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
- Suits: Soil 8/10
Why, and how to make it work Hide details
Water
Rain is enough in a normal year. Keep one irrigation ready for a dry year.
Needs about 220 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 310 mm it can use in a normal year, and 150 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 33 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
- Sep 35 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
- Oct 35 °C / 19 °C (outside its best range)
Days in July get hotter than it likes. Time sowing so it flowers before then.
Soil
Soil for Saffron: 8 out of 10 (good).
Not in the score: nitrogen and boron.
- The pH here suits it.
- Most fields here are short of organic carbon.
- 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
-
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 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.