetative phase : 16 to 44 days Flowering phase : 45 to 100 days for Jayalakshmi, TCHB 213 and Suvin, 45 to 87 days for all other varieties Maturity phase : Beyond 100 days for Jayalaxmi and TCHB 213, beyond 88 days for all other varieties Irrigations according to the growth phases of cotton Stages No.of irrigations Germination phase Irrigate for germination

1, 2

Light soil

Heavy soil

Immediately after sowing, Immediately after give a life irrigation on 5th sowing, give a life day of sowing to facilitate irrigation on 5th day of the seedlings to emerge sowing to facilitate the out seedlings to emerge out Vegetative phase 1 Irrigate on the 20th day of Irrigate on 20th or 21st Regulate sowing, three days after day of sowing, three hoeing and weeding days after hoeing and weeding 2 Irrigate again on 35th or Irrigate again on 40th 36th day of sowing day of sowing. th Flowering phase 1 48 day 55th day Irrigate 2 60th day 70th day nd copiously 3 72 day 85th day 4 84th day 100th day 5 96th day ** For all varieties other than Suvin, Jayalaxmi and TCHB 213

124 Maturity phase 1 108th day 115th day th 2 120 day 130th day 3 130th day 4 144th day Stop irrigation after 150th day Control irrigation during maturity phase For Suvin, Jayalaxmi and TCHB 213 1 2 3 4 5 Stop irrigation after160th day

108th day 120th day 132nd day 144th day 158th day

115th day 130th day 145th day 160th day -

Note: i) If irrigation is given on climatological approach, schedule irrigation once in 10-12 days and 15 days during vegetative and reproductive phases respectively. ii) The irrigation schedule given above is only a guideline and regulate the irrigation depending upon the prevailing weather condition and receipt of rains. iii) Adopt alternate furrow or skip furrow irrigation to save irrigation water

PULSES Irrigation immediately after sowing followed by life irrigation on third day. Irrigation at intervals of 10 to 15 days depending upon the soil and climatic conditions. For wetland bunds, pot water daily for a week after sowing. Flowering and pod formation stages are critical periods when irrigation is a must. • Irrigation to blackgram once in 10-12 days •Under sandy clay loam soils, two irrigations to greengram with an interval of 20-25 days are sufficient. •

VEGETABLES Drip irrigation •

•

Approximately 66,666 litres/ha of water is required for hybrid tomato under drip system once in 2 days with operating pump set for 90 minutes with a dripper discharge of 4 LPH. For radish microsprinklers having 55 LPH discharge to give a wetting dia of 3 m have to be connected along the laterals. Microsprinklers are connected at 1.5 m spacing to have 100% overlapping. Approximately 71290 litre per ha of water should be irrigated through microsprinkler once in 2 days with operating pump set for 35 minutes with an operating pressure of 1.5 kg/cm2.

125 •

• • •

For hybrid bhendi drip irrigation has to be scheduled at 2 days interval based on hapotranspiration at local sites. Approximately 1,18,500 litres per ha of water through drip once in 2 days with operating pump set for 95 minutes with a dripper discharge of 4 LPH. Brinjal - corrugated furrow irrigation with 5 cm depth , drip irrigation at 75 per cent of surface irrigation Bhendi - ridges and furrows method of irrigation at 40 percent ASM. Chillies - irrigation once in 12-15 days

• Tomato - drip irrigation at 75 per cent of cumulative pan evaporation FODDER CROPS • •

Irrigation immediately after sowing/planting , life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in 10 days. Raingun can be effectively used for irrigation with a water saving of 25-30%.

126