Major Kharif crop categories cultivated across India
Kharif cultivation encompasses staple food grains, commercial cash crops, oilseeds, and protein-dense pulses.
- Cereals: Paddy (rice) forms the premier food grain; maize, pearl millet (bajra), and sorghum (jowar) provide food and livestock fodder.
- Commercial cash crops: Cotton (white gold) across western and central India; sugarcane and jute in river basins.
- Major oilseeds: Soybean in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra; groundnut in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan; sesame and sunflower.
- Pulses: Pigeon pea (arhar/tur), green gram (moong), and black gram (urad) that fix atmospheric nitrogen and enrich soil fertility.
Sowing windows, soil preparation, and monsoon timing
Sowing timelines align with the geographic advance of the southwest monsoon across the Indian subcontinent.
- Sowing window: Starts in early June in southern and northeastern states, progressing to northern states by late June and early July.
- Deep summer ploughing: Carried out in May to expose dormant soil-borne pests, weed rhizomes, and fungal pathogens to solar heat.
- Basal fertilization: Incorporate well-decomposed farmyard manure alongside balanced NPK and zinc fertilizers based on soil health cards.
- Drainage preparation: Ensuring field drainage channels prevents waterlogging in crops sensitive to excess moisture like maize and soybean.
Weed management, crop protection, and harvesting
High monsoon humidity triggers rapid weed growth and insect pest attacks. Farmers should apply pre-emergence herbicides within 48 hours of sowing, monitor for stem borers, bollworms, and sucking pests, and apply label-approved crop protection chemicals when economic thresholds are crossed. Harvest crops promptly when seed heads reach physiological maturity to prevent field shattering.
Official source
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Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
What are the major Kharif crops grown in India?
The primary Kharif crops are paddy, maize, bajra, jowar, soybean, cotton, groundnut, arhar (tur), moong, and urad.
When does the Kharif cropping season begin and end?
Sowing occurs between June and July with the monsoon rains, and harvesting takes place from September to November.
Why is proper field drainage essential during the Kharif season?
Excessive water stagnation from heavy monsoon downpours can suffocate root systems and cause collar rot in crops like maize, soybean, and cotton.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
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