Maize
Sow in July, harvest around October
This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.
Grown on 69,459 acres here. Sold at 3 mandis in your district.
₹28,000–₹43,000
per acre a season, before costs
After typical costs: ₹6,000–₹21,000 an acre a season
- Needs care: Risky: 4 irrigations short
- Suits: Ideal temperatures
- Suits: Soil 8/10
Why, and how to make it work Hide details
Water
Rain falls about 4 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.
Needs about 370 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 200 mm it can use in a normal year, and 130 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 28 °C / 20 °C
- Aug 29 °C / 20 °C
- Sep 29 °C / 20 °C
- Oct 29 °C / 20 °C
Soil
Soil for Maize: 8 out of 10 (good).
Not in the score: nitrogen.
- The pH here suits it.
- Many fields here are short of zinc, which it needs a lot.
- Most fields here are short of iron.
- Most fields here are short of boron.
Likes pH 5.0–7.0.
How the soil score worksMoney
Yield: about 14 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).
Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (October–November 2026): about ₹2,450 a quintal at mandis in your district.
This week: about ₹1,598 a quintal, the middle of 2 mandis in your district (latest 12 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹1,000 a season after typical costs.
Minimum support price: ₹2,410 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.
- ₹2,100 2023
- ₹2,100 2024
Prices are usually best in November.
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 13 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.
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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.
Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.
-
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.
-
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):
- Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 85%
- Urea 82%
- Muriate of Potash (MOP) 55%
- Calcium Ammonium Nitrate 6%