Maize
Sow in June, harvest around September
This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.
Grown on 2,324 acres here. Sold at 7 mandis in your district.
₹33,000–₹50,000
per acre a season, before costs
After typical costs: ₹11,000–₹28,000 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 390 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 510 mm it can use in a normal year, and 390 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):
- Jun 37 °C / 27 °C
- Jul 33 °C / 25 °C
- Aug 32 °C / 25 °C
- Sep 32 °C / 25 °C
Soil
Soil for Maize: 7 out of 10 (okay).
- The pH here suits it.
- 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 organic carbon.
Likes pH 5.0–7.0.
How the soil score worksMoney
Yield: about 18 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).
Mandi price at last season's harvest (September–October 2026): about ₹2,350 a quintal at mandis in your district.
This week: about ₹2,901 a quintal, the middle of 41 mandis in your state (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹29,000 a season after typical costs.
Minimum support price: ₹2,410 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.
- ₹1,950 2022
- ₹1,970 2023
- ₹2,100 2024
- ₹2,230 2025
Prices are usually best in January.
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 28 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 46% of local fields of this crop get it.
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Short of organic carbon Your soil is likely short of organic carbon.
Add 4 tonnes of compost or farmyard manure per acre before sowing, and plough crop leftovers back in instead of burning them.
Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.
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Short of zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.
Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.
About 11% of local fields of this crop get it.
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Short of iron Your soil is likely short of iron.
Spray ferrous sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, when young leaves turn yellow.
Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.
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Short of manganese Your soil is likely short of manganese.
Spray manganese sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, on the young crop.
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 46%
- Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 38%
- Muriate of Potash (MOP) 23%
- Zinc Sulphate Heptahydrate / Monohydrate 11%