This document discusses the different agricultural seasons and cropping patterns found in India. It outlines the three main seasons - Kharif (July-October), Rabi (September-April), and Zaid (year-round using irrigation). The Kharif season includes crops like rice, pearl millet, and cotton that are sown with the southwest monsoon rains. Rabi crops like wheat and mustard require cool weather during growth and warm weather during germination and harvesting. Zaid crops can be grown year-round with irrigation. The document also details specific cropping patterns in different states/regions of India as well as the leading producers of major crops.

1. AGRICULTURAL
SEASONS
&
CROPPING PATTERN
IN INDIA
K. VANANGAMUDI
Formerly Dean (Agri.), TNAU
Dean, Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College, Kalavai
Professor & Head, Seed Science & Technology
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
vanangamudi.tnau@gmail.com 9894904745

3. 1. Kharif season
(July – October)
• Sowing: South west monsoon
• Harvesting: End of south west monsoon.
• Crops – Sorghum, pearl millet, rice, maize,
cotton, groundnut, jute, hemp, sugarcane,
tobacco.

4. 2. Rabi season
• Crops requires
Cool climate during growth
Warm climate during germination and harvesting
• Sowing season: September - October
• Harvesting: February – April
• Crops – Wheat, barley, gram (Bengal gram/
Chick pea), linseed, mustard, peas, potatoes.

5. 3. Zaid season
• Season: All round the year through artificial irrigation
1. Zaid kharif crops
 Sowing: August - September
 Harvesting: December – January
 Crops – Rice, sorghum, cotton, oilseeds, rapeseed
2. Zaid rabi crops
Sowning: February - March
Harvesting: April - May
Crops – Water melon, cucumber, leafy and other
vegetables

6. Seasons in Tamil Nadu
• Paddy
 Navarai (December – January )
 Sornavari (April-May)
 Kar (May-June)
 Kuruvai (June-July)
 Early samba (July – August)
 Samba (August)
 Late samba / thaladi (September – October)
 Late thaladi (October – November)

7. • Maize
 Aadi pattam (July – August)
 Puratassipattam (September – October)
 Thaipattam (January – February)
• Pulses
 Aadipattam (June – August)
 Puratassipattam (September – November)
 Markazhipattam – Thaipattam (winter irrigated season)
 Rice fallows (January)
 Chithiraipattam (summer irrigated)

8. • Sugarcane
 Main season (December – May)
 Early season (December – January)
 Mid season (February – March)
 Late season (April – May)
 Special seasons – June, July
Trichy, Perambalur, Karur, Salem,
Namakkal and Coimbatore districts

9. • Cotton
 Winter irrigated (August – September)
 Summer irrigated (February – March)
 Rainfed irrigated ( September – October)
 Rice fallow cotton

10. Q & A
 Watermelon is a
a. Kharif crop b. Rabi crop
c. Zaid season crop d. Both b and c
 Kar is
a. December – January b. February – March
c. May – June d. July – August
 Sowing month of kharif crops
a. December – January b. February – March
c. May – June d. September – oct

12. Cropping pattern
• Defined as the proportion of area under
various crops at a point of time.
• Yearly sequence and spatial arrangement of
sowing and fallow on a given area.

13. Most important cropping patterns in India
Crop pattern Region/State
Rice-Wheat
UP, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar,
West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh.

14. Crop pattern Region/State
Rice-Rice
Irrigated and Humid coastal system
of Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh, Telengana, Karnataka and
Kerala.

15. Crop pattern Region/State
Rice- Groundnut
Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh,Telengana,
Karnataka, Odisha and
Maharashtra.

16. Crop pattern Region/State
Rice-Pulses
Chhattisgarh, Odisha and
Bihar.

17. Crop pattern Region/State
Maize-Wheat UP, Rajasthan, MP and Bihar

18. Crop pattern Region/State
Sugarcane-Wheat
UP, Punjab, Haryana - 68% of
area under sugarcane.
Karnataka and MP.

19. Crop pattern Region/State
Cotton-Wheat
Punjab, Haryana, West UP,
Andhra Pradesh, Telengana,
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu.

20. Crop pattern Region/State
Soya bean-Wheat Maharashtra, MP and Rajasthan

21. Crop pattern Region/State
Legume based
cropping systems
(Pulses-Oilseeds)
MP, Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and
Karnataka.

22. Regional distribution of crops in India
Cereals
Wheat Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana
Rice West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana,
Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu
Barley Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan
Bajra Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan

23. Cash
Crops
Sugarcane Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra
Oil Seeds
Coconut Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
Linseed Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh
Groundnut Andhra Pradesh, Telegana, Gujarat ,
Tamil Nadu
Rape &
Mustard
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh
Sesame Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan
Sunflower Maharashtra, Karnataka

24. Fibre crops
Cotton Maharashtra, Gujarat
Jute West Bengal, Bihar
Silk Karnataka, Kerala
Hemp Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh
Plantations
Coffee Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
Rubber Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
Tea Assam, Kerala
Tobacco Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh
Spices
Pepper Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
Cashew
nut
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh
Ginger Kerala, Uttar Pradesh
Turmeric Andhra Pradesh, Odisha

25. Q & A
 Suitable cropping pattern in Tamil Nadu
a. Rice - wheat b. Rice – rice - pulse
c. Rice - sugarcane - wheat d. Wheat – maize
 Which of the following state is a leading producer of groundnut?
a. Kerala b. Karnataka
c. Gujarat d. UP
 Leading producer of cotton in India is
a. UP b. Maharashtra
c. Tamil Nadu d. Kerala
 Which of the following country is a home of spices?
a. China b. USA
c. Europe d. India

26. FOR pdf and Online tests
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91 9894904745 (WhatsApp)
OR
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vanangamudi.tnau@gmail.com