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Your plan for Ballari

Kharif Rain only

We checked 56 crops against your soil, rain and temperature, whether or not they're grown near you.

It's November: this season's sowing time is over for every crop that suits. Use this plan for the next sowing.

Your land

Soil

8

out of 10

Soil score

Good

Short in most fields here: iron and boron.

For most crops. How the soil score works

Rain

About 374 mm in Kharif

June–September, in a normal year. A dry year brings about 266 mm.

Temperature

Days about 31 °C, nights 23 °C in Kharif

Typical of the district's villages; a farm much higher or lower can be a few degrees cooler or warmer.

What's short in your soil, and what to do (2 nutrients)

  • Iron

    From 21,221 soil tests

    Poor

    Short 55% Enough 45%

    5 in 10 soil tests here came out short

    If your field is short: spray ferrous sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, when young leaves turn yellow.

    What this means

    Keeps young leaves green.

    Short under 4.5 ppm Enough 4.5 ppm or more

    Healthy soil has 4.5 ppm or more.

  • Boron

    From 21,219 soil tests

    Poor

    Short 81% Enough 19%

    8 in 10 soil tests here came out short

    If your field is short: mix 4 kg of borax per acre into the soil before sowing.

    What this means

    Needed for flowers to set seed and fruit.

    Short under 0.5 ppm Enough 0.5 ppm or more

    Healthy soil has 0.5 ppm or more.

Fixes are the usual advice. Your Soil Health Card or nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra gives the exact dose for your field.

Other soil results

  • Nitrogen

    From 21,221 soil tests

    Okay

    Low 23% Medium 56% High 21%

    2 in 10 soil tests here came out low

    If your field is low: add about a quarter more urea than the usual dose, in two or three splits. A pulse crop in rotation also adds nitrogen.

    What this means

    Grows leaves and stems. Short soil gives pale, yellow leaves.

    Low under 280 kg/ha Medium 280–560 kg/ha High over 560 kg/ha

    Healthy soil has 280 kg/ha or more.

  • Phosphorus

    From 21,221 soil tests

    Good

    Low 17% Medium 49% High 34%

    2 in 10 soil tests here came out low

    What this means

    Builds roots and helps the crop flower and fill grain.

    Low under 10 kg/ha Medium 10–25 kg/ha High over 25 kg/ha

    Healthy soil has 10 kg/ha or more.

  • Potassium

    From 21,221 soil tests

    Okay

    Low 23% Medium 56% High 21%

    2 in 10 soil tests here came out low

    If your field is low: add about a quarter more potash (MOP) than the usual dose.

    What this means

    Fills grain and fruit, and helps crops stand drought and disease.

    Low under 110 kg/ha Medium 110–280 kg/ha High over 280 kg/ha

    Healthy soil has 110 kg/ha or more.

  • Organic carbon

    From 21,221 soil tests

    Good

    Low 16% Medium 34% High 50%

    2 in 10 soil tests here came out low

    What this means

    Shows how much organic matter the soil has. It keeps soil loose, holds water and feeds the crop slowly.

    Low under 0.5% Medium 0.5–0.75% High over 0.75%

    Healthy soil has 0.5% or more.

  • pH

    From 21,221 soil tests

    Good

    Acidic 3% Neutral 84% Alkaline 13%

    1 in 10 soil tests here came out alkaline

    What this means

    How sour (acidic) or alkaline the soil is. It decides which nutrients roots can take up.

    Acidic Neutral Alkaline

    In these tests, neutral means about pH 6 to 8, which suits most crops; acidic is below about 6 and alkaline above about 8.

  • Salt

    From 21,219 soil tests

    Good

    Not salty 96% Salty 4%

    Almost no soil tests here came out salty

    What this means

    Salt in the soil, shown as EC on the card. Salt makes it hard for roots to drink.

    Not salty Salty

    Under 1 dS/m is fine. Between 1 and 4, only crops that can't take salt lose yield. Above 4 harms most crops.

  • Sulphur

    From 21,220 soil tests

    Okay

    Short 40% Enough 60%

    4 in 10 soil tests here came out short

    If your field is short: use single super phosphate instead of DAP, or add about 100 kg of gypsum per acre before sowing.

    What this means

    Makes oil in oilseeds and protein in pulses.

    Short under 10 ppm Enough 10 ppm or more

    Healthy soil has 10 ppm or more.

  • Zinc

    From 21,217 soil tests

    Okay

    Short 48% Enough 52%

    5 in 10 soil tests here came out short

    If your field is short: mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.

    What this means

    Needed for growth and healthy leaves. Rice and wheat often run short.

    Short under 0.6 ppm Enough 0.6 ppm or more

    Healthy soil has 0.6 ppm or more.

  • Copper

    From 21,221 soil tests

    Good

    Short 1% Enough 99%

    Almost every soil test here had enough

    What this means

    Helps the crop set seed and resist disease.

    Short under 0.2 ppm Enough 0.2 ppm or more

    Healthy soil has 0.2 ppm or more.

  • Manganese

    From 21,221 soil tests

    Good

    Short 2% Enough 98%

    Almost every soil test here had enough

    What this means

    Helps leaves make food from sunlight.

    Short under 2 ppm Enough 2 ppm or more

    Healthy soil has 2 ppm or more.

Good fit 0

Water, temperature and soil type suit; amber shows what needs care, such as nutrients to add. Sorted by what is likely left per acre after costs; risky crops come lower.

Nothing fits well this season. Look at the crops below that are possible with effort, or try another season.

Possible, with effort 48

Each needs something extra: irrigation, soil care or a careful sowing time, or it likely loses money at typical costs. The card says what.

Sowing Growing Harvest

  1. Cotton

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in June, harvest around December

    This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.

    Grown on 76,981 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹40,000–₹60,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹13,000–₹33,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 8 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain falls about 8 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

    Needs about 630 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 250 mm it can use in a normal year, and 150 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 22–36 °C on average, and survives 15–42 °C.

    Here, in its growing months (day / night):

    • Jun 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Jul 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Aug 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Sep 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 20 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Cotton: 8 out of 10 (good).

    • The pH here suits it.
    • Many fields here are short of potassium, which it needs a lot.
    • Many fields here are short of boron, which it needs a lot.
    • Most fields here are short of iron.

    Likes pH 6.0–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 6.7 quintals of kapas (raw cotton) an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (December 2025–January 2026): about ₹7,466 a quintal across mandis in your state.

    Minimum support price: ₹8,267 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.

    That is the price for medium staple kapas (raw cotton). Long staple kapas has ₹8,667 a quintal.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹6,170 2021
    2. ₹9,480 2022
    3. ₹7,080 2023
    4. ₹7,250 2024
    5. ₹7,170 2025

    Prices are usually best in September.

    Typical costs are about ₹28,000 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 4.6 quintals of kapas (raw cotton) an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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):

    • Urea 98%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 91%
    • Zinc Sulphate Heptahydrate / Monohydrate 63%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 32%

  2. Maize

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around October

    This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.

    Grown on 2.3 lakh acres here. Sold at 5 mandis in your district.

    ₹35,000–₹52,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹13,000–₹30,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 4 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    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 190 mm it can use in a normal year, and 110 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 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Aug 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Sep 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Maize: 8 out of 10 (good).

    • 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 iron.

    Likes pH 5.0–7.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 15 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (October–November 2026): about ₹2,951 a quintal at mandis in your district.

    Minimum support price: ₹2,410 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹1,570 2021
    2. ₹2,170 2022
    3. ₹2,150 2023
    4. ₹2,230 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 14 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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):

    • Urea 95%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 77%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 52%
    • Single Super Phosphate (SSP) 28%

  3. Sunflower

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around October

    This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.

    Grown on 8,748 acres here. Sold at 4 mandis in your district.

    ₹27,000–₹41,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹4,000–₹17,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 3 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain falls about 3 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

    Needs about 320 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 180 mm it can use in a normal year, and 90 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 17–34 °C on average, and survives 5–45 °C.

    Here, in its growing months (day / night):

    • Jul 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Aug 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Sep 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Sunflower: 8 out of 10 (good).

    • The pH here suits it.
    • Many fields here are short of sulphur, which it needs a lot.
    • Many fields here are short of boron, which it needs a lot.
    • Most fields here are short of iron.

    Likes pH 6.0–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 4.6 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (October–November 2026): about ₹7,429 a quintal at mandis in your district.

    Minimum support price: ₹8,343 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹6,030 2021
    2. ₹6,420 2022
    3. ₹4,760 2023
    4. ₹5,190 2024

    Prices are usually best in July.

    Typical costs are about ₹23,000 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 4.4 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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):

    • Urea 100%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 100%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 96%
    • Zinc Sulphate Heptahydrate / Monohydrate 72%

  4. Bajra (Pearl Millet)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around October

    This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.

    Grown on 15,314 acres here. Sold at 5 mandis in your district.

    ₹17,000–₹26,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹6,000–₹14,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 3 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain falls about 3 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

    Needs about 270 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 170 mm it can use in a normal year, and 80 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 25–35 °C on average, and survives 12–40 °C.

    Here, in its growing months (day / night):

    • Jul 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Aug 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Sep 31 °C / 23 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Bajra (Pearl Millet): 8 out of 10 (good).

    • 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 iron.

    Likes pH 6.5–8.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 6.8 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (October–November 2026): about ₹3,153 a quintal at mandis in your district.

    Minimum support price: ₹2,900 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹1,600 2021
    2. ₹2,130 2022
    3. ₹2,420 2023
    4. ₹2,390 2024

    Prices are usually best in November.

    Typical costs are about ₹11,000 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 9.8 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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):

    • Urea 84%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 77%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 70%
    • Calcium Ammonium Nitrate 51%

  5. Jowar (Sorghum)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around November

    This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.

    Grown on 20,727 acres here. Sold at 5 mandis in your district.

    ₹13,000–₹20,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹1,000–₹8,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 4 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    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 120 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 22–35 °C on average, and survives 8–40 °C.

    Here, in its growing months (day / night):

    • Jul 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Aug 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Sep 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Jowar (Sorghum): 8 out of 10 (good).

    • 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 iron.

    Likes pH 5.5–8.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 5.0 quintals an acre, the typical figure in your state (your district's own figure looked wrong).

    Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (November 2026): about ₹3,396 a quintal at mandis in your district.

    Minimum support price: ₹4,023 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹1,550 2021
    2. ₹2,050 2022
    3. ₹2,630 2023
    4. ₹2,430 2024

    Prices are usually best in November.

    Typical costs are about ₹12,000 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 4.4 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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):

    • Urea 58%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 46%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 43%
    • Zinc Sulphate Heptahydrate / Monohydrate 37%

  6. Groundnut

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around November

    This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.

    Grown on 45,969 acres here. Sold at 5 mandis in your district.

    ₹34,000–₹51,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹6,000 to a profit of ₹11,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 5 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain falls about 5 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

    Needs about 410 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 200 mm it can use in a normal year, and 120 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 22–32 °C on average, and survives 10–45 °C.

    Here, in its growing months (day / night):

    • Jul 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Aug 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Sep 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Groundnut: 8 out of 10 (good).

    • The pH here suits it.
    • Low nitrogen matters less: it makes its own.
    • Many fields here are short of sulphur, which it needs a lot.
    • Many fields here are short of boron, which it needs a lot.
    • Most fields here are short of iron.

    Likes pH 5.5–6.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 4.9 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (November 2026): about ₹8,786 a quintal at mandis in your district.

    Minimum support price: ₹7,517 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹5,510 2021
    2. ₹6,000 2022
    3. ₹6,840 2023
    4. ₹6,150 2024

    Prices are usually best in November.

    Typical costs are about ₹40,000 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 7.2 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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):

    • Urea 98%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 34%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 19%
    • Zinc Sulphate Heptahydrate / Monohydrate 19%

  7. Tur (Arhar)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in June, harvest around December

    This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.

    Grown on 24,528 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹14,000–₹20,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹6,000 to a profit of ₹1,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 8 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain falls about 8 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

    Needs about 600 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 250 mm it can use in a normal year, and 150 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 18–38 °C on average, and survives 10–45 °C.

    Here, in its growing months (day / night):

    • Jun 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Jul 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Aug 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Sep 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 20 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 18 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Tur (Arhar): 8 out of 10 (good).

    • The pH here suits it.
    • Low nitrogen matters less: it makes its own.
    • Many fields here are short of sulphur, which it needs a lot.
    • Most fields here are short of iron.
    • Most fields here are short of boron.

    Likes pH 6.0–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 2.6 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (December 2025–January 2026): about ₹6,635 a quintal across mandis in your state.

    Minimum support price: ₹8,450 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹5,470 2021
    2. ₹5,500 2022
    3. ₹9,110 2023
    4. ₹9,710 2024
    5. ₹6,270 2025

    Prices are usually best in November.

    Typical costs are about ₹19,000 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 4.3 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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):

    • Urea 100%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 86%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 2%

  8. Ragi (Finger Millet)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around November

    This season's sowing time (June–August) is over.

    Grown on 14,099 acres here. Sold at 3 mandis in your district.

    ₹8,000–₹11,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    Likely a loss at typical costs: ₹10,000–₹14,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 3 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain falls about 3 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

    Needs about 340 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 200 mm it can use in a normal year, and 120 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 18–30 °C on average, and survives 8–35 °C.

    Here, in its growing months (day / night):

    • Jul 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Aug 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Sep 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Ragi (Finger Millet): 8 out of 10 (good).

    • 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 iron.

    Likes pH 6.0–7.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 4.8 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    On rain alone it gets about 59% of the water it needs, so the money here is worked at 59% of this yield.

    Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (November 2026): about ₹3,379 a quintal at mandis in your district.

    Minimum support price: ₹5,205 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹2,050 2021
    2. ₹1,810 2022
    3. ₹2,510 2023
    4. ₹3,090 2024

    Prices are usually best in November.

    Typical costs are about ₹21,000 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

    • 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):

    • Urea 100%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 65%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 21%
    • Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) 11%

  9. Onion

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around November

    This season's sowing time (July–August) is over.

    Grown on 20,831 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹20,000–₹30,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    Likely a loss at typical costs: ₹71,000–₹81,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 6 irrigations short
    • Needs care: Warm in July
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain falls about 6 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

    Needs about 500 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 220 mm it can use in a normal year, and 120 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 12–25 °C on average, and survives 4–33 °C.

    Here, in its growing months (day / night):

    • Jul 31 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)
    • Aug 31 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)
    • Sep 31 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)
    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C (outside its best range)
    • Nov 30 °C / 20 °C

    Months in orange are outside its best range.

    Soil

    Soil for Onion: 8 out of 10 (good).

    • The pH here suits it.
    • Many fields here are short of nitrogen, which it needs a lot.
    • Many fields here are short of potassium, which it needs a lot.
    • Many fields here are short of sulphur, which it needs a lot.

    Likes pH 6.0–7.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 33 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    On rain alone it gets about 44% of the water it needs, so the money here is worked at 44% of this yield.

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (December 2025): about ₹1,700 a quintal across mandis in your state.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹1,950 2021
    2. ₹1,630 2022
    3. ₹1,680 2023
    4. ₹2,590 2024
    5. ₹1,890 2025

    Prices are usually best in September.

    Typical costs are about ₹1.0 lakh an acre: about half of what a usual harvest earns (2023–2025), as in farm cost surveys. They are spent whatever the harvest.

    How to make it work

    The better districts with similar soil, rain and warmth get 103 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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 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.

  10. Rice

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around November

    This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.

    Grown on 2.3 lakh acres here. Sold at 2 mandis in your district.

    Only with irrigation: rain gives too little of its water to count on

    • Needs care: Risky: 14 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain falls about 14 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

    Needs about 1,030 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 360 mm it can use in a normal year, and 250 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 20–30 °C on average, and survives 15–36 °C.

    Here, in its growing months (day / night):

    • Jul 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Aug 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Sep 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 20 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Rice: 8 out of 10 (good).

    • 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 iron.

    Likes pH 5.5–7.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 25 quintals of paddy an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Rain gives it too little of the water it needs, so there's no income figure on rain alone: grow it only with irrigation.

    Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (November 2026): about ₹3,838 a quintal at mandis in your district.

    Minimum support price: ₹2,441 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.

    Prices are usually best in October.

    Typical costs are about ₹29,000 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 21 quintals of paddy an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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):

    • Urea 99%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 84%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 69%
    • Single Super Phosphate (SSP) 25%
8 crops won't work here See why for each one

10 more crops aren't judged yet because we don't have their growing needs.

Next steps

Source: Soil Health Card – soil nutrient analysis (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – district-wise (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – UPAG (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Horticulture area & production statistics (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); IMD gridded daily rainfall (0.25°); IMD gridded daily max/min temperature (1°); TerraClimate 1991–2020 temperature normals (about 4 km), where each district's villages are; FAO ECOCROP crop requirements (via OpenCLIM/ecocrop); FAO-56 crop coefficients (Allen et al. 1998); Agmarknet daily prices and arrivals (India Data Portal).