Your plan for Bikaner

Nothing fits well this season. Look at the crops below that are possible with effort, or try another season.

1. Guar Seed (Cluster Bean)

   JJASONDJFMAM

   Sow in June, harvest around September

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

   Grown on 16.9 lakh acres here. Sold at 6 mandis in your district.

   ₹11,000–₹17,000

   per acre a season, before costs

   After typical costs: ₹5,000–₹11,000 an acre a season

   • Needs care: Risky: 8 irrigations short
   • Suits: Ideal temperatures
   • Suits: Soil 8/10

   Why, and how to make it work Hide details

   Water

   Rain falls about 8 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

   Rain covers 22% of its need dry year

   Needs about 480 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 100 mm it can use in a normal year, and 70 mm in a dry year.

   Temperature

   Grows best at 25–35 °C on average, and survives 10–45 °C.

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

   • Jun 42 °C / 29 °C (outside its best range)
   • Jul 39 °C / 28 °C
   • Aug 37 °C / 27 °C
   • Sep 37 °C / 25 °C

   Months in orange are outside its best range.

   Soil

   Soil for Guar Seed (Cluster Bean): 8 out of 10 (good).

   Not in the score: nitrogen, sulphur and boron.

   • The pH here suits it.
   • Most fields here are short of organic carbon.
   • Most fields here are short of zinc.
   • Most fields here are short of iron.

   Likes pH 7.5–8.0.

   How the soil score works

   Money

   Yield: about 2.1 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

   Mandi price at last season's harvest (September–October 2026): about ₹6,840 a quintal at mandis in your district.

   1. ₹3,910 2021
   2. ₹5,590 2022
   3. ₹5,360 2023
   4. ₹5,090 2024
   5. ₹4,900 2025

   Prices are usually best in November.

   Typical costs are about ₹6,000 an acre: about half of what a usual harvest earns (2023–2025), as in farm cost surveys. They are spent whatever the harvest.

   How to make it work

   The better districts with similar soil, rain and warmth get 3.3 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 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.

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

     Spray ferrous sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, when young leaves turn yellow.

     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 7%
   • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 3%
   • Single Super Phosphate (SSP) 0%
   • Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) 0%

2. Moth Bean

   JJASONDJFMAM

   Sow in July, harvest around September

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

   Grown on 8.4 lakh acres here. Priced from mandis across India.

   ₹9,000–₹13,000

   per acre a season, before costs

   After typical costs: ₹5,000–₹9,000 an acre a season

   • Needs care: Risky: 6 irrigations short
   • Needs care: Warm in July
   • Suits: Soil 8/10

   Why, and how to make it work Hide details

   Water

   Rain falls about 6 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

   Rain covers 24% of its need dry year

   Needs about 340 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 80 mm it can use in a normal year, and 40 mm in a dry year.

   Temperature

   Grows best at 24–32 °C on average, and survives 13–45 °C.

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

   • Jul 39 °C / 28 °C (outside its best range)
   • Aug 37 °C / 27 °C (outside its best range)
   • Sep 37 °C / 25 °C

   Months in orange are outside its best range.

   Soil

   Soil for Moth Bean: 8 out of 10 (good).

   Not in the score: nitrogen, sulphur and boron.

   • The pH here suits it.
   • Most fields here are short of organic carbon.
   • Most fields here are short of zinc.
   • Most fields here are short of iron.

   Likes pH 6.5–8.2.

   How the soil score works

   Money

   Yield: about 1.1 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

   Mandi price at last season's harvest (September–October 2026): about ₹9,525 a quintal across India's mandis.

   1. ₹6,910 2021
   2. ₹6,570 2022
   3. ₹6,320 2023
   4. ₹5,950 2024
   5. ₹6,330 2025

   Prices are usually best in October.

   Typical costs are about ₹4,000 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 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.

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

     Spray ferrous sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, when young leaves turn yellow.

     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 1%

3. Bajra (Pearl Millet)

   JJASONDJFMAM

   Sow in June, harvest around September

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

   Grown on 2.7 lakh acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.

   ₹3,000–₹5,000

   per acre a season, before costs

   Likely a loss at typical costs: ₹6,000–₹8,000 an acre a season

   • Needs care: Risky: 6 irrigations short
   • Suits: Ideal temperatures
   • Suits: Soil 8/10

   Why, and how to make it work Hide details

   Water

   Rain falls about 6 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

   Rain covers 25% of its need dry year

   Needs about 380 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 100 mm it can use in a normal year, and 60 mm in a dry year.

   Temperature

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

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

   • Jun 42 °C / 29 °C (outside its best range)
   • Jul 39 °C / 28 °C
   • Aug 37 °C / 27 °C

   Months in orange are outside its best range.

   Soil

   Soil for Bajra (Pearl Millet): 8 out of 10 (good).

   Not in the score: nitrogen, sulphur and boron.

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

   Likes pH 6.5–8.0.

   How the soil score works

   Money

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

   Mandi price at last season's harvest (September–October 2026): about ₹2,266 a quintal across mandis in your state.

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

   1. ₹1,330 2021
   2. ₹1,990 2022
   3. ₹2,120 2023
   4. ₹2,270 2024
   5. ₹2,240 2025

   Prices are usually best in November.

   Typical costs are about ₹11,000 an acre (seed, fertiliser, labour and hired machines, from the government's cost survey). They are spent whatever the harvest.

   How to make it work

   The better districts with similar soil, rain and warmth get 8.5 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 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.

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

     Spray ferrous sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, when young leaves turn yellow.

     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 9%
   • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 1%

4. Groundnut

   JJASONDJFMAM

   Sow in June, harvest around October

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

   Grown on 6.6 lakh acres here. Sold at 10 mandis in your district.

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

   • Needs care: Risky: 10 irrigations short
   • Needs care: Warm in June
   • Suits: Soil 8/10

   Why, and how to make it work Hide details

   Water

   Rain falls about 10 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

   Rain covers 18% of its need dry year

   Needs about 570 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 100 mm it can use in a normal year, and 70 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):

   • Jun 42 °C / 29 °C (outside its best range)
   • Jul 39 °C / 28 °C (outside its best range)
   • Aug 37 °C / 27 °C (outside its best range)
   • Sep 37 °C / 25 °C

   Months in orange are outside its best range.

   Soil

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

   Not in the score: nitrogen, sulphur and boron.

   • The pH here suits it.
   • Most fields here are short of organic carbon.
   • Most fields here are short of zinc.
   • Most fields here are short of iron.

   Likes pH 5.5–6.5.

   How the soil score works

   Money

   Yield: about 10 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

   Rain gives it too little of the water it needs, so there's no income figure on rain alone: grow it only with irrigation.

   Mandi price at this season's harvest so far (October–November 2026): about ₹7,222 a quintal at mandis in your district.

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

   1. ₹5,530 2021
   2. ₹5,740 2022
   3. ₹6,400 2023
   4. ₹5,280 2024
   5. ₹5,140 2025

   Prices are usually best in November.

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

   • Short of organic carbon Your soil is likely short of organic carbon.

     Add 4 tonnes of compost or farmyard manure per acre before sowing, and plough crop leftovers back in instead of burning them.

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

   • Short of 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.

     About 32% of local fields of this crop get it.

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

     Spray ferrous sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, when young leaves turn yellow.

     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) 82%
   • Urea 68%
   • Zinc Sulphate Heptahydrate / Monohydrate 32%
   • Single Super Phosphate (SSP) 17%

5. Moong (Green Gram)

   JJASONDJFMAM

   Sow in July, harvest around September

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

   Grown on 1.1 lakh acres here. Sold at 9 mandis in your district.

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

   • Needs care: Risky: 5 irrigations short
   • Suits: Ideal temperatures
   • Suits: Soil 8/10

   Why, and how to make it work Hide details

   Water

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

   Rain covers 24% of its need dry year

   Needs about 320 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 80 mm it can use in a normal year, and 40 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 39 °C / 28 °C
   • Aug 37 °C / 27 °C
   • Sep 37 °C / 25 °C

   Soil

   Soil for Moong (Green Gram): 8 out of 10 (good).

   Not in the score: nitrogen, sulphur and boron.

   • The pH here suits it.
   • Most fields here are short of organic carbon.
   • Most fields here are short of zinc.
   • Most fields here are short of iron.

   Likes pH 6.2–7.5.

   How the soil score works

   Money

   Yield: about 2.1 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).

   Rain gives it too little of the water it needs, so there's no income figure on rain alone: grow it only with irrigation.

   Mandi price at last season's harvest (September–October 2026): about ₹7,988 a quintal at mandis in your district.

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

   1. ₹6,370 2021
   2. ₹6,200 2022
   3. ₹7,470 2023
   4. ₹7,340 2024
   5. ₹6,840 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 2.8 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 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.

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

     Spray ferrous sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, when young leaves turn yellow.

     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 36%
   • Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) 33%
   • Single Super Phosphate (SSP) 8%
   • Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) 3%

6. Cotton

   JJASONDJFMAM

   Sow in May, harvest around November

   This season's sowing time (April–May) is over.

   Grown on 1.1 lakh acres here. Sold at 4 mandis in your district.

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

   • Needs care: Risky: 16 irrigations short
   • Suits: Ideal temperatures
   • Suits: Soil 8/10

   Why, and how to make it work Hide details

   Water

   Rain falls about 16 irrigations (5 cm each) short in a normal year, so it's risky without water.

   Rain covers 13% of its need dry year

   Needs about 890 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 120 mm it can use in a normal year, and 80 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):

   • May 43 °C / 27 °C
   • Jun 42 °C / 29 °C
   • Jul 39 °C / 28 °C
   • Aug 37 °C / 27 °C
   • Sep 37 °C / 25 °C
   • Oct 36 °C / 20 °C

   Soil

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

   Not in the score: nitrogen, sulphur and boron.

   • The pH here suits it.
   • Most fields here are short of organic carbon.
   • Most fields here are short of zinc.
   • Most fields here are short of iron.

   Likes pH 6.0–7.5.

   How the soil score works

   Money

   Yield: about 5.6 quintals of kapas (raw cotton) an acre here in this season (district figures).

   Rain gives it too little of the water it needs, so there's no income figure on rain alone: grow it only with irrigation.

   Mandi price at last season's harvest (December 2025): about ₹7,150 a quintal at mandis in your district.

   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.

   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 5.4 quintals of kapas (raw cotton) 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 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.

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

     Spray ferrous sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, when young leaves turn yellow.

     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 100%