NORTH EASTERN ZONE

Districts: Thiruvallur, Villuppuram, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Thiruvannamalai, Vellore

Geographical distribution of area

• The zone can be broadly divided into six geographical tracts.
• The coastal plain comprising the Northern plain (Thiruvallur, Vellore, Kancheepuram, Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram, part of Cuddalore, Perambalur and Ariyalur).

• A considerable portion is hilly and mountainous undulating with hillocks.

• The Eastern ghats comprising a line of hills, the Javadis, Shevaroys, Kalrayans, Pachamalais and Kollimalais between the Palar and Cauvery rivers and beyond, and linked with the tail of Cuddapah in the Nilgiri hills.
• The central plateau undulating between the eastern and western ghats, with the Palghat gap between the Nilgiris and the Annamalai hills on the west
• Western ghats comprise the highest mountains of the peninsula. The Nilgiris located on the Northern side of the Palghat gap form a compact area of about 2950 km.
• There are some back water lag on adjoining the coast around Cuddalore, Marakkanam and Pichavaram.

Principal crops

The principal crops of this zone are rice (7.4 lakh ha), millets (2.52 lakh ha), pulses (2.743 lakh ha), sugarcane (2.646 lakh ha) and cashew (7038 lakh ha).

Cropping pattern suggested for different weather conditions
1. Kancheepuram district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -1253.8
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -27.2
• Summer (March-May) -66.7
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -462.7
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -697.2

a. Tankfed areas: tank alluvium -heavy clay and laterite soils
Existing

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - rice (Jan.-April)

Normal year

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - rice (Jan.-April)
• Rice (Aug.-Jan) - maize (Jan.-April)

Moderate drought year

• Maize/sesame/pearl millet/vegetables (lablab, clusterbean, brinjal)   (Aug.-Nov.) - pulses (Dec.-Mar)

Severe drought year

• Wheat / fodder maize/fodder cowpea/vegetables (lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi) (Nov.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas: laterite, red and black soils
Existing

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 year rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - rice (Jan.-April.) - groundnut (April-June)
• Rice (Aug.-Nov.)-rice (Dec.-March) - rice(Mar-July)
• Banana (July-Aug.) - ratoon banana (Sep.-Aug.) Vegetables (Sep.- Feb.) - Maize (Feb.-May) - 3 year rotation

Normal year

• Rice/vegetables/marigold(June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

• Maize (June-Sep.) - cabbage / knolkhol (Oct.-Feb.) -pulses (Feb.-May)
• Maize (June-Sep) - rice (Oct-Feb)– pulses (Feb-May)
• Rice/vegetables/marigold(June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) - gingelly
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation

• Sambangi (Tuberose) (June-May) - 2 year rotation
• Sunflower (May-Aug.) – marigold (Sep.-Dec.)
• Maize (June-Sep.) – marigold (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)
• Chrysanthemum (May-March) - ratoon chrysanthemum - 2 years  rotation

• Sweet sorghum** (Jun-Sep) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) – Gingelly (Feb- May)

• Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May)
• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum**  (Feb-May)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

Moderate drought year

• Vegetables / sunflower / maize (May-Aug.) – gingelly (Oct.-Jan.) – green manure (Feb.-March)

• Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut / gingelly (Jan.-April)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-Apr)

Severe drought year

• Pearl millet/sorghum/Periwinkle*/senna* (July-Oct.) ­wheat (Nov- Feb)-clusterbean / watermelon (Feb-May)

• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas: lateritic, red and black soils
Existing

• Pearl millet (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)
• Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses (Dec.-Mar.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - ragi (Nov.-Feb.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - gingelly(Dec.-Mar.)

 
Normal year

• Maize (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)
• Rice (July-Nov.)
• Groundnut / maize (July-Nov.)
• Aswagantha* (June-Jan.) - pulses (Jan.-April)
• Groundnut (July-Oct.) - coriander (Nov.-Jan.)
• Gingelly(June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Dec.-Mar.)

Moderate drought year

• Maize + pulses (July-Dec.) -pulses (Jan.-April)

Severe drought year

• Horsegram / pearl millet / pulses / ragi / minor millet (Oct.-Jan.)

 
2. Thiruvallur district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -1147.3
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -30.5
• Summer (March-May) -63.2
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -449.5
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -604.1

a. Tankfed areas: tank alluvium (heavy clay and red soils)
Existing

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) -pulses / groundnut (Jan.-April)

Normal year

• Rice/vegetables/watermelon (Aug.-Jan.)- groundnut/ gingelly /pulses (Feb.-May)

Moderate drought year

• Ragi/maize/pearl millet and clusterbean (Aug.-Jan.) -pulses / sesame/ vegetables /watermelon (Feb.-April)
• Pulses (June-Sep.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)
• Tapioca (Aug.-May)

Severe drought year

• Wheat/fodder (Nov.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas: red and laterite soils
Existing

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation

• Rice (April-Aug.) - groundnut (Sep.-Dec.) -vegetables/gingelly (Jan.-  March)

• Banana (July-May) - ratoon banana (June-March) -vegetable (April – July) - maize (July-Oct.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - 3 years rotation
• Normal year

• Rice (April-Aug.) - groundnut (Sep.-Dec.) -vegetables / gingelly (Jan.- March)

• Vegetables (June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May)
• Maize (June-Sep.) - cabbage / knolkhol (Oct.-Feb.) - Pulses (Feb.-May)
• Maize (Jun-Sep)-marigold (Oct-Feb)-pulses (Feb-May)
• Chrysanthemum (May-March) - ratoon chrysanthemum - 2 years rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.)-groundnut (Feb.-Apr)-gingelly (April -June)
• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) – Gingelly (Feb- May)

• Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May)
• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep. /Oct.) - 3 years rotation

• Banana (July-May) - ratoon banana (June-March) - vegetable (April –  July) - maize (July-Oct.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - 3 years rotation
  Moderate drought year

• Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower/ groundnut / pulses /sesame/pearl millet/water melon (Aug.-Jan.)

• Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower (Aug.-Dec.) – groundnut/gingelly (Jan.-April)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-Apr)

Severe drought year

• Pearl millet/sorghum / Periwinkle*/ senna*/vegetables (lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi) (July-Oct.) - wheat / vegetables (lab lab /cluster bean/ bhendi / water melon) (Nov.-Feb.)
• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas:  laterite and red soils
Existing

• Dry rice (June-Aug.) - pulses / vegetables / gingelly (Sept.-Jan.)
• Pulses (June-Sep.) – groundnut / gingelly (Sep.-Feb.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year

• Dry rice (June-Aug.)- maize/vegetable/ groundnut / pulses (Sept.-  Jan.)

• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses/gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)
• Pulses (June-Sep.) - groundnut / gingelly (Sep.-Feb.)
• Maize (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)
• Aswagandha* (June-Jan.) pulses/lablab (Feb.-May)
• Dry rice (June-Aug.)-maize/vegetable/ groundnut / pulses (Sept.-  Jan.)
  Moderate drought year

• Maize/sunflower/groundnut/pulses (Oct.-Jan.)
• Tapioca + groundnut (June-Feb.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.

Severe drought year

• Pearl millet / ragi / horsegram / sunflower / minor millets/pulses / aloe* (Oct.-Jan.)

3. Villupuram district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -1030.0
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -35.1
• Summer (March-May) -77.1
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -433.0
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -484.8

a. Command areas (Sathanur) - Heavy clay and sandy soils
Existing

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) -pulses/gingelly (Jan.-April)

Normal year

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) -pulses / gingelly (Jan.-April)
• Rice (Aug.-Jan) – pulses/sesame/maize (Jan.-April)

Moderate drought year

• Maize/pearl millet (Aug.-Dec.)-pulses (Jan.-March)

Severe drought year

• Pearl millet / sorghum / fodder (Oct.-Jan.)
• Vegetables (lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi) (Oct.-an.) for heavy soils

b. Tank fed areas: tank alluvium (heavy clay and laterite soils)
Existing

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) -pulses (Jan.-April)

Normal year

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) – pulses (Jan.-Apr.)

Moderate drought year

• Pearl millet (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April) Pulses (June-Sep.) – wheat (Nov.-Feb.)
  Severe drought year

• Wheat / fodder (Nov.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas: laterite, red and black soils
Existing

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (April - June)

Normal year

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) – ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.)-rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June - Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (April - June)
• Maize (June-Sep) – marigold (Oct.-Feb.)- pulses (Feb.-May)
• Vegetables (June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May)
• Vegetables (Jun.-Oct) – sugarbeet* (Nov.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) – ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.)-rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June - Sep./Oct.) - 3 years rotation

• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) – Gingelly (Feb-  May)

• Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May)
• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

Moderate drought year

• Vegetables (lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi) (May-July) – maize/sunflower (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut / gingelly (Jan.-April)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Jun-Sept)

Severe drought year   

• Pearl millet / sorghum / Periwinkle*/ senna* (July-Oct.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) – lab lab / cluster bean / bhendi / watermelon (Feb-May)

• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)
• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation)

d. Rainfed areas: laterite, red and black soils
Existing

• Pearl millet (June - Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)
• Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year

• Maize /pearl millet (June-Sep.)-groundnut (Oct-Feb)
• Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)
• Ashwaganda* (June-Jan)-pulses (lablab) (Feb-May)

Moderate drought year

• Maize (heavy soils)/sunflower + pulses / gingelly (Oct.-  Jan.)
  Severe drought year

• Pearl millet / horsegram / sunflower / minor millets / pulses (Oct.-  Jan.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-Apr)
  

4. Thiruvannamalai district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -1039.8
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -31.3
• Summer (March-May) -102.9
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -465.8
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -439.8

a. Command areas (Sathanur) - heavy clay and sandy soils
Existing

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly(Jan.-April)

Normal year

• Rice/maize (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/gingelly (Jan.-Apr.)

Moderate drought year

• Groundnut / maize (Aug.-Dec.) - pulses (Jan. - Apr)

Severe drought year

• Pearl millet / sorghum / fodder (Oct.-Jan.)
• Cluster bean/vegetable beans (Oct-Jan.) in heavy soils

b. Well irrigated areas: red and laterite soils
Existing

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (Apr.-June)

Normal year

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (Apr. - June)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) ­rice (Dec.-May) – groundnut (June-Sep.) – 3 years rotation

• Vegetables (June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - cotton / pulses (Feb.-May)
• Maize (June-Sep.) – marigold (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)
• Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May)
• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum*

      (Feb-May)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

Moderate drought year

• Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower (Aug.-Dec.) - pearl millet /

      groundnut / gingelly/ palmarosa (Jan.-April)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-Apr)

Severe drought year

• Pearl millet / sorghum / Periwinkle*/ senna* (July-Oct.) - wheat

      (Nov.-Feb.) - cluster bean / lab lab / bhendi /water melon (Feb.-May)

• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas: red, laterite and heavy clay soils
Existing

• Pearl millet (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year

• Groundnut / maize (June-Sep.); Groundnut / pulses / fingermillet

      (Oct.-Feb.)

• Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)
• Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)

Moderate drought year

• Maize (heavy soils) / sunflower + ragi/pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

Severe drought year

• Pearl millet / horsegram / minor millets / pulses (Oct-Jan.)
• Aloe* (Oct. -Jan)

5. Vellore district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -915.4
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -18.2
• Summer (March-May) -102.2
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -442.0
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -353.0

a. Tankfed areas: tank alluvium (heavy clay and red soils)
Existing

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Jan.-April)

Normal year

• Rice/vegetables (Aug.-Jan.) - gingelly/ pulses (Feb-­May)

Moderate drought year

• Pearl millet / sorghum (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / ragi / maize (Feb.-May)
• Pulses (June-Sep.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)

Severe drought year

• Wheat / fodder (Nov.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas:  red and laterite soils
Existing

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.)­rice (Dec.-May) – groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) -3 years rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – sesame/ pulses/maize / greens (April-June)

• Banana (July-Aug.) - ratoon banana (Sep.-Aug.) -vegetable (Sep.-Feb.) - maize (Feb.-May) 3 years rotation
  

Normal year

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.)­ - rice (Dec.-May)   - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) -3 years rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) - sesame/ pulses/maize (April - June)

• Vegetables (June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May)
• Maize (June-Sep.) - cabbage / knolkhol (Oct.-Feb.) -pulses (Feb.-May)
• Maize (June-Sep.) – marigold/ ragi (Oct.-Feb.) -pulses (Feb.-May)
• Chrysanthemum (May-March) - ratoon chrysanthemum (2 years rotation)

• Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May)
• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum*

      (Feb-May)

• Banana (July-Aug.) - ratoon banana (Sep.-Aug.) -vegetable (Sep.-Feb.) - maize (Feb.-May) 3 years rotation

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

Moderate drought year

• Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower / ragi (Aug-Dec.) –  groundnut/gingelly (Jan.-Apr.) Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha*
                  (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-Apr)

Severe drought year

• Pearl millet/sorghum/Periwinkle*/ senna* (July-Oct.) ­wheat (Nov.- Feb.) - cluster bean / bhendi / lab lab / watermelon (Feb.-May)

• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas: red and laterite soils
Existing

• Pearl millet / sorghum (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)
• Gingelly (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)
• Maize (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year

• Pearl millet/sorghum(June-Sep.)-groundnut (Oct-Feb.)
• Aswagantha* (June-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) – gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)

Moderate drought year

• Maize (heavy soils) / sunflower/ gingelly (Oct.-Jan.)

Severe drought year

• Pearl millet / horsegram / sunflower / minor millets / pulses (Oct.- Jan.)
  

6. Cuddalore district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -1248.1
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -65.6
• Summer (March-May) -92.4
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -373.6
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -716.5

a. Command areas (Chidambaram and Kattumannarkoil areas): heavy clay soils
Existing

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)
• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/sesame/cotton (Jan.-Apr)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) -3 years rotation
  

Normal year

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses/gingelly (Feb.-May)
• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses/sesame/cotton (Jan.-April)
• Maize /vegetables/pulses/sesame/green manure (June-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./Oct.) -3 years rotation
  

Moderate drought year

• Maize/vegetables/sesame/green manure (Jun.-Sep.) - rice (Aug.-Feb.) - gingelly (Feb.-May)
  Severe drought year

• Millets/green manure/gingelly (June-Sep.) - maize/ fodder (Oct.-Feb.) – gingelly (Feb.-May)
  b. Tankfed areas: tank alluvium (heavy clay soils)
  

Existing

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) -pulses (Jan.-Apr.)

Normal year

• Rice/vegetables (Aug.-Jan.) - gingelly/ pulses (Feb-May)

Moderate drought year

• Pearl millet + cluster bean (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)
• Pulses (June-Sep.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)

Severe drought year

• Wheat / fodder / pulses (Nov.-Feb.)

c. Well irrigated areas: laterite, red and black soils
Existing

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./ Oct.) 3 years rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-Apr.) – gingelly (Apr.-June)

Normal year

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-April) – gingelly (April - June)
• Maize (June-Sep.) – marigold (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (Feb.-May)
• Vegetables (June-Oct.) - maize (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-May)
• Vegetables (Jun.-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-May)
• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Jan.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-May) - groundnut (June-Sep./ Oct.) 3 years rotation

Moderate drought year

• Vegetables (May-July) - maize/sunflower (Aug.-Dec.) groundnut gingelly (Jan.-April)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb) – pulses (Feb-Apr)

Severe drought year

• Pearl millet / sorghum / Periwinkle*/ senna* (July-Oct.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.) - cluster bean / bhendi / lab lab/ watermelon (Feb.-May)

• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

d. Rainfed areas: laterite and black soils
Existing

• Pearl millet (June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)
• Gingelly(June-Sep.) - groundnut (Oct.-Feb.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - gingelly(Oct.-Feb.)

Normal year

• Maize/pearl millet (Jun.-Sep)-groundnut (Oct-Feb)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - pulses / gingelly (Oct.-Jan.)
• Ashwagandha (June – Jan.) (June-Jan.) - pulses/gingelly (Feb.-May)

Moderate drought year

• Maize (heavy soil) / sunflower / sesame/ varagu (Oct.-Jan.)

Severe drought year

• Pearl millet / horsegram /sunflower / minor millets / pulses (Oct.- Jan.)

• Perennial crop - 12% of cultivable area Mango, sapota, jack, casuarina, cashew, Jatropha*, gliricidia, simarouba

• Dairy, sheep and poultry
• Sericulture
• Biofuel crops are recommended only with industrial tie-up
• Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement