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Your plan for Virudhunagar

Rabi Rain only

We checked 53 crops against your soil, rain and temperature, whether or not they're grown near you.

It's November: 32 of the crops that suit can still be sown this season. For 6 the sowing time is over.

Your land

Soil

5

out of 10

Soil score

Poor

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

Not in the score: iron.

For most crops. How the soil score works

Rain

About 430 mm in Rabi

October–February, in a normal year. A dry year brings about 304 mm.

Temperature

Days about 32 °C, nights 23 °C in Rabi

Typical of the district's villages; a farm much higher or lower can be a few degrees cooler or warmer.

What's short in your soil, and what to do (5 nutrients)

  • Nitrogen

    From 23,162 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.

  • Phosphorus

    From 23,168 soil tests

    Poor

    Low 57% Medium 26% High 16%

    6 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.

  • Organic carbon

    From 23,137 soil tests

    Poor

    Low 79% Medium 15% High 6%

    8 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 23,179 soil tests

    Poor

    Short 53% Enough 47%

    5 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 23,101 soil tests

    Poor

    Short 70% Enough 30%

    7 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.

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

Other soil results

  • Potassium

    From 23,177 soil tests

    Good

    Low 9% Medium 27% High 64%

    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 23,079 soil tests

    Good

    Acidic 1% Neutral 80% Alkaline 19%

    2 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 23,129 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.

  • Copper

    From 23,171 soil tests

    Good

    Short 11% Enough 89%

    1 in 10 soil tests here came out short

    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 23,203 soil tests

    Good

    Short 11% Enough 89%

    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.

  • Boron

    From 23,179 soil tests

    Okay

    Short 42% Enough 58%

    4 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.

The tests here for iron look like a testing error: almost every test reads the same, unlike the districts around. They aren't used.

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 38

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. Cauliflower

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in September, harvest around December

    Still sowing time: sow by the end of November.

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

    ₹1.9 lakh–₹2.9 lakh

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹96,000–₹1.9 lakh an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 3 irrigations short
    • Needs care: Very hot in September
    • Needs care: Soil 6/10
    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 390 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 10–25 °C on average, and survives 5–30 °C.

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

    • Sep 36 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
    • Oct 34 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
    • Nov 31 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
    • Dec 30 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)

    Months in orange are outside its best range.

    Days in September get hotter than it likes. Time sowing so it flowers before then.

    Soil

    Soil for Cauliflower: 6 out of 10 (okay).

    Not in the score: iron.

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

    Likes pH 6.0–7.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 109 quintals an acre, the typical figure in your state (its government crop records list none for your district).

    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–January 2026): about ₹3,000 a quintal across mandis in your state.

    Prices are usually best in September.

    Typical costs are about ₹95,000 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

    • 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 phosphorus Your soil is likely short of phosphorus.

      Add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.

      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 zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.

      Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.

      Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.

  2. Beans (Vegetable)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in October, harvest around January

    Still sowing time: sow by the end of November.

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

    ₹1.3 lakh–₹1.9 lakh

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹55,000–₹1.2 lakh an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 2 irrigations short
    • Needs care: Warm in October
    • 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 270 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain in its months gives about 200 mm it can use in a normal year (120 mm in a dry one), and the soil holds about 0 mm from the monsoon at sowing.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 16–25 °C on average, and survives 7–32 °C.

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

    • Oct 34 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
    • Nov 31 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
    • Dec 30 °C / 23 °C (outside its best range)

    Months in orange are outside its best range.

    Soil

    Soil for Beans (Vegetable): 7 out of 10 (okay).

    Not in the score: iron.

    • The pH here suits it.
    • Low nitrogen matters less: it makes its own.
    • Most fields here are short of phosphorus.
    • Most fields here are short of organic carbon.
    • Most fields here are short of sulphur.

    Likes pH 5.5–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 39 quintals an acre, the typical figure across India (no figures for your state).

    On rain alone it gets about 74% of the water it needs, so the money here is worked at 74% of this yield.

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (January–February 2026): about ₹5,575 a quintal across mandis in your state.

    Prices are usually best in May.

    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

    • Short of phosphorus Your soil is likely short of phosphorus.

      Add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.

      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 zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.

      Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.

      Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.

  3. Maize

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in October, harvest around January

    Still sowing time: sow by the end of November.

    Grown on 86,442 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹59,000–₹88,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹37,000–₹66,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 3 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Needs care: Soil 6/10
    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 330 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain in its months gives about 200 mm it can use in a normal year (120 mm in a dry one), and the soil holds about 0 mm from the monsoon at sowing.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 18–33 °C on average, and survives 10–47 °C.

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

    • Oct 34 °C / 25 °C
    • Nov 31 °C / 24 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 23 °C
    • Jan 31 °C / 22 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Maize: 6 out of 10 (okay).

    Not in the score: iron.

    • 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 phosphorus.

    Likes pH 5.0–7.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 22 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (January–February 2026): about ₹3,375 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 94% of local fields of this crop get it.

    • Short of phosphorus Your soil is likely short of phosphorus.

      Add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.

      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 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 zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.

      Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.

      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 94%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 79%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 52%
    • Single Super Phosphate (SSP) 2%

  4. Radish

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in October, harvest around December

    Still sowing time: sow by the end of November.

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

    ₹49,000–₹74,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹19,000–₹44,000 an acre a season

    • Suits: Rain is enough
    • Needs care: Warm in October
    • Needs care: Soil 6/10
    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 170 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain in its months gives about 160 mm it can use in a normal year (100 mm in a dry one), and the soil holds about 0 mm from the monsoon at sowing.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 12–26 °C on average, and survives 10–37 °C.

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

    • Oct 34 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
    • Nov 31 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)

    Months in orange are outside its best range.

    Soil

    Soil for Radish: 6 out of 10 (okay).

    Not in the score: iron.

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

    Likes pH 6.0–7.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 66 quintals an acre, the typical figure across India (no figures for your state).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (December 2025–January 2026): about ₹925 a quintal across India's mandis.

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹990 2021
    2. ₹1,090 2022
    3. ₹1,130 2023
    4. ₹1,360 2024
    5. ₹1,280 2025

    Prices are usually best in August.

    Typical costs are about ₹30,000 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

    • 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 phosphorus Your soil is likely short of phosphorus.

      Add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.

      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 zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.

      Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.

      Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.

  5. Bajra (Pearl Millet)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in October, harvest around January

    Still sowing time: sow by the end of November.

    Grown on 3,462 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹23,000–₹35,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹12,000–₹23,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 1 irrigation short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Needs care: Soil 7/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain falls about 1 irrigation (5 cm) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

    Needs about 240 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain in its months gives about 200 mm it can use in a normal year (120 mm in a dry one), and the soil holds about 0 mm from the monsoon at sowing.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 25–35 °C on average, and survives 12–40 °C.

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

    • Oct 34 °C / 25 °C
    • Nov 31 °C / 24 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 23 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Bajra (Pearl Millet): 7 out of 10 (okay).

    Not in the score: iron.

    • 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 phosphorus.

    Likes pH 6.5–8.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 10 quintals an acre, the typical figure in your state (your district's own figure looked wrong).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (January–February 2026): about ₹2,808 a quintal across mandis in your state.

    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 9.5 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 phosphorus Your soil is likely short of phosphorus.

      Add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.

      About 36% 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 zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.

      Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.

      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) 36%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 6%

  6. Jowar (Sorghum)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in September, harvest around January

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

    Grown on 25,627 acres here. Sold at 3 mandis in your district.

    ₹20,000–₹30,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹8,000–₹18,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 2 irrigations short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Needs care: Soil 6/10
    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 350 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 290 mm it can use in a normal year, and 170 mm in a dry year.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 22–35 °C on average, and survives 8–40 °C.

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

    • Sep 36 °C / 26 °C
    • Oct 34 °C / 25 °C
    • Nov 31 °C / 24 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 23 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Jowar (Sorghum): 6 out of 10 (okay).

    Not in the score: iron.

    • 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 phosphorus.

    Likes pH 5.5–8.0.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 7.9 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (January–February 2026): about ₹3,200 a quintal at mandis in your district.

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

    Prices are usually best in October.

    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 5.5 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 65% of local fields of this crop get it.

    • Short of phosphorus Your soil is likely short of phosphorus.

      Add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.

      About 31% 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 zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.

      Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.

      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 65%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 31%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 26%

  7. Urad (Black Gram)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in October, harvest around January

    Still sowing time: sow by the end of December.

    Grown on 7,768 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹14,000–₹22,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹267–₹7,000 an acre a season

    • Needs care: Risky: 1 irrigation short
    • Suits: Ideal temperatures
    • Needs care: Soil 7/10
    Why, and how to make it work

    Water

    Rain falls about 1 irrigation (5 cm) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

    Needs about 240 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain in its months gives about 200 mm it can use in a normal year (120 mm in a dry one), and the soil holds about 0 mm from the monsoon at sowing.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 22–35 °C on average, and survives 8–40 °C.

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

    • Oct 34 °C / 25 °C
    • Nov 31 °C / 24 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 23 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Urad (Black Gram): 7 out of 10 (okay).

    Not in the score: iron.

    • 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 2.2 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (February 2026): about ₹8,000 a quintal across mandis in your state.

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

    Average mandi price each year (₹ a quintal):
    1. ₹5,330 2021
    2. ₹6,370 2022
    3. ₹7,250 2023
    4. ₹8,810 2024

    Prices are usually best in February.

    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 phosphorus Your soil is likely short of phosphorus.

      Add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.

      About 82% 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 zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.

      Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.

      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 90%
    • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 82%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 19%

  8. Groundnut

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in November, harvest around March

    Sowing time is now.

    Grown on 6,600 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

    ₹35,000–₹53,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹5,000 to a profit of ₹12,000 an acre a season

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

    Water

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

    Needs about 410 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain in its months gives about 70 mm it can use in a normal year (50 mm in a dry one), and the soil holds about 10 mm from the monsoon at sowing.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 22–32 °C on average, and survives 10–45 °C.

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

    • Nov 31 °C / 24 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 23 °C
    • Jan 31 °C / 22 °C
    • Feb 33 °C / 23 °C

    Soil

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

    Not in the score: iron.

    • 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 phosphorus.

    Likes pH 5.5–6.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 6.7 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (March–April 2026): about ₹6,531 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 phosphorus Your soil is likely short of phosphorus.

      Add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.

      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 zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.

      Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.

      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%
    • Urea 71%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 56%

  9. Cowpea (Lobia)

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in October, harvest around January

    Still sowing time: sow by the end of November.

    Grown on 470 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

    ₹11,000–₹16,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    After typical costs: ₹658–₹6,000 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 270 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain in its months gives about 200 mm it can use in a normal year (120 mm in a dry one), and the soil holds about 0 mm from the monsoon at sowing.

    Temperature

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

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

    • Oct 34 °C / 25 °C
    • Nov 31 °C / 24 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 23 °C
    • Jan 31 °C / 22 °C

    Soil

    Soil for Cowpea (Lobia): 7 out of 10 (okay).

    Not in the score: iron.

    • 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 2.8 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

    On rain alone it gets about 72% of the water it needs, so the money here is worked at 72% of this yield.

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (January–February 2026): about ₹6,592 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 ₹10,000 an acre: about half of what a usual harvest earns (2024–2026), as in farm cost surveys. They are spent whatever the harvest.

    How to make it work

    The better districts with similar soil, rain and warmth get 3.1 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.

    • Short of phosphorus Your soil is likely short of phosphorus.

      Add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.

      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 zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.

      Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.

      Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.

  10. Cotton

    JJASONDJFMAM

    Sow in October, harvest around April

    Still sowing time: sow by the end of November.

    Grown on 41,169 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

    ₹22,000–₹33,000

    per acre a season, before costs

    At typical costs, from a loss of ₹6,000 to a profit of ₹5,000 an acre a season

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

    Water

    Rain falls about 10 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 in its months gives about 200 mm it can use in a normal year (130 mm in a dry one), and the soil holds about 10 mm from the monsoon at sowing.

    Temperature

    Grows best at 22–36 °C on average, and survives 15–42 °C.

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

    • Oct 34 °C / 25 °C
    • Nov 31 °C / 24 °C
    • Dec 30 °C / 23 °C
    • Jan 31 °C / 22 °C
    • Feb 33 °C / 23 °C
    • Mar 36 °C / 25 °C

    Soil

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

    Not in the score: iron.

    • 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 phosphorus.

    Likes pH 6.0–7.5.

    How the soil score works

    Money

    Yield: about 3.5 quintals of kapas (raw cotton) an acre here in this season (district figures).

    Mandi price at last season's harvest (April–May 2026): about ₹7,843 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 4.3 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 100% of local fields of this crop get it.

    • Short of phosphorus Your soil is likely short of phosphorus.

      Add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.

      About 81% 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 zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.

      Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.

      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) 81%
    • Muriate of Potash (MOP) 64%
    • NPK Mixture 3%
15 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).