This document provides information on various oilseeds grown in India including groundnut, mustard, soybean, sunflower, sesame, linseed, castor seed, and cotton seeds. It discusses the climate and soil requirements, production areas, and uses of each crop. The major producers of groundnut are Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, while mustard and rapeseed are mainly grown in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Soybean production is focused in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

1. A COUNTRY’S
ECONOMIC BACKBONE

2.  All the principle oilseeds are grown in India.
 For example-
1. soya bean 5. groundnut
2. cotton seeds 6. linseed
3. sunflower seeds 7. castor seed
4. mustard & rapeseed 8. sesamum

3.  As industrial raw materials in the manufacture of –
paints varnishes soaps
hydrogenated oils lubricants
 Vegetable oils produced from edible seeds like
groundnut, rapeseed & mustard, sesamum etc are
used as a cooking medium.

4.  The leading oilseed is also called peanut or monkey
nut.
 It contains about 42% of oil which is extracted from
the nuts found in the roots of the plant.
 USE:
1. to make hydrogenated oil, margarine, medicinal
emulsions and soaps.
2. Its oil as a cooking medium
3. Its oil cake is used as cattle feed.
4. The nuts are eaten raw, roasted, salted or
sweetened.

5.  Groundnut thrives well in the tropical and sub-
tropical climates and is highly susceptible to
frost.
 Temperature: 200C-250C
Dry weather is needed during the time of
ripening.
 Rainfall: 50-100cm well distributed rainfall
Prolonged drought, continuous rains,
stagnant water and frost hamper the crop.

6.  Sandy loams, loams, and well drained soils
which allow enough aeration.
 The red, yellow and black soils of Peninsular
India are well suited.
 Such light soils are essential as the nut ripens in
the soil.

7.  Sowing :
1. The sandy soil is ploughed.
2. The seeds are sown by broadcasting or drilling in
June or July.
3. When the plants mature, they flower. After
pollination the flower stalk turns downwards, buries
the fruit where it matures.

8.  Harvesting :
1. The whole crop takes 4 to 5 months to be ready for
harvest.
2. It is harvested in November-December.
3. The entire plant including the roots is removed
from the soil.
4. Groundnuts are dried and packed into sacks to be
sent to mills and commercial establishments.

9.  India is the second largest producer of
groundnuts in the world after China.
 Groundnut is tropical crop and is extensively
grown in Peninsular India.
 Gujarat is the leading producer.
 Seemandhra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu together
account for more than half of the groundnuts
produced in India.

10.  Use :
1. They produce important edible oils
2. They are used in North as a cooking medium
3. Their oil-cake is an important cattle feed
4. The leaves of mustard are eaten as a vegetable
5. It is also used as manure

11.  Temperature and rainfall:
 They thrive only in cool climate with a temperature
ranging from 10oC to 20oC
 The crop requires rainfall varying between 25-40cm
 Soil :
 These crops can be grown on loams
 Slightly heavier soils are preferred for mustard
 Lighter soils for rapeseed.

12.  These oilseeds are grown with wheat, gram,
barley etc.
 They are sown in rows with the above mentioned
crops under the same climate.
 Growing period: 4-5 weeks
 Harvesting: 1 to 2 weeks before the main crop
 Processing: seeds are separated by getting them
trampled under the bullock’s feet

13. DISTRIBUTION
 Production is contributed to:
1. UP
2. Rajasthan
3. Punjab
4. Haryana
5. Assam
6. Bihar
7. West Bengal
8. Odisha

14.  It has high protein content
 Use :
1. The beans are eaten as vegetable
2. Or made into soya sauce
3. It is used as substitute for animal protein
4. It is consumed as soya milk and tofu.

15.  Temperature:
1. 13oC to 24oC
2. Temperature below 13 is necessary for normal
growth of soya bean.
 Rainfall:
1. 40 to 60cm
2. Well distributed throughout the growing season
 Soil: friable loamy acidic soils

16.  The crop needs 3 to 4 irrigations during the
growing period
 Before sowing its seeds are covered with jaggery
and rhizobium
 Harvesting: done in the middle of October
 Distribution:
Soya bean is produced in
1. Madhya Pradesh(leading producer)
2. Maharashtra
3. Rajasthan

17.  Sunflower is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids
 Use:
1. Its oil is useful for human consumption
2. It is recommended for heart patients
3. The oil-cake is used as fodder.

18.  It is a very hardy crop and can grow in varying
regions
 Temperature:
 It is a photo-intensive crop
 It grows profusely under warm and sunny
weather
 At 26oC to 30oC
 Rainfall:
 Annual rainfall less than 50cm
 Soil: well drained soils for better yield

19.  For proper germination, it requires enough moisture
in the soil during the first 45 days
 It should not rain heavily when the crop is flowering
 Yield increases considerably if the crop is irrigated
just before flowering
 Distribution:
Sunflower is grown in
1. Bihar
2. Maharashtra
3. Karnataka

20.  India is the largest sesamum producing country in
the world
 Use:
1. Sesamum oil is used for edible purposes
2. It is also used to anoint the body
3. For the manufacture of perfumes and medicines
4. Its seeds are eaten in fried form with sugar or
jaggery
5. Its oil-cake is used as fodder for animals and as
manure.

21.  Temperature : 21oC
 Rainfall: moderate rainfall between 40 to 50cm
 It cannot withstand frost, severe drought or
excessive rainfall
 Soil:
 Well drained light loamy soils
 Black cotton soils

22. DISTRIBUTION
 It is grown in almost every state
 For example
 UP
 Rajasthan
 Maharashtra
 Gujarat etc.

23.  It is a quick drying oil and is non edible
 Use:
 For making waterproof fabrics, printing inks and
paint
 Its oil-cake is used s fertilizer

24.  Linseed is a temperate crop which requires low
temperature and humidity
 Temperature:15oC to 20oC
 Rainfall: 45cm to 75cm
 Soil:
1. Alluvial soils
2. Clayey soils
3. Loamy soils
4. Deep black soils

25.  Method of cultivation:
1. Linseed is grown during the rabi season
2. It is sown in October-November
3. Harvesting: March-April
 Distribution:
1. Madhya Pradesh and UP are leading producers
2. Maharashtra, Rajasthan and West Bengal are
other producers.

26.  It contains 50% oil
 Use;
 For medicinal purposes
 As a lubricant
 As a hair oil
 In the manufacture of soap and leather tanning
 Its oil-cakes are used as manure
 Its leaves are fed to silkworms

27.  The castor plant grows to a small tree
 It is generally raised as mixed crop
 Temperature: 20 o C to 25 o C
 Rainfall: 50 to 75cm
 Soil:
1. Red sandy loams in Peninsular India
2. Light alluvial soils in the Great Plains

28.  Sowing: June-July
 Harvesting: November-December
 Distribution:
 Gujarat, Seemandhra, Telangana and Rajasthan
are the leading producers.
 It is also grown in the coastal areas of Tamil
Nadu, Odisha and Karnataka

29. CROP TEMPERATUR
E
RAINFALL SOIL MAJOR
PRODUCERS
GROUNDNU
T
20o C – 25oC 50 – 100 cm Sandy loams, loams
& well drained soils
Gujarat &
Seemandhra
MUSTARD &
RAPESEED
10oC – 20oC 25 – 40 cm Heavier loams-
mustard
Lighter loams-
rapeseed
Uttar Pradesh
& Rajasthan
SOYABEAN 13oC – 24oC 40 – 60 cm Friable loamy acidic
soils
Madhya
Pradesh &
Rajasthan
SUNFLOWER 26oC – 30oC Less than 50
cm
Well drained loamy
soils
Bihar &
Maharashtra

30. CROP TEMPERATU
RE
RAINFALL SOIL MAJOR
PRODUCERS
SESAMUM 21oC 40 – 50 cm Well drained
light loamy
soils & black
cotton soils
Uttar Pradesh
& Rajasthan
COTTON
SEEDS
21oC – 30oC 50 – 75 cm Black soils Gujarat &
Seemandhra
LINSEED 15oC – 20oC 45 – 75 cm Alluvial,
clayey loamy
& deep black
soils
Madhya
Pradesh &
Uttar Pradesh
CASTOR
SEEDS
20oC – 25oC 50 – 75 cm Red sandy
loams-
Peninsular
India
Light alluvial
soils - Plains
Gujarat &
Seemandhra

31. RUBBER
 Rubber is obtained from the milky juice or latex
from various tropical plants , the most
commercially important plants being castila ,
manihglaziovii , ficus elastica and hevea
brasiliensis .
 Hevea brasiliensis also known as Para rubber ,
accounts for 90-95 % of the world population of
natural rubber .
 India is the fourth largest producer of natural
rubber .

32.  Rainfall :2000 - 3000 mm evenly distributed
 No marked dry season
 125 to 150 rainy days per annum
 Maximum temperature : 29oC to 34oC
 Minimum of about 20oC or more
 Monthly mean of 25 to 28oC
 Atmospheric humidity : 80%
 Sunshine : 2000 h per annum @ 6hrs /day
 Absence of strong winds

33.  Rich well drained alluvial soils or laterite soils
 Gently sloping lands for better growth.
 Elevation of 300-450 m provide ideal conditions
for growth.
 Steep lands must be terraced to reduce erosion

34.  In India, Hevea seeds normally ripen during July-
September when the seeds are collected and
seedlings raised.
 The yield potential of these having been low, the
production of those plantations was poor.
 Selection work on Hevea with a view to
improving planting and the introduction of
vegetative propagation by budding ,led to the
cultivation of numerous valuable clones.

35. Methods of
cultivation
Propagation
by seeds
Propagation
by bud
grafting

36.  PROCEDURE-
1. Good quality seeds are first allowed to sprout
in river –bed sands .
2. After germination , they are planted in nurseries
.
3. From they are shifted to permanent sites in
plantations when they are about 2.5 cm high.

37.  PROCEDURE-
1. Vegetative propagation by budding is carried
out by using buds of selected growing variety
(mother clones).
2. When the seedlings grow to about 5cm in
diameter, buds from mother clone are grafted
on to them.
3. Rubber trees require continuous tending and
manuring for good growth and yield.

38. Bud grafting

39.  TAPPING: Latex from the rubber tree is obtained
by a process known as tapping .
 PROCESSING OF RUBBER : Latex is a whitish pr
yellowish milk –like substance containing about
33 % dry rubber .

40. DISTRIBUTION
 INDIA IS THE FOURTH LARGEST PRODUCER OF
NATURAL RUBBER ACCOUNTING FOR 6.5 % OF THE
TOTAL WORLD POPULATION.
 KERALA: The state accounts for 91.78 % of the total
world production of rubber in the country . Kottayam
, kozhikode , Ernakulum , and kollam districts are the
main producers .
 Tamil nadu and Karnataka are the other leading
producers. A small production of rubber also comes
from Tripura , Assam , Andaman and Nicobar Islands
and Goa.

41. sugarcane
• Sugarcane is a tall tropical variety of the grass
family with a hard thick stem which grows to a
height of 3.5 m or more.
• This crop is the main source of sugar , gur ,
khandsari and holds a pre-eminent position as a
cash crop in India .
• It accounts for the largest value of production
amongst all the commercial crops.
• India has the worlds largest area under sugarcane .
• India stands next only to Brazil in the production
of sugarcane and accounts for nearly one –fifth of
the world cane production.

42.  Sugarcane matures in 10 to 18 months
depending on the climate .
 TEMPERATURE: 200 to 26 0 C
 Its growth starts at a mean temperature of
about 20 0 C and the growth increase in
temperature up to 24 0 C and finally stops
at 26 0 C .
 Frost is fatal for sugarcane crop.
 Short cool dry winter season during
ripening and harvesting is ideal.

43.  Sugarcane grows well in tropical regions
 RAINFALL: 100-150 cm of rainfall well
distributed throughout the year.
 Irrigation is necessary in areas of lower rainfall
or even in areas of higher rainfall during the long
dry spells.
 The sucrose content decreases if heavy rains
continue for long time and a rainfall deficiency
produces a fibrous crop.

44.  SUGARCANE IS GROWN IN WELL DRAINED
RICH ALLUVIAL SOIL, HEAVY LOAMS OR LAVA
SOIL.
 IT IS LARGELY GROWN ON-
 LOAMS AND CLAYEY LOAMS in GREAT PLAINS
 BLACK SOILS , BROWN OR REDDISH LOAMS &
LATERITES IN THE PENINSULAR INDIA.
 SUGARCANE EXHAUSTS THE FERTILITY OF THE
SOIL. HENCE, THE SOIL IS SUPPLEMENTED
WITH MANURES AND NITROGENOUS
FERTILIZERS.

45. SOWING:
 Sugarcane is a labour intensive crop.
 The crop is kept weed free and irrigated
frequently if there are no timely rains .
 Most of the crop is planted just before the hot
season , a little earlier in the southern and
eastern parts .

46. sowing
Sett
Method
Ratooning By seeds

47. Sett method
 New canes are usually planted by taking
cuttings from old plants.
 These cuttings, known as setts
 They quickly become established and after a few
days buds sprout to form new stalks .
 4 to 5 stalks grow from each cutting.
 The sugarcane takes anything from 8 months to
a year to mature.

48. BY SEEDS
 Sugarcane can be planted by seeds but this
method has become obsolete .
 It is practised only in some states where yield is
not high.
 Sugarcane is planted in furrows and covered
with soil.
 Enough space is left to facilitate weeding,
hoeing, irrigation and harvesting.

49. RATOONING
 During the first harvest the sugarcane is cut
leaving a little bit of the stalk in the soil with
roots.
 The stalk soon puts out new shoots or ratoons.
 The second or any other successive crop
obtained from the roots of the leftover crop is
called ratoon.
 Sugarcane is a perennial crop and , in theory ,
the same plants could continue to produce canes
for many years.

50.  Sugarcane is harvested before the cane begins
flower.
 In northern India , it is harvested before winters to
protect it from frost.
 The crop is cut by hand using a long curved knife .
 The stalks must be cut as near as possible to the
ground because the greatest accumulation of
sucrose is in the base of the stem .
 The cane harvest and crushing operations begin in
October –November and continue till April all over
the country.

51. PROCESSING:
 After harvesting , the canes are taken quickly to the
mill for they must be processed within 48 hours of
cutting to preserve the sugar content.
 In the mills the cane is crushed between rollers and
then boiled with lime .
 The sugarcane juice crystallises and forms raw
brown sugar .
 The process should not be confused with refining
which re-processes the raw sugar to make brown
and white sugar of various grades.

52. DISTRIBUTION
 THE MAIN REGIONS : Sugarcane is cultivated
throughout India between 80N to 320N latitude.
 There are three main areas of sugarcane
production in India :
 (a)Sutlej-Ganga plain from Punjab to Bihar .
(b)Black soil area from Maharashtra to Tamil
Nadu.
(c) Coastal Seemandhra, Telangana and the
Krishna valley .

53. NORTH INDIA :
 Geographically , North Indian States are the chief
suppliers of sugarcane , i.e. , the belt lying
between Bihar and Punjab has the large
sugarcane growing tract , especially the Sutlej -
Ganga plain.
 This is because of fertile alluvial soil .

54. SOUTH INDIA
 advantages for south:
 Higher yield per hectare and better quality of the crop
owing to the favourable maritime climate free from
the effects of summer loo and winter frost
 sufficient irrigation and new farming techniques.
 Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of sugarcane in
south India followed by Maharashtra , Tamil Nadu ,
Karnataka and Seemandhra, Telangana .
 The share of other states like Gujarat , Bihar
,Haryana , Punjab and the West Bengal is less than
10% of the total output of the crop .

55. cotton
 Cotton is the cash crop that supplies raw
material to the textile industry in India.
 India ranks second to USA in cotton producing
area
 She ranks fourth in the world production of
cotton.

56.  Temperature:
1. Cotton requires high temperature
between 21⁰C and 30⁰C.
2. The day temperature should be above
26 ⁰C which helps the ripening and
bursting of cotton balls under the
sunny skies.
3. Minimum temperature should not fall
below 20 ⁰C as it retards plant growth.

57.  Rainfall :
1. Rainfall should be moderate, ranging
between 50 to75 cm .
2. Rainfall more than 85cm destroys the crop.
3. Cotton crop needs sufficient rainfall in the
early growth stage.
4. Rainfall during flowering stage is harmful
to the crop.

58. Well drained clayey soil containing
lime and phosphorus
Deep and medium black soils of
Deccan and Malwa Plateau are
considered ideal.
Alluvial soils in Great Plains and
laterite soils in Peninsular India.

59.  Sowing –
1. Some tillage and manuring is required
before sowing the seeds.
2. The seeds are sown by broadcast
method or by drills .
3. The duration of the crop season is 6 to 8
months.
4. The seedlings must be thinned out when
necessary
5. The ground must be hoed and cleared of
weeds.

60.  Harvesting :
1. The crops are harvested in October when the
cotton balls ripen and burst into white, fluffy and
shiny white balls.
2. Picking is done in three or four rounds .

61.  Processing-
1. The cotton is picked either by machine or by hand
2. They are then ginned and are crushed to yield oil .
3. The cotton lint (fibre) is transported , washed and
then combed to form rope like mass of fibres
known as silver .
4. The silver is fed to the spindles and spun to make
cotton yards.

62. Types of
cotton
Superior
long staple
27mm length
33% of total
cotton
production
Long
staple
24.5–26mm
length
16% of total
cotton
production
Superior
medium
staple
24mm length
37% of total
cotton
production
Medium
staple
21.5mm
length
9% of total
cotton
production
Short
staple
19mm
16% of total
cotton
production

63. DISTRIBUTION
 The chief cotton growing areas in India are-
1. In the north-western Deccan on the fertile Black
cotton soils
2. The central and southern Deccan of Karnataka
and Tamil Nadu.
3. In the upper Ganga valley.
 State vice the areas are in the states of Gujarat ,
Seemandhra, Telangana ,Maharashtra and
Punjab ,UP.

64. jute
 The most important fibre of India is obtained from the
inner bark of two important species Corchorus
Capsularis (white jute) and Corchurus Olitorius(tossa
jute).
 The jute plant grows to a height of 2 to 4m. Its fibre is
soft and strong and can be drawn out into yarn of
good lengths.
 Mesta is the inferior substitute of jute and it can
withstand drought conditions.
 Bags for rough use are made from Mesta.
 Its cultivation takes place in parts of Assam, Bihar,
Odisha & Kerala.

65. Species of jute grown in India
Corchurus Olitorius(tossa
jute).
Corchorus Capsularis (white
jute)
 Accounts for 75% of the total
land area under jute
cultivation.
 Hardy and highly adaptable
 Grows well on both lowlands
and uplands
 Not grown much in India
 Does not easily adapt to
harsh climatic conditions.
 Can be grown only on
lowlands.

67.  For the manufacture of -
1. Rough quality cloth
2. Sacks
3. Other packing material
 In the making of utility products like-
1. Carpets
2. Rugs
3. Upholstery
4. Tarpaulins etc.

68. Temperature:
1. Hot and humid climate
2. 24⁰C – 35⁰C
3. Relative humidity of 90% .

69. Rainfall :
1. Heavy annual rainfall of 150cm
2. 2.5 to 7.5cm monthly rainfall.
3. Occasional showers at intervals of
about a week are most beneficial.
4. Incessant and prolonged rainfall are
harmful.
5. 90% of relative humidity .

70. Jute grows best on new alluvium
brought by river inundation
Loamy soils are most suitable as
water sinks quickly into it.
Clayey soil gives the heaviest yield
but the fibre is sticky
Sandy soil produce coarse fibre.

71.  Sowing –
1. The fields are thoroughly prepared
2. The crop is sown in February on lowlands and in
March-June on uplands
3. Sowing is done by broadcasting and drilling.

72.  Harvesting –
1. The crop is harvested from July to September
about 8-10 month after sowing .
2. When the crop is 2-4m high and are mature they
are cut, bundled and put in ponds for retting.
3. After 20 to 25 days the bark is peeled from the
plant by hand and the fibre is removed.
4. It is rinsed washed and the pressed into bales.

73.  Processing-
 It is harvested by hand ,by pulling up the stem.
 It is dried and stripped of unwanted leaves and
allowed to ret.
 Chemical additives help in the retting process.
 The fibre is then dried, loosely spun and woven to
make sacks, bags, upholstery etc.

74. DISTRIBUTION
 West Bengal- Murshidabad, Hooghly etc.
 Assam –along Brahmaputra and Surma Valley
 Bihar – Purnea , Darrang etc.
 Odisha – Cuttack, Puri etc.
 Uttar Pradesh- Kheri , Sitapur etc.

75. A quick recap
CROP TEMPERATURE RAINFALL SOIL LEADING
STATES
Sugar
cane
200C to 260C 100 – 150cm well drained
rich alluvial
soil, heavy
loams or lava
soil.
Karnataka,
Maharashtra
Tamil Nadu
UP
Cotton 21⁰C to 30⁰C. 50 to75 cm Well drained
clayey soil
Deep black
soil (regur )
Alluvial and
laterite soils
Gujarat,
Seemandhra,
Maharashtra
Punjab
UP
Jute 24⁰C to 35⁰C 150cm Light sandy or
clayey loams
West Bengal
Bihar
Assam

76. TEA
 TEA is an important beverage liked by both the
aristocrats and the common man.
 India is the largest producer and exporter.

77. Temperature:
Tea is a shade loving plant.
The ideal monthly maximum temperature is 24oC
to 30oC.
High humidity, heavy dew and morning fog are
good for rapid development.

78. Rainfall:
1. The plant cannot stand long dry spells.
2. It must have at least 150 cm rainfall through out
year.
3. Frost free climatic condition.

79. It requires well drained ,deep friable loams or
land rich in organic matter.
The soil must be deep and have moderately open
texture.
Nitrogenous fertilizers increase the yield per
hectare.

80. Methods of
cultivation
From
seeds
From
cuttings

81. High quality seeds are sown in well prepared in
nurseries.
The saplings are transplanted within a year in
tea gardens.

82. The cutting of high breed plant are used for
propagation (clonal planting).
When the saplings are 20 cm high they are
transplanted in tea garden.

83.  Plucking of leaves-
1. Bushes are pruned to maintain the height and
diameter of the plant to one meter.
2. Plucking is done by women, they pluck two
tender leaves and a bud or shoot.
 Processing –
1. Processing of each type of tea is different

84. BLACK TEA
GREENTEA
OOLONG TEA
BRICK TEA

85. Withering-the gathered leaves are first withered or
dried in the sun for a day or two.
Rolling-they are then rolled mechanically and are
dried again or baked in charcoal.
Fermentation-leaves are fermented to reduce
tannic acid.
Drying-roasting and frying of leaves is done until
they become black.
Blending-expert blenders and tea tasters blend
leaves with various flavors.

86. It is not dried in sun but in ovens.
It is not fermented.
Tea leaves are picked up heated by roasting and
later rolled.
The leaves remain green and are packed in same
way.
They are highly flavored due to their higher
tannic content.

87. OOLONG TEA & BRICK TEA
 Oolong tea-
1. It is greenish brown in colour.
2. It is prepared by partially drying and fermenting
the leaves
3. It is shipped to the US.
 Brick tea-
1. The inferior and coarser leaves, stems and tea
dust are compressed into rectangular blocks of
green tea.
2. Such tea is consumed in Russia and Tibet.

88. DISTRIBUTION
 ASSAM-The Brahmaputra valley ; Surma valley
 WEST BENGAL- The Duars; Darjeeling.
 TAMIL NADU- highest yield per hectare.
 KERELA

89. COFFEE
COFFEE ROBUSTA
COFFEE LIBERICA
COFFEE ARABICA

90. It requires warm climate from 15-28C.
It needs moderate supply of moisture and fairly a
long spell of dry weather for the beans to ripen.
Strong sunshine and snowfall both are harmful.
It cannot stand frost.
Rainfall:
 During period growth it needs 150cm to 200cm.
 A prolonged drought either can cause serious
damage or reduces the yield heavily

91. It is grown in lower elevation.
It is more hardy but yields poorer quality coffee.
It can survive even in arid conditions.
It is disease resistant.

92. It is grown in lower elevation.
It is disease resistant.
It gives heavy yields of moderate quality coffee.
It gain greater importance.

93. It is the finest coffee.
It is very delicate and susceptible to leaf and
other disease.
It is grown under 60% of the area under coffee.
Its varieties are Chicks , Coorgs , Kents ,
Margogipe , Bourbon Amarillo , Blue Mountain.

94. KARNATKA is the largest producer.
Karnataka , Kerala AND TAMIL NADU are referred
as non traditional areas.
SOIL:
It requires rich, well drained, friable, loamy soil.
Grows well in volcanic soil.