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 in august
- 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 220 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 320 mm it can use in a normal year, and 230 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 35 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
- Aug 34 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
- Sep 34 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
- Oct 33 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
Days in July get hotter than it likes. Time sowing so it flowers before then.
Soil
Soil for Saffron: 7 out of 10 (okay).
- The pH here suits it.
- Many fields here are short of potassium, which it needs a lot.
- Most fields here are short of nitrogen.
- Most fields here are short of organic carbon.
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
-
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.
-
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.
Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.
-
Short of iron Your soil is likely short of iron.
Spray ferrous sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, when young leaves turn yellow.
Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.
-
Short of manganese Your soil is likely short of manganese.
Spray manganese sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, on the young crop.
Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.
-
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.