Geographical distribution of area The zone has undulating topography sloping towards west to east with small hillocks. The western and northern parts of the zone are bounded by the western ghats. The Nilgiris on the North-west and Anamalais on the South are the chief ranges. The eastern part of the zone is bordered by the Namakkal, Karur and Dindugul districts. The southern part of the zone lies in Madurai and Theni districts having contours of various altitudes. The northern part of the zone bordering Karnataka state which contains one block namely Thalavadi, has undulating plains and hills. The rest of the area is an undulating plain sloping gradually from west to east. The mountain pass in the western ghats lining the Coimbatore district brings the South-West monsoon from Kerala to the bordering taluks of the zone. Palani hills forming the northern spur of the western ghat comprise three valleys viz ., Parapalar-Devankarai valley, the Guntur valley and the Upper Amaravathi valley and contain several peaks like Perumal, hill, Vandarani hill. The lower plains consist of a heterogeneous jumble of peaks from 1000-1700 m height separated from one another by steep and beautiful wooded valleys. The hills in this part are Thandikudi and Virupakshi and on the east Sirumalai and Alagarmalai. The southern part of the zone has dense forest reserves.

Principal Crops Rice, maize, pulses, groundnut, tomato, onion and drumstick

Cropping pattern suggested for different weather situations

1. Namakkal district (Tiruchengodu taluk only)

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -779.8
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -17.5
• Summer (March-May) -154.3
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -317.0
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -291.0

a. Command areas (Mettur East Bank canal river pumping areas), red and black soils

Existing

• Rice (Aug-Nov)-groundnut/pulses/gingelly (Dec-March)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) – ratoon sugarcane (Feb-Jan.) 2 years rotation
• Turmeric (May-Feb.)
• Green manure (June-July) - rice (Aug.-Dec.) – gingelly (Dec.-Feb.)

Normal year

• Rice (Aug.-Nov.) - groundnut / pulses / gingelly (Dec.-March)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Jan.) 2 years rotation
• Turmeric (May-Feb.)
• Green manure (June-July) - rice (Aug.-Dec.) – gingelly (Dec.-Feb.)
• Rice (Aug.-Nov.) - groundnut (Dec.-March)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - maize (Feb.-May)

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

• Rice (Aug.-Nov.) - groundnut (Dec.-March)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.- March) – 3 years rotation

Moderate drought year

• Tapioca (Oct.-Sep.)
• Maize (June-Sep.) - vegetables / sunflower / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) – pulses (March-May)

• Groundnut (Nov.-Feb.)

Severe drought year

• Pearl millet / fodder sorghum / pulses / gingelly/ sorghum (Sep.- Dec.)

b. Well irrigated areas: red soils

• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / millets / vegetables (Feb.-May) – groundnut (June-Sep.) Tapioca (Dec.-Nov.)

• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / millets / vegetables (Feb.-May) – groundnut (June-Sep.)

• Tapioca (Dec.-Nov.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - green manure (Oct.-Nov.) gingelly/ pulses (Dec.-March)

• Tapioca (Dec.-Nov.)
• Maize (Aug.-Nov.) - vegetables / beans / pulses (Dec.-March)
• Annual moringa (June) - moringa ratoon -(2 years rotation)
• Pulses (June-Sep.)-fallow (Oct.)-wheat (Nov.-Feb)
• Groundnut (Nov.-Feb.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)
• Pulses (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation)

• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses (Feb.-April)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - green manure (Oct.-Nov.) - pulses / gingelly (Dec.-March)

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)
• Sugarcane (Nov.-Oct.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec-Jan.) 2 years rotation
• Turmeric (May-Jan.)
• Banana (July-June) - ratoon sugarcane (July-June) 2 years rotation
• Groundnut (April - Aug.) - maize (Sep.-Nov.) - ragi (Dec.-March)

• Rice (Sep.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-Aug.)
• Sugarcane (Nov.-Oct.) – ratoon sugarcane (Dec-Jan.) – 2 years rotation

• Annual moringa (June) - moringa ratoon (2 years rotation)
• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - pulses / coleus*/vegetables (Feb.-April)
• Turmeric (May-Jan.) - maize / hybrid tomato / green chillies / capsicum / coleus* (Jan.-April)

• Banana (July-June) – ratoon banana (July-June) – 2 years rotation
• Groundnut /sunflower (Apr.-Aug.) - maize (Sep.-Nov.) - ragi (Dec.- May)

• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) – green manure (Jun- July)

• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) – green manure (Jun- July)

• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) – green manure (Jun- July)

• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) – green manure (Jun- July)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* /sunflower (Sep.-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb.-May)

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

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)
• Maize (Aug.-Dec.) - vegetables (Jan.-April)

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

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing)
• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - millets / vegetables / groundnut (Feb.-June)
• Annual moringa (June Sowing) - ratoon moringa -(2 years rotation)
• Maize (Aug.-Nov.) - sorghum / pearl millet (Dec.-Feb.) - vegetables (March-July)

• Minor millets / sorghum / castor / fodder / gingelly (June - Dec.)

c. Rainfed areas: red and black soils

c. Rainfed areas: Red and black soils

c. Rainfed areas

• Tapioca (June-March)
• Groundnut + castor (May-Jan.) - horsegram (Oct.-Jan.) as an intercrop

• Millets (June-Sep.) - maize / pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

• Millet (June-Sep.) - maize / pulses (Oct.-Jan.)
• Millet (July-Oct.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)
• Tapioca (June-March)
• Groundnut + castor (May-Jan.) - horsegram (Oct.-Jan.) as an intercrop Moderate drought year

• Sorghum / maize + pulses (Aug.-Jan.) Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)
• Tapioca (June-Dec.)
• Groundnut + castor (May-Jan.)

• Sorghum / maize + pulses (Aug.-Jan.)
• Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)

• Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)
• Maize (Sep.-Dec.) - fallow

• Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)

• Sorghum / pulses/pearl millet/fodder/minor millets (Oct.-Jan.)

2. Erode district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -703.7
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -18.7
• Summer (March-May) -148.4
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -213.1
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -323.5

Command areas: Lower Bhavani Project (LBP), Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP), Amaravathy Reservoir Project (ARP): Red and black soils

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) – gingelly (Feb.-April)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov) (2 years rotation)
• Turmeric (May-Jan.) - rice (Feb.-April)
• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (May-Feb.) (2 years rotation)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - maize (Feb.-May)

• Turmeric (May-Jan.) - rice (Feb.-April)
• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Feb.) (2 years rotation)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - maize (Feb.-May)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - gingelly/groundnut (Feb.-April)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) (2 years rotation)

• Groundnut (Dec.-March) - fallow
• Tapioca (June-Dec.) - fallow
• Cotton (Sep.-Feb.) - fallow
• Tobacco (Sep.-Jan.) - fallow
• Maize (June-Sep.) - fallow
• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sunflower / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) – fallow
• Fodder sorghum (June-Sep.) - fallow
• Pearl millet (Sep.-Dec.) - fallow

• Pearl millet / fodder sorghum / pulses / vegetables (Aug.-Feb.) – fallow
• Gingelly (July-Oct.) - fallow for Bhavani division
• Horsegram (Sep.-Dec.) - fallow

b. Well irrigated areas: Red and heavy clay soils

• Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - millets / cotton (Jan.-April) / (Jan.-May)

• Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - millets / cotton (Jan.-April) / (Jan.-May)

• Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - millets /

• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) - coleus* / vegetables (Jan.-July)
• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - maize / hybrid tomato / capsicum / green chillies (Jan.-April)

• Banana (June-April) - ratoon banana (May-Feb.) (2 years rotation)
• Annual moringa (June) - (2 years rotation)

• Banana (June-April) - ratoon banana (May-Feb.) (2 years rotation)
• Annual moringa (June) - (2 years rotation)
• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) – green manure (Jun- July)

• Cotton (Aug.-Dec) - coleus* /vegetables (Jan.-July)
• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - maize / hybrid tomato / capsicum / green chillies (Jan.-April)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Mar- May)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Nov-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Mar- May)

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

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

• Pulses (Aug.-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)
• Marigold/ origonum
• Pulses (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (September sowing) (under drip irrigation)

• Pulses (Aug.-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)
• Annual moringa (June sowing)
• Sorghum (June-Sep.)- clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / pulses (Oct.- Jan.)

• Pulses (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (September sowing) (under drip irrigation)

• Fodder sorghum / fodder cumbu (Aug.-Dec.)
• Horsegram (Sep.-Dec.)

• Senna* (Sep.-Jan.)
• Minor millets (Sep.-Jan.)

• Maize / sorghum (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - fallow
• Pearl millet (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow
• Cotton (Sep.-Feb.) - fallow
• Castor / Redgram (July-Feb.) - fallow

• Maize / sorghum (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - fallow
• Pearl millet (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow
• Cotton (Sep.-Feb.) - fallow
• Castor / redgram (July-Feb.) - fallow

• Castor + groundnut (July-Feb.)
• Pearl millet / sorghum/ pulses/gingelly (July-Oct.)
• Maize (July-Oct.)
• Horsegram (Sep.-Dec.)

• Sorghum / phillipesara (Sep.-Jan.)
• Castor / redgram/ pulses (July-Feb.)
• Fodder / minor millets (Oct.-Jan.)
• Senna* / Periwinkle* (Oct.)

3. Coimbatore district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -691.6
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -18.3
• Summer (March-May) -153.4
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -192.9
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -327.0

a. Command areas: Lower Bhavani Project (LBP), Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP), Amaravathy Reservoir Project (ARP): Red and black soils

a. Command areas: Lower Bhavani Project (LBP), Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP), Amaravathy Reservoir Project (ARP): Red and black soils for Karur district except Kulithalai taluk

• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - rice (Dec.-March)
• Banana (June-May) - ratoon banana (June-May) – 2 years rotation
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - Maize (Feb.-May)

• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - rice (Dec.-March)
• Banana (June-May) - ratoon banana (June-May) – 2 years rotation
• Groundnut (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - maize (Feb.-May)

• Maize (June-Sep.) - pulses (Oct.-Dec.)
• Vegetables / sunflower / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)

• Sorghum / fodder sorghum / pulses (Aug.-Feb.)

b. Well irrigated areas: red and black soils

b. Well irrigated areas: Red and black soils

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec-Nov.) - rice (Dec.- March) – 3 years rotation

• Cotton (Aug.-Feb.) - sorghum (March-June)
• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - groundnut (Dec.-March)
• Pearl millet (March-June) - maize (July-Oct.) -pulses (Nov.-Jan.)
• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - ragi (Feb.-June) - pulses (June-Aug.)

• Cotton (Aug.-Feb.) - sorghum (March-June)
• Ragi (Feb.-June) - pulses (June-Aug.) - groundnut (Sep.-Dec.)
• Pulses (Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Sept. sowing) (under drip irrigation)

• Cotton (Aug.-Feb.) - sorghum (March - June)
• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - groundnut (Dec.-March)
• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - ragi (Feb.-June) - pulses (June-Aug.)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.- March) - 3 years rotation

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Sep. sowing)
• Groundnut (June-Sept.) – sunflower (Sept.-Dec.) – vegetable crops /maize (Dec.-March)

• Coleus* (Jan.-July) – maize (Aug.-Nov.) – green manure (Dec.-Jan.)

• Fodder sorghum / sorghum / pulses (Aug.-Feb.) - fallow

• Maize / millets (July-Sept.) - pulses (Sep.-Dec.)
• Cotton (July-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)
• Groundnut (July-Oct.) - fallow
• Maize (July-Oct.) – bengalgram / sunflower (Nov.- Feb.)

• Maize / millets (July-Sept.) - pulses (Sep.-Dec.)
• Cotton (July-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)
• Maize (July-Oct.) – bengalgram / coriander (Nov.- Feb.)

• Sorghum / pulses / bengalgram / horsegram / fodder / minor millets

(Oct.-Jan.) Note: Larger areas in Mettupalayam taluk is with banana under irrigation as a cropping pattern change. Heavy lodging due to wind is seen during March. Avoid June planting and encourage December – January planting.

4. Karur district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -746.8
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -24.7
• Summer (March-May) -107.0
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -249.7
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -365.4

• Rice (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut (Dec.-March)
• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - gingelly/ pulses / cotton / sorghum (Feb.-May)
• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - rice (Feb.-May)
• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - rice (Jan.-April)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) -rice (Dec.- March) – 3 years rotation

• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - rice (Jan.-April)
• Rice (Aug.-Dec.) - groundnut (Dec.-March)
• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) – gingelly / pulses / cotton / sorghum (Feb.-May)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) -rice (Dec.- March)

• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) – 2 years rotation
• Betelvine (June-18 months) - rice (Dec.-March) (2 years rotation)

• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) – 2 years rotation
• Betelvine (June-18 months) - rice (Dec.-March) (2 years rotation)

• Sorghum / maize (June-Sep.) - fallow clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi

/ sunflower / pulses / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.) - fallow

• Pearl millet / fodder sorghum / pulses / gingelly (Aug.-Feb.) – fallow

For Kulithalai taluk: red soils

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)
• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut / pulses / (Jan.-April) – gingelly (April- July)

• Rice (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pulses / gingelly (Feb.-May)
• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - groundnut/sesame/pulses (Jan.-April) – gingelly (April-July)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June)
• Green manure (June-Sep.) - rice (Oct.-Jan.)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.- March) – 3 years rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - cotton (Feb.-June)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - ratoon sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - rice (Dec.-March) - 3 years rotation
• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) -cotton (Feb.-June) - 3 years rotation
• Betelvine (June-18 months) - rice (Dec.-March) - (2 years rotation)

• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April - Jan.) - 2 years rotation
• Betelvine (June-18 months) - rice (Dec.-March) - (2 years rotation)

• Sorghum / pulses / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi ­gingelly (Oct.-Jan.)
• Coleus* (June-Dec.) - pulses (Jan.-March

• Millets / green manure/sunflower / gingelly/ clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / pulses (June-Sep.)

b. Well irrigated areas: Karur district except Kulithalai Taluk: Red soils

cotton (Jan.-April) - (2 years rotation)

• Rice (Aug.-Dec.) - Gingelly/ Groundnut / pulses (Jan.-April)

• Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) – millets/cotton (Jan.-April) - (2 and half years rotation) Cotton (Aug.- Dec.) - millet / vegetables (Jan.-April) - Groundnut (May-July)

• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - gingelly/ sorghum / maize (Jan.-April)
• Annual moringa (June-sowing) - ratoon moringa (2 years rotation)
• Rice (Aug-Dec)-sesame/groundnut/pulses (Jan-Apr)
• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) – Sweet sorghum* (Jan. – Apr.)
• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – sugarbeet* (Sept.-Feb.) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb.-May)

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept.) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing)
• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) - millets / vegetables (Jan.-April) - groundnut (May-July)

• Turmeric (May-Dec.) - sesame/sorghum/maize (Jan.-April)
• Annual moringa (June-March) - ratoon moringa (2 years rotation)

• Maize (Aug.-Dec.) - clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / pulses (Jan.- April)

• Sorghum / gingelly/ pearl millet / minor millets / fodder (Oct.-Feb.)
• Jatropha* (Sept. sowing)

c. Rainfed areas Karur district except Kulithalai taluk: Red and black soils

• Maize/millets (July-Aug.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)
• Groundnut + pulses (July-Oct.) - fallow
• Millets + pulses (Aug.-Nov.) - fallow
• Annual moringa - ratoon (2 years rotation)

• Maize / millets (July-Aug.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)
• Cotton (July-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)
• Groundnut + pulses / castor (Aug.-Dec.) - fallow
• Annual moringa - ratoon moringa (2 years rotation)

• Sorghum / maize + pulses (Aug.-Jan.) - fallow
• Castor + pulses (July-Jan.) - fallow
• Gingelly/ horsegram (Nov.-Feb.)

• Sorghum / pearl millet / fodder / minor millet (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow
• Horsegram / wheat (Nov.-Feb.) - fallow

For Kulithalai taluk: Red and black soils

• Groundnut + redgram (July-Feb.)
• Sorghum / pearl millet + redgram (July-Feb.)

• Groundnut + redgram (July-Feb.)
• Sorghum / pearl millet + redgram (July – Feb.)

• Sorghum / pearl millet + redgram (July-Feb.)
• Horsegram / gingelly / gingelly / wheat (Oct.-Feb.)

• Horsegram / gingelly / gingelly / wheat (Oct.-Feb.)

5. Dindigul district (Except Natham and Dindigul taluks)

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -862.8
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -38.0
• Summer (March-May) -174.2
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -251.4
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -399.2

a. Command areas: Heavy clay soils

• Rice (Oct.-Jan.) - pearl millet/vegetables/sesame/ pulses/groundnut (Feb.-May)

• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - single crop
• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.) – 2 years rotation

• Rice (Oct.-Jan.) - vegetables / groundnut/ gingelly (Feb.-May
• Banana (June-March) - ratoon banana (April-Jan.)
• Sugarcane (Dec.-Nov.) - single crop 2 years rotation

• Maize (Aug.-Nov.) - pulses/ gingelly (Dec.-Mar.)
• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sunflower / gingelly (Oct.-Feb.)

• Pulses / gingelly/ fodder sorghum / pearl millet (Aug.-Feb.

• Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - single crop
• Sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - single crop
• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) - millets / vegetables (Jan.-April) - groundnut (May-July)

• Sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - single crop
• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) - millets / vegetables (Jan.-April) - groundnut (May-July)

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

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

• Annual moringa (June sowing) - ratoon moringa - (2 years rotation)
• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) - coleus* (Jan.-July)
• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) – sweet sorgum (Feb.-May) – greenmanure (Jun- July)

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

• Maize (Aug.-Dec.) - clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Jan.-April)
• Pulses (Aug.-Nov.) - wheat (Nov.-Feb.)
• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Jan.) - millets / groundnut (Jan.-April)

• Gloriosa (July)

• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.)
• Minor millets / fodder (Aug.-Dec.)

• Groundnut / maize / millets / pulses (July-Oct.) -pulses (Oct.-Jan.)
• Groundnut (June-Sep.)-maize/pulses (Oct.-Nov.)

• Groundnut + pulses / maize / millets / pulses (July-Oct.) - pulses (Oct.-Jan.)

• Groundnut (June-Sep.)-maize/pulses/sunflower (Oct.-Nov.)
• Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)

• Sorghum / pearl millet / minor millets / pulses / sunflower / fodder (Oct.-Jan.) - fallow

• Millet / pulses (July-Aug.) - fallow

6. Theni district

• Mean annual rainfall (mm) -832.8
• Cold weather period (Jan.-Feb) -47.7
• Summer (March-May) -222.7
• South West monsoon season (June-Sept) -178.4
• North East monsoon season (Oct.-Dec.) -384.0

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

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

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

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) – green manure (Feb.-May)
• Maize (June-Sep)-rice (Oct.-Jan.)-pulses(Feb.-May)

• Maize / clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi / sunflower (Sep.-Jan.) - green manure (Feb.-March)

• Maize (Aug.-Nov.) - sorghum / pearl millet (Dec.-Feb.) - vegetables (March-July)

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - vegetables / pulses / groundnut (Jan.-March)
• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - millets / vegetables / groundnut (Feb.-June)
• Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - green manure (Jan.-Feb.) - 2 years rotation

• Rice (Aug.-Jan.) - vegetables / pulses / groundnut (Jan.-March)
• Cotton (Aug.-Dec.) - coleus* / vegetables / nerium* (Jan.-July)
• Marigold*(Jun-Oct) –coleus*/vegetables(Nov-Apr)
• Cotton (Aug-Jan) – sweet sorghum* (Feb-May) – green manure (Jun- July)

• Cotton (Aug.-Jan.) - millets / vegetables / groundnut (Feb.-June)
• Clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Oct.-Feb.) - fallow
• Pulses(Jun-Sept) – jatropha* (Oct. sowing) (under drip irrigation)

• Sugarcane (March-Jan.) - ratoon sugarcane (Feb.-Dec.) - green manure (Jan.-Feb.) – 2 years rotation

• Groundnut (Jun-Sept) – sugarbeet* (Sep-Feb) – Sweet sorghum* (Feb- May)

• Maize (Aug.-Nov.) - sorghum / pearl millet (Dec.-Feb.) -clusterbean / lab lab / bhendi (Mar.­July)

• Minor millets / fodder / pulses / green manures (Aug.-Jan.)

• Millets / maize / groundnut / pulses (June-Oct.) -horsegram (Nov.- Feb.)

• Pearl millet / sorghum / maize + pulses (Aug.-Nov.) - pulses (Dec.- Feb.)

• Millets / maize / groundnut / pulses (June-Oct.) -horsegram / pulses (Nov.-Feb.)

• Castor + pulses (July - Jan.)

• Pearl millet / sorghum / maize / pulses (Aug.-Jan.)
• Castor + pulses (July-Jan.)

• Sorghum / pearl millet / fodder sorghum / minor millets (Oct.-Jan.)
• Wheat (Nov.-Feb.)
• Perennial crops : 15% of cultivable area sapota, amla, tamarind, mango, singapore kapok

• Essential oil crops / lemongrass / citronella (wherever possible)
• Dairy, Rabbit and Sheep
• Sericulture
• Biofuel crops are recommended only with industrial tie-up
• Medicinal plants are recommended only with buy back arrangement