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Your plan for Dindigul

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

6

out of 10

Soil score

Okay

Short in most fields here: nitrogen, organic carbon, sulphur and boron.

For most crops. How the soil score works

Rain

About 276 mm in Kharif

June–September, in a normal year. A dry year brings about 201 mm.

Temperature

Days about 34 °C, nights 24 °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 (4 nutrients)

  • Nitrogen

    From 16,146 soil tests

    Poor

    Low 98% Medium 2%

    Almost every soil test 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.

  • Organic carbon

    From 16,126 soil tests

    Poor

    Low 99% Medium 1%

    Almost every soil test here came out low

    If your field is low: add 4 tonnes of compost or farmyard manure per acre before sowing, and plough crop leftovers back in instead of burning them.

    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.

  • Sulphur

    From 16,184 soil tests

    Poor

    Short 63% Enough 37%

    6 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.

  • Boron

    From 16,180 soil tests

    Poor

    Short 93% Enough 7%

    9 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

  • Phosphorus

    From 16,156 soil tests

    Okay

    Low 43% Medium 43% High 13%

    4 in 10 soil tests here came out low

    If your field is low: add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.

    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 16,178 soil tests

    Good

    Low 1% Medium 26% High 73%

    Most soil tests here came out high

    If your field is high: you can use about a quarter less potash than usual.

    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.

  • pH

    From 16,052 soil tests

    Good

    Acidic 3% Neutral 95% Alkaline 2%

    Almost every soil test here came out neutral

    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 16,083 soil tests

    Good

    Not salty 99% Salty 1%

    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.

  • Zinc

    From 16,194 soil tests

    Good

    Short 1% Enough 99%

    Almost every soil test here had enough

    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.

  • Iron

    From 16,204 soil tests

    Okay

    Short 29% Enough 71%

    3 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.

  • Copper

    From 16,188 soil tests

    Good

    Enough 100%

    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 16,205 soil tests

    Good

    Short 7% Enough 93%

    1 in 10 soil tests here came out short

    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 46

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. Cowpea (Lobia)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around October

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

    Grown on 3,746 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

    ₹22,000–₹33,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹13,000–₹24,000 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 170 mm it can use in a normal year, and 110 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

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

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

    • Jul 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °C

    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 phosphorus, which it needs a lot.
    • Many fields here are short of sulphur, which it needs a lot.
    • Most fields here are short of organic carbon.

    Likes pH 5.5–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 3.1 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (October–November 2026): about ₹8,900 a quintal across India's mandis.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹5,510 2021
    2. ₹5,430 2022
    3. ₹6,340 2023
    4. ₹7,030 2024
    5. ₹5,820 2025

    Prices are usually best in November.

    Typical costs are about ₹9,000 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 2.6 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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 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.

    • 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.

  2. Maize

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around October

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

    Grown on 14,485 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹28,000–₹42,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹6,000–₹20,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 5 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Needs care: Soil 7/10
    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 440 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 210 mm it can use in a normal year, and 130 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 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Maize: 7 out of 10 (okay).

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

    Likes pH 5.0–7.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 26 quintals an acre, the typical figure in your state (your district's own figure looked wrong).

    On rain alone it gets about 48% of the water it needs, so the money here is worked at 48% of this yield.

    Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (October–November 2026): about ₹2,770 a quintal across mandis in your state.

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

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹1,670 2021
    2. ₹2,140 2022
    3. ₹2,160 2023
    4. ₹2,670 2024
    5. ₹3,190 2025

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

    Prices are usually best in January.

    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 27 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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.

      About 75% of local fields of this crop get it.

    • 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.

      Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.

    • 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.

      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 75%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 4%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 1%
    • Manganese Sulphate 1%

  3. Ragi (Finger Millet)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in August, harvest around December

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

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

    ₹16,000–₹24,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹5,000 to a profit of ₹2,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 2 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Needs care: Soil 7/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain falls about 2 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

    Needs about 360 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 310 mm it can use in a normal year, and 210 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):

    • Aug 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 22 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Ragi (Finger Millet): 7 out of 10 (okay).

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

    Likes pH 6.0–7.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 6.1 quintals an acre, the typical figure across India (your district's own figure looked wrong).

    On rain alone it gets about 85% of the water it needs, so the money here is worked at 85% of this yield.

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (December 2025–January 2026): about ₹3,808 a quintal across mandis in your state.

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

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹2,350 2021
    2. ₹2,620 2022
    3. ₹2,790 2023
    4. ₹3,360 2024
    5. ₹3,630 2025

    Prices are usually best in December.

    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 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.

      About 100% of local fields of this crop get it.

    • 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.

      Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.

    • 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.

      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%

  4. Jowar (Sorghum)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around November

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

    Grown on 16,744 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹7,000–₹11,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    Likely a loss at typical costs: ₹2,000–₹5,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 4 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Needs care: Soil 7/10
    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 430 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 22–35 °C on average, and survives 8–40 °C.

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

    • Jul 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Jowar (Sorghum): 7 out of 10 (okay).

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

    Likes pH 5.5–8.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 3.3 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (December 2025): about ₹2,729 a quintal across mandis in your state.

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

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹2,920 2021
    2. ₹2,710 2022
    3. ₹3,410 2023
    4. ₹2,760 2025

    Prices are usually best in March.

    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 6.1 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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.

      About 39% of local fields of this crop get it.

    • 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.

      Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.

    • 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.

      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 39%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 11%
    • Single Super Phosphate (SSP) 4%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 3%

  5. Potato

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around October

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

    Grown on 4,243 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

    ₹56,000–₹84,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹22,000 to a profit of ₹6,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 6 irrigations short
    • Needs care: Warm in July
    • Needs care: Soil 7/10
    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 490 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 230 mm it can use in a normal year, and 140 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 15–25 °C on average, and survives 7–30 °C.

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

    • Jul 34 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
    • Aug 34 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
    • Sep 34 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)

    Months in orange are outside its best range.

    Soil

    Soil for Potato: 7 out of 10 (okay).

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

    Likes pH 5.0–6.2.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 71 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (October–November 2026): about ₹975 a quintal across India's mandis.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹1,060 2021
    2. ₹1,370 2022
    3. ₹1,100 2023
    4. ₹2,050 2024
    5. ₹1,250 2025

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

    Prices are usually best in December.

    Typical costs are about ₹78,000 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 113 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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 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.

    • 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.

  6. Groundnut

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around November

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

    Grown on 4,381 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

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

    • Needs care: Risky: 5 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Needs care: Soil 7/10
    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 480 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 22–32 °C on average, and survives 10–45 °C.

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

    • Jul 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Groundnut: 7 out of 10 (okay).

    • 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 organic carbon.

    Likes pH 5.5–6.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 7.4 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 (December 2025): about ₹6,250 a quintal across mandis in your state.

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

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹8,410 2021
    2. ₹8,800 2022
    3. ₹8,540 2023
    4. ₹7,440 2024
    5. ₹6,200 2025

    Prices are usually best in June.

    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 11 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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.

      Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.

    • 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.

      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 3%

  7. Chillies (Dry)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around December

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

    Grown on 3,786 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

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

    • Needs care: Risky: 6 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Needs care: Soil 7/10
    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 650 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 380 mm it can use in a normal year, and 230 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 17–30 °C on average, and survives 8–35 °C.

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

    • Jul 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 22 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 21 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Chillies (Dry): 7 out of 10 (okay).

    • 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 organic carbon.

    Likes pH 6.0–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 6.0 quintals an acre here (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 (December 2025–January 2026): about ₹13,638 a quintal across India's mandis.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹10,650 2021
    2. ₹14,980 2022
    3. ₹16,750 2023
    4. ₹12,910 2024
    5. ₹12,120 2025

    Prices are usually best in November.

    Typical costs are about ₹1.1 lakh 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 5.1 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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.

      About 84% of local fields of this crop get it.

    • 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.

      Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.

    • 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.

      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%

  8. Cotton

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around January

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

    Grown on 2,942 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

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

    • Needs care: Risky: 6 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Needs care: Soil 7/10
    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 670 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 380 mm it can use in a normal year, and 230 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):

    • Jul 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 22 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 21 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Cotton: 7 out of 10 (okay).

    • The pH here suits it.
    • Many fields here are short of boron, which it needs a lot.
    • Most fields here are short of nitrogen.
    • Most fields here are short of organic carbon.

    Likes pH 6.0–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 4.0 quintals of kapas (raw cotton) 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 (January–February 2026): about ₹7,445 a quintal across India's mandis.

    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. ₹6,180 2021
    2. ₹9,050 2022
    3. ₹7,000 2023
    4. ₹7,050 2024
    5. ₹7,130 2025

    Prices are usually best in October.

    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 4.1 quintals of kapas (raw cotton) an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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.

      About 45% of local fields of this crop get it.

    • 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.

      Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.

    • 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.

      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 45%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 25%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 23%

  9. Onion

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in August, harvest around December

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

    Grown on 2,520 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

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

    • Needs care: Risky: 4 irrigations short
    • Needs care: Warm in August
    • Needs care: Soil 7/10
    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 520 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 350 mm it can use in a normal year, and 210 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):

    • Aug 34 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
    • Sep 34 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)
    • Nov 30 °C / 22 °C (outside its best range)
    • Dec 30 °C / 21 °C (outside its best range)

    Months in orange are outside its best range.

    Soil

    Soil for Onion: 7 out of 10 (okay).

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

    Likes pH 6.0–7.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 34 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 (December 2025–January 2026): about ₹3,406 a quintal across mandis in your state.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹4,830 2024
    2. ₹3,200 2025

    Prices are usually best in September.

    Typical costs are about ₹74,000 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 54 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • 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.

      About 85% of local fields of this crop get it.

    • 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.

      Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.

    • 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.

      About 20% of local fields of this crop get it.

    • 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 85%
    • Calcium Ammonium Nitrate 20%
    • Single Super Phosphate (SSP) 20%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 20%

  10. Tobacco

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around November

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

    Grown on 1,335 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

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

    • Needs care: Risky: 5 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Needs care: Soil 7/10
    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 510 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 290 mm it can use in a normal year, and 180 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 15–30 °C on average, and survives 7–35 °C.

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

    • Jul 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 34 °C / 24 °C
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 22 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Tobacco: 7 out of 10 (okay).

    • The pH here suits it.
    • Most fields here are short of nitrogen.
    • Most fields here are short of organic carbon.
    • Most fields here are short of sulphur.

    Likes pH 5.0–6.5.

    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 (December 2025): about ₹6,500 a quintal across India's mandis.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹4,650 2021
    2. ₹4,490 2022
    3. ₹4,570 2023
    4. ₹5,130 2025

    Prices are usually best in December.

    Typical costs are about ₹22,000 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

    • 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.

      About 100% of local fields of this crop get it.

    • 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.

      Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.

    • 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.

      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%
10 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).