Complete Kharif crops guide — top 10 crops, state-wise sowing calendar, fertilizer, irrigation and pest management for Indian farmers.
खरीफ फसलों की complete guide — top 10 फसलें, state-wise बुआई calendar, खाद, सिंचाई और pest management।
🌾 What Are Kharif Crops? / खरीफ फसलें क्या हैं?
खरीफ — भारत की monsoon season की फसलें
Kharif crops are the summer-monsoon crops of India — sown at the beginning of the monsoon season (June–July) and harvested in autumn (September–November). They are also called monsoon crops or summer crops. Kharif crops depend on monsoon rainfall for irrigation and grow in warm, humid conditions.
खरीफ फसलें भारत की गर्मी-monsoon की फसलें हैं — monsoon की शुरुआत में बोई जाती हैं (जून–जुलाई) और शरद ऋतु में काटी जाती हैं (सितंबर–नवंबर)। इन्हें वर्षा ऋतु की फसलें भी कहते हैं।
📋 Kharif Season Quick Facts / खरीफ Season Quick Facts
🗓️ Sowing Time
June – July
जून – जुलाई
🌾 Harvest Time
September – November
सितंबर – नवंबर
🌧️ Water Source
Monsoon rain mainly
मुख्यतः वर्षा
🌡️ Temperature
25–35°C ideal
गर्म और humid
🇮🇳 Major States
UP, MP, Punjab, AP, Maharashtra, Karnataka
—
📦 Key Crops
Rice, Maize, Soybean, Cotton, Groundnut, Bajra
धान, मक्का, सोयाबीन, कपास, मूंगफली, बाजरा
| Season | Hindi Name | Sowing | Harvest | Key Crops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kharif ← This guide | खरीफ | Jun–Jul | Sep–Nov | Rice, Maize, Cotton, Soybean |
| Rabi | रबी | Oct–Nov | Mar–Apr | Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Gram |
| Zaid | जायद | Mar–Apr | Jun–Jul | Cucumber, Watermelon, Pumpkin |
📅 State-wise Kharif Sowing Calendar
State-wise खरीफ बुआई Calendar
Kharif sowing time varies by state depending on when monsoon arrives. Sowing too early (before monsoon) or too late (after peak monsoon) reduces yields significantly.
खरीफ की बुआई का समय राज्य के अनुसार अलग होता है — monsoon के आगमन के अनुसार। बहुत जल्दी या बहुत देर से बुआई पैदावार कम करती है।
| State / राज्य | Monsoon Arrival | Best Sowing Window | Main Kharif Crops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kerala, Karnataka (South) | June 1st week | June 1–15 | Rice, Coconut, Rubber, Banana |
| Andhra Pradesh, Telangana | June 2nd week | June 10–30 | Rice, Cotton, Maize, Groundnut |
| Maharashtra, Goa | June 2nd week | June 15 – July 10 | Soybean, Cotton, Bajra, Jowar |
| Madhya Pradesh | June 3rd–4th week | June 20 – July 15 | Soybean, Rice, Maize, Cotton |
| Uttar Pradesh | June 4th week | June 25 – July 20 | Rice, Maize, Bajra, Arhar/Tur |
| Punjab, Haryana | July 1st week | June 15 – July 15 (paddy transplant) | Rice (Paddy), Maize, Cotton |
| Rajasthan | July 1st–2nd week | July 1–20 | Bajra, Jowar, Moth Bean, Groundnut |
| Gujarat | June 4th week | June 25 – July 20 | Groundnut, Cotton, Castor, Bajra |
| Bihar, Jharkhand | June 4th week | June 20 – July 15 | Rice, Maize, Arhar, Jute |
| West Bengal, Assam | June 1st–2nd week | June 1–20 | Rice (Aman), Jute, Maize |
📅
View Calendar →
Crop Sowing Calendar
Get month-wise sowing guide for your state — Kharif, Rabi and Zaid crops with exact timing
🌾 Top 10 Kharif Crops — Complete Guide
Top 10 खरीफ फसलें — Complete Guide
| # | Crop / फसल | Main States | Yield/Hectare | Sowing Depth | Spacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🌾 Rice / Dhaan (धान) | UP, WB, AP, Punjab, Bihar | 25–60 qtl/ha | Direct: 3–5cm / Transplant: 2–3cm | 20×15 cm |
| 2 | 🌽 Maize / Makka (मक्का) | UP, Bihar, MP, Karnataka | 30–70 qtl/ha | 3–5 cm | 60×20 cm |
| 3 | 🫘 Soybean | MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan | 15–25 qtl/ha | 3–4 cm | 45×5 cm |
| 4 | 🌿 Cotton / Kapas (कपास) | Maharashtra, Gujarat, AP, Punjab | 15–25 qtl/ha (lint) | 3–5 cm | 90×60 cm |
| 5 | 🥜 Groundnut / Moongfali (मूंगफली) | Gujarat, AP, Rajasthan, TN | 15–25 qtl/ha | 5–7 cm | 30×10 cm |
| 6 | 🌾 Bajra / Pearl Millet (बाजरा) | Rajasthan, UP, Haryana, Gujarat | 20–30 qtl/ha | 2–3 cm | 45×15 cm |
| 7 | 🌾 Jowar / Sorghum (ज्वार) | Maharashtra, Karnataka, AP, UP | 20–40 qtl/ha | 3–5 cm | 45×15 cm |
| 8 | 🫘 Arhar / Tur Dal (अरहर) | UP, Maharashtra, MP, Karnataka | 15–25 qtl/ha | 5–7 cm | 60×20 cm |
| 9 | 🫘 Moong / Green Gram (मूंग) | Rajasthan, Maharashtra, UP, MP | 8–15 qtl/ha | 3–4 cm | 30×10 cm |
| 10 | 🫘 Urad / Black Gram (उड़द) | UP, MP, AP, Tamil Nadu | 8–15 qtl/ha | 3–4 cm | 30×10 cm |
🌱 Soil Preparation for Kharif Crops
खरीफ फसलों के लिए खेत तैयारी
1
Summer Deep Ploughing (April–May) / गर्मी की गहरी जुताई
अप्रैल–मई में मिट्टी पलटने वाले हल से एक गहरी जुताई करें।
Do one deep ploughing (20–25 cm) in April–May with a mould board plough. This exposes soil to summer heat — killing soil-borne pests, weed seeds and fungal pathogens. Called "garmi ki jotai" — most experienced farmers don't skip this step.
2
Pre-monsoon tillage (June) / Pre-monsoon जुताई
Monsoon से 1–2 हफ्ते पहले 2–3 बार cross जुताई करें।
1–2 weeks before expected monsoon, do 2–3 cross-harrowings to break clods and create a fine seedbed. Level the field. Make ridges and furrows for drainage — critical to prevent waterlogging which kills Kharif crops quickly.
3
Add organic matter / Organic matter डालें
बुआई से 15–20 दिन पहले compost या FYM मिलाएं।
Add 10–15 tonnes of well-decomposed FYM (Farm Yard Manure/Gobar Khaad) or 5 tonnes of vermicompost per hectare, 15–20 days before sowing. Mix thoroughly with soil. This improves water retention — critical for Kharif crops between rain spells.
4
Seed treatment / बीज उपचार
बुआई से पहले बीजों को Trichoderma या fungicide से उपचारित करें।
Treat seeds with Trichoderma viride (5g/kg seed) + Rhizobium (for legumes) before sowing. This prevents seed-borne disease, improves germination and increases yield 10–15%. Low cost, very high return practice.
🧪 Fertilizer Schedule for Major Kharif Crops
प्रमुख खरीफ फसलों का खाद Schedule
| Crop | N (kg/ha) | P (kg/ha) | K (kg/ha) | Basal Dose (at sowing) | Top Dressing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Rice (Paddy) | 100–120 | 50–60 | 40–50 | Full P+K + 1/3 N (DAP+MOP) | 1/3 N at tillering + 1/3 N at panicle |
| 🌽 Maize | 120–150 | 60–80 | 40–60 | Full P+K + 1/3 N | 1/3 N at knee-high + 1/3 N at tasseling |
| 🫘 Soybean | 20–30 | 60–80 | 40–50 | Full dose at sowing (Rhizobium reduces N need) | No top dressing needed |
| 🥜 Groundnut | 20–25 | 50–60 | 80–100 | Full dose at sowing + Gypsum 250kg/ha | No top dressing |
| 🌾 Bajra | 80–100 | 40–50 | 40 | Full P+K + 1/3 N | 1/2 remaining N at tillering |
| 🫘 Arhar (Tur) | 20–25 | 50–60 | 30–40 | Full dose (Rhizobium inoculation essential) | No top dressing |
💡
Soil testing first: Always get a soil test done before applying fertilizer — costs Rs.50–100 at your nearest KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) or state agriculture department lab. Blanket fertilizer recommendations waste money and damage soil health. Test-based recommendations increase yield 15–25%.
Fertilizer डालने से पहले soil test ज़रूर कराएं — नज़दीकी KVK या agriculture department lab में Rs.50–100 में होती है। Test-based fertilizer से 15–25% ज़्यादा पैदावार।
🧪
Calculate Dose →
Fertilizer Calculator
Calculate exact fertilizer dose in kg for your crop and field size — Indian products recommended
💧 Irrigation Guide for Kharif Crops
खरीफ फसलों की सिंचाई Guide
Kharif crops primarily depend on monsoon rainfall. However, supplemental irrigation at critical growth stages dramatically increases yield, especially in years with uneven rainfall distribution.
खरीफ फसलें मुख्यतः monsoon पर depend करती हैं। लेकिन critical growth stages पर supplemental irrigation से पैदावार बहुत बढ़ती है — खासकर uneven rainfall वाले सालों में।
| Crop | Critical Irrigation Stages | Irrigations Needed | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Rice | Transplanting, tillering, panicle initiation, grain filling | Continuous flooding (2–5 cm standing water) | Flood / AWD (Alternate Wetting Drying) |
| 🌽 Maize | Knee-high stage, tasseling, silking, grain filling | 4–6 irrigations if rain fails | Furrow / Drip |
| 🫘 Soybean | Flowering, pod filling | 1–2 supplemental if dry spell | Furrow / Sprinkler |
| 🥜 Groundnut | Flowering, pegging, pod development | 4–6 irrigations in dry areas | Furrow / Drip |
| 🌾 Bajra | Booting, heading, grain filling | 2–3 irrigations (drought tolerant) | Furrow |
| 🌿 Cotton | Square formation, flowering, boll development | 6–8 irrigations total | Furrow / Drip |
🌊
Drainage is as important as irrigation: Kharif crops are grown in monsoon — waterlogging for even 24–48 hours causes significant yield loss in most crops (except rice). Ensure proper field drainage before monsoon. Make ridges and furrows to direct excess water away quickly.
Drainage उतनी ही ज़रूरी है जितनी irrigation। Kharif crops में 24–48 घंटे भी पानी भरना बड़ा नुकसान करता है (rice को छोड़कर)। Monsoon से पहले proper drainage channel बनाएं।
🐛 Common Pests & Diseases in Kharif Crops
खरीफ फसलों में common कीट और रोग
| Crop | Major Pest/Disease | Symptoms | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Rice | Brown Plant Hopper, Blast disease | Hopperburn, circular lesions on leaves | Carbofuran granules, Tricyclazole spray |
| 🌽 Maize | Fall Armyworm, Stem Borer | Leaf damage, entry holes in stem | Emamectin benzoate, Coragen spray |
| 🫘 Soybean | Girdle Beetle, Yellow Mosaic | Stem girdling, yellow mosaic on leaves | Carbosulfan, remove infected plants |
| 🥜 Groundnut | Leaf Spot, Tikka disease | Brown spots on leaves | Mancozeb/Chlorothalonil spray |
| 🌿 Cotton | Pink Bollworm, Whitefly, Aphid | Damaged bolls, leaf curl | Bt cotton (resistant), Imidacloprid |
| 🌾 Bajra | Downy Mildew (Green Ear), Ergot | Green ear, pink deposits on ear | Metalaxyl seed treatment, Mancozeb |
💡
IPM approach: Always follow Integrated Pest Management — start with cultural methods (resistant varieties, crop rotation, proper spacing), then biological controls (Trichoderma, NPV), and use chemical pesticides only when pest crosses the Economic Threshold Level (ETL). This reduces input cost 30–40% and protects soil health.
IPM follow करें — पहले cultural methods, फिर biological controls, chemical pesticides तभी जब pest ETL cross करे। Input cost 30–40% कम होती है।
🌾 Harvesting & Post-Harvest Storage
कटाई और भंडारण
| Crop | Harvest Indicator | Moisture % at Harvest | Storage Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Rice | 80–85% grains golden yellow, 25–30 days after flowering | 20–22% (dry to 14% for storage) | Store at below 14% moisture in jute bags, well-ventilated store |
| 🌽 Maize | Husks turn brown, kernels hard, black layer at base | 25–30% (dry to 12%) | Store shelled grain at 12% moisture, protect from weevils |
| 🫘 Soybean | 80% pods brown, leaves shed, rattling sound | 15–18% (dry to 12%) | Store at 12% moisture, cool dry place |
| 🥜 Groundnut | Inner pod turns dark, seeds fill completely | 45–50% (dry to 8–10%) | Store pods at 8–10% moisture with proper ventilation |
| 🌾 Bajra | Earheads bend downward, grains hard | 18–20% (dry to 12%) | Threshed grain at 12% moisture |
📈 Yield Improvement Tips for Kharif Crops
Kharif फसलों की पैदावार बढ़ाने के Tips
- Use certified seeds: Certified/improved variety seeds give 20–30% higher yield over local varieties. Available at government seed centers, IFFCO or local agriculture department.
- Seed treatment: Trichoderma + Rhizobium (for legumes) seed treatment costs Rs.50/kg seed and gives 10–15% better germination and yield.
- Sow at right time: Never sow before first 2–3 effective monsoon rains. Premature sowing wastes seeds and fertilizer. Wait for soil to have adequate moisture 15–20 cm deep.
- Maintain proper plant population: Too dense = competition, disease. Too sparse = low yield. Follow recommended spacing strictly.
- Weed management in first 30 days: Kharif crops compete most with weeds in first 30 days after sowing. One weeding at 20 days + one at 35–40 days increases yield 20–30%.
- Micronutrient supplementation: Many Indian soils are deficient in Zinc, Boron and Sulfur. Apply Zinc Sulphate 25 kg/ha as basal dose for most Kharif crops — low cost, high returns.
- Crop rotation: Never grow the same crop on the same field two consecutive years. Rotate legumes (Arhar, Soybean, Moong) with cereals (Rice, Maize, Bajra) to break pest cycles and improve soil nitrogen naturally.
🌾
Contact your KVK: Every district in India has a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) — an agricultural extension centre that provides free soil testing, free or subsidized seeds, training programs and expert advice specific to your district's soil and climate. Visit or call your district KVK for personalized guidance.
हर district में KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) है — free soil testing, subsidized seeds, training और expert advice देता है। अपने district KVK में ज़रूर contact करें।