Maize
Sow in July, harvest around October
This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.
Grown on 18 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.
₹22,000–₹33,000
per acre a season, before costs
At typical costs, from a loss of ₹323 to a profit of ₹11,000 an acre a season
- Suits: Rain is enough
- Suits: Ideal temperatures
- Needs care: Soil 7/10
Why, and how to make it work Hide details
Water
Rain is enough, even in a dry year.
Needs about 340 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 700 mm it can use in a normal year, and 550 mm in a dry year.
Temperature
Grows best at 18–33 °C on average, and survives 10–47 °C.
Here, in its growing months (day / night):
- Jul 32 °C / 26 °C
- Aug 32 °C / 26 °C
- Sep 32 °C / 26 °C
- Oct 31 °C / 24 °C
Soil
Soil for Maize: 7 out of 10 (okay).
- The pH here suits it, though not most crops.
- Many fields here are short of nitrogen, which it needs a lot.
- Many fields here are short of zinc, which it needs a lot.
- Most fields here are short of phosphorus.
Likes pH 5.0–7.0.
How the soil score worksMoney
Yield: about 12 quintals an acre, the typical figure in your state (your district's own figure looked wrong).
Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (October–November 2026): about ₹2,200 a quintal across mandis in your state.
This week: about ₹2,700 a quintal, the middle of 495 mandis across India (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹11,000 a season after typical costs.
Minimum support price: ₹2,410 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.
- ₹1,630 2021
- ₹1,920 2022
- ₹2,000 2023
- ₹2,100 2024
- ₹2,210 2025
Prices are usually best in May.
Typical costs are about ₹22,000 an acre (seed, fertiliser, labour and hired machines, from the government's cost survey). They are spent whatever the harvest.
How to make it work
The better districts with similar soil, rain and warmth get 14 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.
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Short of nitrogen Your soil is likely short of nitrogen.
Add about a quarter more urea than the usual dose, in two or three splits. A pulse crop in rotation also adds nitrogen.
About 69% of local fields of this crop get it.
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Short of phosphorus Your soil is likely short of phosphorus.
Add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.
About 61% of local fields of this crop get it.
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Short of sulphur Your soil is likely short of sulphur.
Use single super phosphate instead of DAP, or add about 100 kg of gypsum per acre before sowing.
Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.
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Short of boron Your soil is likely short of boron.
Mix 4 kg of borax per acre into the soil before sowing.
Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.
What local farmers put on it (share of fields):
- Urea 69%
- Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 61%
- Muriate of Potash (MOP) 61%
- Calcium Ammonium Nitrate 1%