Kharif Season Crop Planting, Preparation Techniques

With the onset of the Kharif season and the arrival of the monsoon in several states, farmers are gearing up for the new planting season. While most are familiar with Rabi and Kharif crops, there remains some uncertainty about which crops to plant during each season. Here, we provide a guide to the main crops to sow during the Kharif season and some best practices for successful farming.

Main Kharif Crops:

During the Kharif season, farmers can plant a variety of crops including cotton, peanuts, rice, pearl millet (bajra), maize, sweet potatoes, black gram (urad), green gram (moong), cowpea, sorghum (jowar), pigeon pea (arhar), sunn hemp (dhaincha), sugarcane, soybeans, okra, sesame, cluster beans (guar), jute, and sunhemp.

Rice Cultivation:

Rice is the primary crop of the Kharif season, requiring substantial water. The ideal time for sowing rice is from June 15 to the end of July, with harvesting occurring between mid-September and mid-October. Rice plants mature in about 95-100 days.

Black Gram (Urad) and Green Gram (Moong):

Black gram and green gram are pulses that should be sown from the end of June to the end of July. Harvesting typically occurs from early October to the end of October.

Sorghum (Jowar) and Peanuts: Sorghum is sown before the onset of the monsoon or at the beginning of the rainy season and is considered a coarse grain. Peanuts are crucial for improving farmers' economic conditions due to high market demand. Peanut planting should occur from June to mid-July, with harvesting from mid-October to early November.

Preparation for Kharif Crops: Farmers should select crops based on soil type, climate, and rainfall of their farming location. It is essential to choose crops that are suitable for the specific conditions of their land. In Rajasthan, for instance, farmers rely on various irrigation sources such as tube wells, wells, and tanks, with some areas also using canal irrigation. However, during the Kharif season, rainfall is the primary source of irrigation.

To ensure optimal crop selection, farmers should consider the local climate and soil conditions before sowing. High-quality seeds play a crucial role in agricultural production. The adage You reap what you sow holds true for farmers, emphasizing the importance of choosing high-quality seeds. Implementing crop rotation is vital to maintaining soil fertility and achieving higher yields. Farmers should avoid planting the same crop repeatedly on the same land. Treating the soil can help eliminate soil-borne diseases and pests, and treating seeds before planting can significantly protect crops from diseases.