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Your plan for Ballari

Rabi Rain only

We checked 52 crops against your soil, rain and temperature, whether or not they're grown near you.

It's November: 4 of the crops that suit can still be sown this season. For 1 the sowing time is over.

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 122 mm in Rabi

October–February, in a normal year. A dry year brings about 86 mm.

Temperature

Days about 31 °C, nights 19 °C in Rabi

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 5

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. Maize

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in October, harvest around January

    Still sowing time: sow by the end of November.

    Grown on 10,576 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹25,000–₹37,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹3,000–₹15,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 7 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain falls about 7 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

    Needs about 330 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 30 mm it can use in a normal year, and 20 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):

    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 20 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 18 °C
    • Jan 30 °C / 18 °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 17 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (January–February 2026): about ₹1,855 a quintal across mandis in your state.

    This week: about ₹3,048 a quintal, the middle of 73 mandis in your state (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹29,000 a season after typical costs.

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

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹1,630 2021
    2. ₹2,150 2022
    3. ₹2,110 2023
    4. ₹2,280 2024
    5. ₹2,300 2025

    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%

  2. Cowpea (Lobia)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in October, harvest around January

    Still sowing time: sow by the end of November.

    Grown on 5,279 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹13,000–₹19,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹3,000–₹9,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 5 irrigations short
    • Needs care: Cool in November
    • 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 280 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 30 mm it can use in a normal year, and 20 mm in a dry year.

    The government's farm census has no figure for Cowpea (Lobia) alone. About 94% of other pulses (tur, peas, lobia and more) in your district is grown on rain alone.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 25–35 °C on average, and survives 15–40 °C.

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

    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 20 °C (outside its best range)
    • Dec 30 °C / 18 °C (outside its best range)
    • Jan 30 °C / 18 °C (outside its best range)

    Months in orange are outside its best range.

    Soil

    Soil for Cowpea (Lobia): 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 5.5–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 2.4 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (January–February 2026): about ₹6,612 a quintal across mandis in your state.

    This week: about ₹7,738 a quintal, the middle of 8 mandis in your state (latest 12 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹8,000 a season after typical costs.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹5,800 2021
    2. ₹6,130 2022
    3. ₹7,540 2023
    4. ₹7,530 2024
    5. ₹6,390 2025

    Prices are usually best in November.

    Typical costs are about ₹10,000 an acre: about half of what a usual harvest earns (2024–2026), 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 2.2 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.

      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.

  3. Jowar (Sorghum)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in September, harvest around January

    This season's sowing time (September–October) is over.

    Grown on 40,477 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹12,000–₹18,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹721 to a profit of ₹5,000 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 340 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 100 mm it can use in a normal year, and 60 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):

    • Sep 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 20 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 18 °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 last season's harvest (January–February 2026): about ₹2,960 a quintal across mandis in your state.

    This week: about ₹3,927 a quintal, the middle of 22 mandis in your state (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹7,000 a season after typical costs.

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

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹1,850 2021
    2. ₹2,210 2022
    3. ₹3,700 2023
    4. ₹2,990 2024
    5. ₹2,540 2025

    Prices swing a lot from year to year, so income can be well above or below this range.

    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%

  4. Gram (Chana)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in October, harvest around February

    Still sowing time: sow by the end of November.

    Grown on 22,612 acres here. Sold at 5 mandis in your district.

    ₹12,000–₹18,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    Likely a loss at typical costs: ₹573–₹7,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 6 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • 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 330 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 30 mm it can use in a normal year, and 20 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 15–29 °C on average, and survives 7–35 °C.

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

    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 20 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 18 °C
    • Jan 30 °C / 18 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Gram (Chana): 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 6.0–8.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 2.9 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (February–March 2026): about ₹5,235 a quintal at mandis in your district.

    This week: about ₹7,567 a quintal, the middle of 30 mandis in your state (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹3,000 a season after typical costs.

    Minimum support price: ₹5,958 a quintal (2027-28), if you sell to government procurement.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹4,470 2021
    2. ₹4,610 2022
    3. ₹4,680 2023
    4. ₹6,470 2024

    Prices are usually best in October.

    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 5.4 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):

    • Zinc Sulphate Heptahydrate / Monohydrate 100%
    • Urea 100%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 100%

  5. Ragi (Finger Millet)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in October, harvest around February

    Still sowing time: sow by the end of November.

    Grown on 21,228 acres here. Sold at 3 mandis in your district.

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

    • Needs care: Risky: 6 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • 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 310 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 30 mm it can use in a normal year, and 20 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):

    • Oct 30 °C / 22 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 20 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 18 °C
    • Jan 30 °C / 18 °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 6.2 quintals 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 last season's harvest (March 2026): about ₹3,305 a quintal at mandis in your district.

    This week: about ₹3,415 a quintal, the middle of 37 mandis in your state (latest 13 Nov).

    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%
47 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).