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Your plan for Tirunelveli

Whole year Rain only

We checked 51 crops against your soil, rain and temperature, whether or not they're grown near you.

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 790 mm in Whole year

January–December, in a normal year. A dry year brings about 576 mm.

Temperature

Days about 34 °C, nights 25 °C in Whole year

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 9,926 soil tests

    Poor

    Low 92% Medium 8%

    9 in 10 soil tests here came out low

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

    What this means

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

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

    Healthy soil has 280 kg/ha or more.

  • Organic carbon

    From 9,926 soil tests

    Poor

    Low 52% Medium 36% High 12%

    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.

  • Sulphur

    From 9,926 soil tests

    Poor

    Short 69% Enough 31%

    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.

  • Boron

    From 9,925 soil tests

    Poor

    Short 80% Enough 20%

    8 in 10 soil tests here came out short

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

    What this means

    Needed for flowers to set seed and fruit.

    Short under 0.5 ppm Enough 0.5 ppm or more

    Healthy soil has 0.5 ppm or more.

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

Other soil results

  • Phosphorus

    From 9,926 soil tests

    Okay

    Low 26% Medium 31% High 43%

    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 9,926 soil tests

    Good

    Low 11% Medium 31% High 58%

    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 9,924 soil tests

    Good

    Acidic 5% Neutral 90% Alkaline 5%

    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 9,926 soil tests

    Good

    Not salty 96% Salty 4%

    Almost no soil tests here came out salty

    What this means

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

    Not salty Salty

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

  • Zinc

    From 9,926 soil tests

    Good

    Short 17% Enough 83%

    2 in 10 soil tests here came out short

    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 9,926 soil tests

    Good

    Short 18% Enough 82%

    2 in 10 soil tests here came out short

    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 9,924 soil tests

    Good

    Short 3% Enough 97%

    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 9,926 soil tests

    Good

    Short 10% Enough 90%

    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 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. Pineapple

    Holds the land all year

    No figures for your district: its government crop records list no area or yield for this crop. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹4.7 lakh–₹7.1 lakh

    per acre a year, before costs

    once bearing, from about year 2

    After typical costs: ₹3.3 lakh–₹5.6 lakh an acre a year

    • 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 600 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 560 mm it can use in a normal year, and 310 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 21–30 °C on average, and survives 10–36 °C.

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

    • Jun 35 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
    • Jul 34 °C / 26 °C
    • Aug 35 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
    • Oct 34 °C / 25 °C
    • Nov 31 °C / 24 °C
    • Dec 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Jan 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Feb 33 °C / 23 °C
    • Mar 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Apr 35 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
    • May 36 °C / 27 °C (outside its best range)
    • Jun 35 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)

    Months in orange are outside its best range.

    Soil

    Soil for Pineapple: 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 4.5–6.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 124 quintals an acre, the typical figure in your state (its government crop records list none for your district).

    A new planting gives its first real harvest after about 2 years. The money here is for plants already bearing.

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (September 2026): about ₹4,750 a quintal across mandis in your state.

    Prices are usually best in April.

    Typical costs are about ₹1.4 lakh an acre: about half of what a usual harvest earns (2023–2025), as in farm cost surveys. They are spent whatever the harvest.

    How to make it work

    • 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.

Possible, with effort 2

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. Cashew

    Holds the land all year

    Grown on 4,274 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

    ₹16,000–₹24,000

    per acre a year, before costs

    once bearing, from about year 3

    Likely a loss at typical costs: ₹917–₹9,000 an acre a year

    • Needs care: Risky: 15 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Suits: Soil 8/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain falls about 15 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

    Needs about 1,300 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 560 mm it can use in a normal year, and 310 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 15–35 °C on average, and survives 5–46 °C.

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

    • Jun 35 °C / 26 °C
    • Jul 34 °C / 26 °C
    • Aug 35 °C / 26 °C
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Oct 34 °C / 25 °C
    • Nov 31 °C / 24 °C
    • Dec 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Jan 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Feb 33 °C / 23 °C
    • Mar 35 °C / 25 °C
    • Apr 35 °C / 26 °C
    • May 36 °C / 27 °C
    • Jun 35 °C / 26 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Cashew: 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 4.5–6.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 1.3 quintals an acre, the typical figure in your state (your district's own figure looked wrong).

    A new planting gives its first real harvest after about 3 years. The money here is for plants already bearing.

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (March–May 2026): about ₹14,855 a quintal across India's mandis.

    This week: about ₹11,600 a quintal, the middle of 6 mandis across India (latest 13 Nov). At that price an acre would lose about ₹9,000 a year at typical costs.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹9,530 2021
    2. ₹10,180 2022
    3. ₹8,530 2023
    4. ₹10,500 2024
    5. ₹12,500 2025

    Prices are usually best in February.

    Typical costs are about ₹25,000 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 1.4 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 77% 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 77%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 77%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 25%

  2. Dragon Fruit

    Holds the land all year

    No figures for your district: its government crop records list no area or yield for this crop.

    No price yet to estimate income

    • Suits: Rain is enough
    • Needs care: Warm in June
    • 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 600 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 560 mm it can use in a normal year, and 310 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 18–28 °C on average, and survives 12–34 °C.

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

    • Jun 35 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
    • Jul 34 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
    • Aug 35 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
    • Sep 35 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
    • Oct 34 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
    • Nov 31 °C / 24 °C
    • Dec 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Jan 31 °C / 23 °C
    • Feb 33 °C / 23 °C
    • Mar 35 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
    • Apr 35 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
    • May 36 °C / 27 °C (outside its best range)
    • Jun 35 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)

    Months in orange are outside its best range.

    Soil

    Soil for Dragon Fruit: 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 5.3–6.7.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 25 quintals an acre, the typical figure in your state (its government crop records list none for your district).

    A new planting gives its first real harvest after about 2 years. The money here is for plants already bearing.

    No mandi or support price for this crop yet.

    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.

      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.

48 crops won't work here See why for each one

4 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).