Saffron
Sow in July, harvest around October
This season's sowing time (July) is over.
No figures for your district: its government crop records list no area or yield for this crop.
No price yet to estimate income
- Suits: Rain is enough
- Doesn't suit: Too hot here in this season
- Suits: Soil 8/10
Why, and how to make it work Hide details
Water
Rain is enough, even in a dry year.
Needs about 180 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 760 mm it can use in a normal year, and 620 mm in a dry year.
Heavy rain here can waterlog it. Grow it on raised beds or land that drains well.
Temperature
Grows best at 7–23 °C on average, and survives 4–28 °C.
Here, in its growing months (day / night):
- Jul 31 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
- Aug 30 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
- Sep 31 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
- Oct 31 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)
Soil
Soil for Saffron: 8 out of 10 (good).
- The pH here suits it.
- Many fields here are short of sulphur, which it needs a lot.
- Most fields here are short of nitrogen.
- Most fields here are short of zinc.
Likes pH 6.0–7.0.
How the soil score worksMoney
Yield: about 0.4 kg an acre, the typical figure across India (no figures for your state).
No mandi or support price for this crop yet.
How to make it work
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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.
Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.
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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.
Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.
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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.
Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.
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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.
Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.