SOUTHERN ZONE Districts: Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Sivagangai, Madurai and Dindigul Geographical distribution of area This zone can be broadly divided into three geographical regions.

• Coastal plain stretching from Pudukottai to Kanyakumari with elevation below 10m above MSL: It comprises the coastal districts of Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Thootthukudi and Tirunelveli. This region is covered with saline coastal alluvium and river alluvium as well as sand dunes (Teri lands).
• An undulating plateau, 100-200 m above MSL: This plateau comprises of Sivagangai and Virudhunagar districts excluding the coastal plain and mid portions of Virudhunagar and Thootthukudi districts. The soils comprise of red sandy, river alluvium, red and black soils.
• The Central undulating plateau, 200-1000 m in elevation: It forms the western part of the southern zone, part of Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi districts. This region is covered with red sandy soils, red loam soils, black soils and lateritic soils

Sugarcane

Horticultural crops

Cropping pattern suggested for different weather situations

1. Madurai district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -869.4
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -33.4
• Summer (March-May) -157.6
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -305.4
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -373.0

a. Command areas (Periyar Vaigai project): alluvial soils

Existing

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)
• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-April)
• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Dec.) - (2 years rotation)
• Banana - ratoon banana (June-March) - (2 years rotation)

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)
• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-April)
• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Dec.) - (2 years rotation)
• Banana - ratoon banana (June-March) - (2 years rotation)

Normal year

Moderate drought year

• Pulses / millets (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow
• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) – fallow
• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) – pulses (Feb-May)

• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) – fallow
• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) – pulses (Feb-May)

• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) – fallow
• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) – pulses Feb-May)

Severe drought year

• Maize / millets (Jun-Sep)-pulses/senna* (Oct.-Jan.)

b. Tankfed areas: red, black and laterite soils Existing

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)
• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-April)
• Rice (Sep.-Dec.) - senna* (Jan.-March)

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)
• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-April)
• Rice (Sep.-Dec.) - senna* (Jan.-March)

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)
• Rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)
• Rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)
• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-May)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)
• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - groundnut (Feb.-May)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)
• Chillies (Jul-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
• Chillies (Sep-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
• Cotton (Feb-May) – Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – maize (Oct-Jan)
• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep)–jatropha* (Oct.sowing)

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)
• Rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)
• Rice/maize (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)
• Rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)
• Rice (June-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)

• Millets / maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Oct.) - pulses (Nov.-Feb.)

• Millets / gingelly/ fodder crops / pulses / senna* / minor millets / water melon (Sep.-Feb.)

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

• Vegetables / groundnut (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Jun)
• Rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)
• Pearl millet (June-Aug.) - vegetables (Oct.-April)

• Vegetables /groundnut (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Jun)
• Rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)
• Chillies (Jul-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
• Chillies (Sep-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
• Cotton (Feb-May) – Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – maize (Oct-Jan)
• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing)

• Maize / millets / sunflower / senna* (Oct.-Jan.) -pulses (Feb.-April)
• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

• Millets / fodder/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / pulses (Oct.-Feb.)
• Jatropha* (September sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

(Oct.-Feb.)

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

• Cotton + pulses (Sep.-Feb.)
• Sorghum / gingelly /groundnut/sunflower(Sep.-Jan.)

• Cotton + pulses (Sep.-Feb)
• Sorghum / gingelly / pulses (Sep.-Jan.) - senna* (Jan.-April)
• Maize / pulses / coriander / sunflower (Jan.-April)

• Pearl millet + clusterbean / coriander / sunflower (Sept-Jan.)

• Millets + pulses (Sep.-Jan.)

2. Ramanathapuram district a. Command areas (system tank areas) : heavy clay soils Existing

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Jan.-Feb.)

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Jan.-Feb.)

• Rice / ragi / chillies / maize (Sep.-Jan.)
• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) – pulses (Feb-May)

• Ragi / kuthiraivali /gingelly(Sep.-Jan.)

b. Tankfed areas: heavy clay soils Existing

• Maize/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi /rice/ ragi/ pulses/chillies (Sep.-Feb.)

• Minor millets / gingelly / horsegram / fodder / water melon (Sep.- Feb.)

• Maize/chillies /senna* / sunflower (Oct.-Feb.) -pulses (March-July)
• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

• Jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

• Jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

• Jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

• Minor millets/sesame/horsegram/millets (Sep.-Feb.)
• Jatropha* (Sept.sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

• Upland rice/millets / pulses/groundnut/cotton / chillies (Sep.-Feb.)

• Upland rice/millets / pulses / groundnut / cotton / chillies (Sep.- Feb.)

• Rice/ragi/cowpea/sesame/minor millets/sunflower / coriander (Sep.-Jan.)

• Minor millets / coriander (Sep.-Jan.)

3. Virudhunagar district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -827.2
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -37.3
• Summer (March-May) -176.9
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -181.8
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -431.2

a. Tankfed areas: heavy clay soils Existing

• Maize/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Oct.) -pulses (Nov.-Feb.)

• Sorghum / minor millets / gingelly/ fodder / water melons / gourds/ senna* (Sep.-Feb.)

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

• Chillies / groundnut (Jul-Jan.)-cotton (Feb.-June)
• Pearl millet (June-Aug.) - chillies (Oct.-April) • Rice (Oct.-Feb.) – pulses (March-July)

• Chillies / groundnut (July-Jan.)-cotton (Feb.-June)
• Chillies (Jul-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
• Chillies (Sep-Feb) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
• Cotton (Feb-May) – sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – maize (Oct-Jan)
• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing)
• Pearl millet (June-Aug.) - chillies (Oct.-April)

• Maize / chillies / sunflower / senna* / Periwinkle* (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July)

• Pearl millet / sorghum / fodder / minor millets / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.)

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

• Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.)
• Sorghum/groundnut /sesame/sunflower (Sep.-Jan.)

• Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.)
• Sorghum / maize/groundnut /sunflower / gingelly(Sep.-Jan.)

• Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.)
• Maize / millets / groundnut / sunflower (Sep.-Feb.)

• Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.)
• Sorghum / groundnut / gingelly/ sunflower(Sep.-Jan.)

• Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.)
• Maize / pearl millet / sorghum / groundnut / gingelly/ sunflower (Sep.-Jan.)

• Pearl millet + cluster bean / minor millets / chillies / coriander / gingelly/ sunflower (Sep.-Jan.)

• Minor millets / pearl millet / cowpea (Sep.-Jan.)

4. Sivagangai district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -875.5
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -34.2
• Summer (March-May) -136.2
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -289.6
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -415.5

a. Command areas: heavy clay soils Existing

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton / pulses / millets / vegetables / gingelly (Feb.-Aug.)

• Rice (Sep.-Oct.)-groundnut/vegetables (Oct.-Feb.)

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton / pulses/ millets / vegetables / gingelly(Feb.- Aug.)

• Rice/groundnut / vegetables / maize (Jun-Sep.) - chillies (Oct.-Feb.)

• Millets / maize (Oct.-Jan.) - ragi / maize / gingelly (Jan.-April)
• Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (June-Oct.) -pulses (Nov.-Feb.)
• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – rice (Oct-Jan) – pulses (Feb-May)

• Sorghum / maize / pulses / gingelly/ fodder / water melon / gourds / senna* (Sep.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas: laterite and sandy soils Existing

• Groundnut (Jun-Sep.)- vegetables/pulses (Oct-Jan)
• Green manure (Jun-Sep)- rice/groundnut (Oct-Feb)
• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Dec.) (2 years rotation)
• Banana (July-June) - ratoon banana (June-March) (2 years rotation)
• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July)

• Groundnut / pulses / vegetables (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Feb.)
• Groundnut (Jun-Sep.) -vegetables /pulses (Oct-Jan)
• Sugarcane - ratoon sugarcane (Nov.-Dec.) - 2 years rotation
• Banana (July-June) - ratoon banana (June-March) -(2 years rotation)
• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July)
• Groundnut (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June)
• Chillies (Jul-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
• Chillies (Sept-Feb) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
• Cotton (Feb-May) – sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – maize (Oct-Jan)
• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing)

• Maize / groundnut / sunflower (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (March-July)

• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sorghum / pearl millet / fodder / minor millets (Oct.-Feb.)

c. Rainfed areas: black and laterite soils Existing

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

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

• Groundnut + pulses (Sep.-Jan.)
• Pearl millet / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sunflower /sesame (Sep.-Jan.) Severe drought year

• Varagu / Sorghum + redgram / pearl millet / cowpea (Sep.-Jan.)

5. Tirunelveli district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -762.2
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -68.7
• Summer (March-May) -171.1
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -92.6
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -429.8

a. Command areas (Thamarabarani project area): alluvial soils Existing

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly(Feb.-April)
• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-May)
• Banana - ratoon banana (June-March) - (2 years rotation)

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly(Feb.-April)
• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-May)
• Banana (July-June) - ratoon banana (June-March) -(2 years rotation)

• Cowpea / green manure (June-Jan.)

• Cowpea / green manure (June-Jan.)

b. Tankfed area (without wells): heavy clay soils Existing

• Rice (Sep.-Dec.) - pulses (Jan.-April)

• Rice (Sep.-Dec.) - pulses (Jan.-April)

• Maize / vegetables (Sep.-Dec.) – pulses (Jan.-Apr)

c. Well irrigated areas: red and laterite soils Existing

• Chillies / groundnut / rice (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb-June)
• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July)

• Chillies / groundnut / rice (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb-­June)
• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March - July)
• Chillies (Jul-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
• Chillies (Sept-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
• Cotton (Feb-May) – Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – maize (Oct-Jan)
• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing)

• Maize / chillies / sunflower / senna* (Oct.-Feb.) -pulses (March – July)

• Millets / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / minor millets / fodder

d. Rainfed areas: red and black soils Existing

• Cotton + blackgram / chillies (Sep.-Feb.) sorghum / groundnut / gingelly/ pearl millet / sunflower (Sep.-Jan.)

• Coriander / pulses / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / minor millets (Sep.-Jan.)

• Cowpea / water melon / senna* (Sep.-Jan.)

6. Thoothukudi district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -653.1
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -42.6
• Summer (March-May) -113.6
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -86.8
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -410.1

a. Command areas (Thamarabarani project): Alluvial soils Existing

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / green manure (Feb.-April)

Banana (July-June) - ratoon banana (June-March) -2 years rotation Normal year

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-April)
• Banana (July-June) - ratoon banana (June-March) (2 years rotation)

• Maize / sunflower (June-Sep.) -senna* (Oct.-Jan.)

b. Tankfed areas: Heavy soils Existing

• Chillies (Sep.-Feb.) Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / pulses (Sep.-Feb.)

• Pearl millet / gingelly/ fodder / senna* / minor millets / water melon / gourds (Sep.-Feb.)

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

• Chillies / groundnut (Jul-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June)
• Pearl millet (June – Aug.) - chillies (Oct.-April)
• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March-July)

• Chillies / groundnut (July-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June)
• Rice (Oct.-Feb.) - pulses (March - July)
• Chillies (Jul-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
• Chillies (Sept-Feb) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May)
• Cotton (Feb-May) – sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sept) – maize (Oct-Jan)
• Sweet sorghum* (Jun-Sep) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing)
• Pearl millet (June – Aug.) - chillies (Oct.-April)

• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / maize / chillies / (Oct.-Feb.) – pulses (March - July)

• Maize (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) (Under drip irrigation)

• Pearl millet / sorghum / fodder / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.)

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

• Sunflower / pearl millet / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Sep.-Jan.)

• Minor millets / pearl millet / cowpea / coriander (Sep.-Jan.)
• Perennial crops -20% of total cultivable area
• Annual moringa, curry leaf, sapota, amla, guava, custard apple, mango, Tamarind and flower crops

• Under well irrigated areas onion and flower crops may be included based on demand

• Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement
• Dairy, sheep
• In tankfed it is suggested to include celosia and marigold during June if market prevail
• Biofuel crops are recommended only with industrial tie-up Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement