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Your plan for Salem

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

6

out of 10

Soil score

Okay

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

For most crops. How the soil score works

Rain

About 387 mm in Kharif

June–September, in a normal year. A dry year brings about 282 mm.

Temperature

Days about 33 °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 (3 nutrients)

  • Nitrogen

    From 22,287 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 22,266 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 22,296 soil tests

    Poor

    Short 67% Enough 33%

    7 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.

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 22,290 soil tests

    Okay

    Low 25% Medium 47% High 28%

    3 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 22,292 soil tests

    Good

    Low 3% Medium 37% High 60%

    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 22,260 soil tests

    Good

    Neutral 94% Alkaline 6%

    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 22,269 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.

  • Zinc

    From 22,296 soil tests

    Okay

    Short 23% Enough 77%

    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 22,302 soil tests

    Good

    Enough 100%

    Almost every soil test here had enough

    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 22,241 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 22,302 soil tests

    Good

    Enough 100%

    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.

  • Boron

    From 22,296 soil tests

    Good

    Short 7% Enough 93%

    1 in 10 soil tests here came out short

    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.

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 52

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 84,690 acres here. Sold at 12 mandis in your district.

    ₹33,000–₹50,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹11,000–₹28,000 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 150 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 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 33 °C / 23 °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.
    • 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 26 quintals an acre, the typical figure in your state (your district's own figure looked wrong).

    On rain alone it gets about 63% of the water it needs, so the money here is worked at 63% of this yield.

    Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (October–November 2026): about ₹2,515 a quintal at mandis in your district.

    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 ₹26,000 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. ₹1,650 2021
    2. ₹2,190 2022
    3. ₹2,180 2023

    Prices are usually best in October.

    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 13 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 96% 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 57% of local fields of this crop get it.

    What local farmers put on it (share of fields):

    • Urea 96%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 75%
    • Single Super Phosphate (SSP) 57%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 26%

  2. Cowpea (Lobia)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around October

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

    Grown on 38,467 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: 3 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

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

    Needs about 360 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 220 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 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 33 °C / 23 °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.

    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 ₹18,000 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 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.

  3. Urad (Black Gram)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around October

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

    Grown on 5,533 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

    ₹24,000–₹36,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹10,000–₹22,000 an acre a season

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

    Water

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

    Needs about 320 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 190 mm it can use in a normal year, and 110 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 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 33 °C / 23 °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 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 5.5–6.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 3.7 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    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). At that price an acre would leave about ₹15,000 a season after typical costs.

    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 2.5 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.

      About 14% of local fields of this crop get it.

    What local farmers put on it (share of fields):

    • Urea 94%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 75%
    • Single Super Phosphate (SSP) 14%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 2%

  4. Moong (Green Gram)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around September

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

    Grown on 17,053 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

    ₹22,000–₹33,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹8,000–₹19,000 an acre a season

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

    Water

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

    Needs about 280 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 170 mm it can use in a normal year, and 90 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 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 33 °C / 23 °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 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 6.2–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 3.5 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 ₹14,000 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 3.0 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.

    What local farmers put on it (share of fields):

    • Urea 85%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 22%

  5. Groundnut

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around November

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

    Grown on 45,409 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹37,000–₹56,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹3,000 to a profit of ₹16,000 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 470 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 310 mm it can use in a normal year, and 180 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 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 33 °C / 23 °C
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °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.
    • Most fields here are short of organic carbon.

    Likes pH 5.5–6.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 7.5 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    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). At that price an acre would leave about ₹7,000 a season after typical costs.

    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 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 13% of local fields of this crop get it.

    What local farmers put on it (share of fields):

    • Urea 59%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 38%
    • Gypsum 13%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 12%

  6. Cotton

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around January

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

    Grown on 19,103 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

    ₹26,000–₹39,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹2,000 to a profit of ₹11,000 an acre a season

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

    Water

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

    Needs about 660 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 420 mm it can use in a normal year, and 220 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 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 33 °C / 23 °C
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 22 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 20 °C

    Soil

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

    • 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 6.0–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 4.4 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 leave about ₹11,000 a season after 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

    • 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 95% 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 29% of local fields of this crop get it.

    What local farmers put on it (share of fields):

    • Urea 95%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 62%
    • Single Super Phosphate (SSP) 29%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 23%

  7. Tur (Arhar)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around January

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

    Grown on 4,884 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹18,000–₹27,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹1,000 to a profit of ₹8,000 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 630 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 420 mm it can use in a normal year, and 210 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 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 33 °C / 23 °C
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °C
    • Nov 30 °C / 22 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 20 °C
    • Jan 32 °C / 20 °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 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 6.0–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 3.7 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 ₹16,000 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 5.3 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.

    What local farmers put on it (share of fields):

    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 59%
    • Urea 30%

  8. Ragi (Finger Millet)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in August, harvest around December

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

    Grown on 9,816 acres here. Sold at 10 mandis in your district.

    ₹19,000–₹28,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹2,000 to a profit of ₹7,000 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 300 mm it can use in a normal year, and 180 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 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 33 °C / 23 °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.
    • 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): about ₹3,830 a quintal at mandis in your district.

    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. ₹3,550 2021
    2. ₹3,670 2022
    3. ₹2,680 2023
    4. ₹3,220 2024
    5. ₹3,730 2025

    Prices are usually best in July.

    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 67% 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.

    What local farmers put on it (share of fields):

    • Urea 67%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 40%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 4%
    • NPK Mixture 4%

  9. Horse Gram (Kulthi)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around November

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

    Grown on 1,661 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

    ₹7,000–₹11,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹521 to a profit of ₹3,000 an acre a season

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

    Water

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

    Needs about 420 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 310 mm it can use in a normal year, and 180 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 20–28 °C on average, and survives 17–35 °C.

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

    • Jul 33 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
    • Aug 33 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
    • Sep 33 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)
    • Oct 32 °C / 23 °C

    Months in orange are outside its best range.

    Soil

    Soil for Horse Gram (Kulthi): 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 5.5–7.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

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

    On rain alone it gets about 73% of the water it needs, so the money here is worked at 73% of this yield.

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (December 2025): about ₹3,935 a quintal across India's mandis.

    This week: about ₹4,882 a quintal, the middle of 12 mandis across India (latest 12 Nov). At that price an acre would leave about ₹3,000 a season after typical costs.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹3,230 2021
    2. ₹4,350 2022
    3. ₹5,550 2023
    4. ₹5,920 2024
    5. ₹4,280 2025

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

    Prices are usually best in October.

    Typical costs are about ₹8,000 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.

      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.

    What local farmers put on it (share of fields):

    • Urea 83%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 0%

  10. Jowar (Sorghum)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in July, harvest around November

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

    Grown on 89,534 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹9,000–₹13,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹4,000 to a profit of ₹932 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 3 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Needs care: Soil 7/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

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

    Needs about 420 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 310 mm it can use in a normal year, and 180 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 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Aug 33 °C / 24 °C
    • Sep 33 °C / 23 °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.
    • 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 4.1 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 ₹3,000 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 7.6 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 50% 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 12% of local fields of this crop get it.

    What local farmers put on it (share of fields):

    • Urea 50%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 12%
    • Single Super Phosphate (SSP) 12%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 11%
3 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).