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Your plan for Madurai

Kharif Rain only

We checked 55 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

7

out of 10

Soil score

Okay

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

For most crops. How the soil score works

Rain

About 289 mm in Kharif

June–September, in a normal year. A dry year brings about 208 mm.

Temperature

Days about 35 °C, nights 26 °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 (3 nutrients)

  • Nitrogen

    From 20,188 soil tests

    Poor

    Low 100%

    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 20,179 soil tests

    Poor

    Low 55% Medium 36% High 9%

    5 in 10 soil tests 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.

  • Boron

    From 20,191 soil tests

    Poor

    Short 69% Enough 31%

    7 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 20,191 soil tests

    Good

    Low 10% Medium 54% High 36%

    1 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 20,194 soil tests

    Good

    Low 3% Medium 30% High 67%

    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 20,149 soil tests

    Good

    Acidic 1% Neutral 96% 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 20,180 soil tests

    Good

    Not salty 98% Salty 2%

    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 20,193 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 20,182 soil tests

    Okay

    Short 24% Enough 76%

    2 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.

  • Iron

    From 20,198 soil tests

    Okay

    Short 27% Enough 73%

    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 20,125 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 20,198 soil tests

    Good

    Short 4% Enough 96%

    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 1

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.

Sowing Growing Harvest

  1. Ragi (Finger Millet)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in August, harvest around December

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

    Grown on 72 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹19,000–₹28,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹3,000 to a profit of ₹7,000 an acre a season

    • Suits: Rain is enough
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain is enough in a normal year. Keep one irrigation ready for a dry year.

    Needs about 350 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 320 mm it can use in a normal year, and 230 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

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

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

    • Aug 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Oct 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 23 °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 organic carbon.

    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).

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

    This week: about ₹3,558 a quintal, the middle of 4 mandis in your state (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹543 a season after typical costs.

    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 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%

Possible, with effort 45

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 July, harvest around October

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

    Grown on 27,477 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹46,000–₹69,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹24,000–₹47,000 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 230 mm it can use in a normal year, and 170 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 35 °C / 26 °C
    • Aug 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Oct 33 °C / 24 °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.
    • Many fields here are short of zinc, which it needs a lot.
    • Most fields here are short of organic carbon.

    Likes pH 5.0–7.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 21 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

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

    This week: about ₹2,918 a quintal, the middle of 14 mandis in your state (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹38,000 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. ₹1,670 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 21 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 79% 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 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):

    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 79%
    • Urea 75%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 45%

  2. Cowpea (Lobia)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around October

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

    Grown on 2,710 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

    ₹15,000–₹22,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹6,000–₹13,000 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 360 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 190 mm it can use in a normal year, and 130 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 35 °C / 26 °C
    • Aug 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Oct 33 °C / 24 °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 sulphur, which it needs a lot.
    • Most fields here are short of organic carbon.
    • Most fields here are short of boron.

    Likes pH 5.5–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 2.1 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.

    This week: about ₹8,781 a quintal, the middle of 24 mandis across India (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹9,000 a season after typical costs.

    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

    • 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 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 July, harvest around November

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

    Grown on 16,377 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹14,000–₹21,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹2,000–₹9,000 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 420 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 270 mm it can use in a normal year, and 190 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 35 °C / 26 °C
    • Aug 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Oct 33 °C / 24 °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.
    • Many fields here are short of zinc, which it needs a lot.
    • Most fields here are short of organic carbon.

    Likes pH 5.5–8.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 6.4 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.

    This week: about ₹3,700 a quintal, the middle of 125 mandis across India (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹11,000 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. ₹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 5.9 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 74% 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 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 74%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 62%

  4. Moong (Green Gram)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around September

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

    Grown on 4,649 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

    ₹12,000–₹17,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹2,000 to a profit of ₹3,000 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 290 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 110 mm it can use in a normal year, and 70 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 21–36 °C on average, and survives 8–40 °C.

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

    • Jul 35 °C / 26 °C
    • Aug 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Moong (Green Gram): 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 organic carbon.
    • Most fields here are short of boron.

    Likes pH 6.2–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 1.8 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (September–October 2026): about ₹7,901 a quintal across India's mandis.

    This week: about ₹8,050 a quintal, the middle of 152 mandis across India (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹728 a season after typical costs.

    Minimum support price: ₹8,780 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹6,010 2021
    2. ₹6,130 2022
    3. ₹7,280 2023
    4. ₹7,580 2024
    5. ₹6,880 2025

    Prices are usually best in October.

    Typical costs are about ₹14,000 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 3.1 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 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):

    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 98%
    • Urea 81%
    • NPK Mixture 15%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 1%

  5. Tur (Arhar)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around January

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

    Grown on 3,561 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹15,000–₹22,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹5,000 to a profit of ₹3,000 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 610 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 380 mm it can use in a normal year, and 260 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):

    • Jul 35 °C / 26 °C
    • Aug 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Oct 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 23 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 22 °C
    • Jan 30 °C / 22 °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 organic carbon.
    • Most fields here are short of boron.

    Likes pH 6.0–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 3.0 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (January–February 2026): about ₹6,000 a quintal across mandis in your state.

    This week: about ₹9,500 a quintal, the middle of 96 mandis across India (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹10,000 a season after typical costs.

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

    Prices are usually best in January.

    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 3.2 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 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) 83%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 3%

  6. Cotton

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around January

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

    Grown on 12,915 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

    ₹18,000–₹27,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    Likely a loss at typical costs: ₹689–₹10,000 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 650 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 400 mm it can use in a normal year, and 260 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 35 °C / 26 °C
    • Aug 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Oct 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 23 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 22 °C

    Soil

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

    • 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 3.0 quintals of kapas (raw cotton) an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (January–February 2026): about ₹7,445 a quintal across India's mandis.

    This week: about ₹8,800 a quintal, the middle of 219 mandis across India (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would lose about ₹1,000 a season at typical costs.

    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 6.6 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 98% 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 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%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 60%
    • NPK Mixture 8%

  7. Groundnut

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around November

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

    Grown on 3,138 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
    • 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 470 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 270 mm it can use in a normal year, and 190 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 35 °C / 26 °C
    • Aug 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Oct 33 °C / 24 °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 organic carbon.

    Likes pH 5.5–6.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 11 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.

    This week: about ₹6,375 a quintal, the middle of 4 mandis in your state (latest 13 Nov).

    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 9.1 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 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):

    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 56%
    • Urea 30%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 27%
    • Zinc Sulphate Heptahydrate / Monohydrate 27%

  8. Urad (Black Gram)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around October

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

    Grown on 1,840 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

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

    • 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 330 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 150 mm it can use in a normal year, and 90 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 35 °C / 26 °C
    • Aug 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Urad (Black Gram): 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 organic carbon.
    • Most fields here are short of boron.

    Likes pH 5.5–6.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 3.2 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 this season's harvest so far (October–November 2026): about ₹8,113 a quintal across India's mandis.

    This week: about ₹7,850 a quintal, the middle of 172 mandis across India (latest 13 Nov).

    Minimum support price: ₹8,200 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹5,930 2021
    2. ₹5,700 2022
    3. ₹7,310 2023
    4. ₹8,230 2024
    5. ₹6,290 2025

    Prices are usually best in October.

    Typical costs are about ₹14,000 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 2.7 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 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 82%
    • NPK Mixture 18%

  9. Chillies (Dry)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around December

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

    Grown on 1,251 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
    • 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 640 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 380 mm it can use in a normal year, and 260 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 35 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
    • Aug 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Oct 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 23 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 22 °C

    Months in orange are outside its best range.

    Soil

    Soil for Chillies (Dry): 8 out of 10 (good).

    • 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 6.1 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.

    This week: about ₹20,925 a quintal, the middle of 53 mandis across India (latest 13 Nov).

    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 8.3 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 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 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):

    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 100%
    • NPK Mixture 21%
    • Urea 19%

  10. Bajra (Pearl Millet)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around October

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

    Grown on 522 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
    • 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 320 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 160 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 12–40 °C.

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

    • Jul 35 °C / 26 °C
    • Aug 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °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 organic carbon.

    Likes pH 6.5–8.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 12 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 this season's harvest so far (October–November 2026): about ₹2,830 a quintal across mandis in your state.

    This week: about ₹2,623 a quintal, the middle of 3 mandis in your state (latest 12 Nov).

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

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹2,050 2021
    2. ₹2,720 2022
    3. ₹2,630 2023
    4. ₹2,850 2024
    5. ₹2,600 2025

    Prices are usually best in June.

    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 8.4 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 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 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) 53%
9 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).