The rainfall probability studies indicate that the effective monsoon in the area sets in at standard week 22 or 23 (4th to 10th or 11th to 17th June). The rainy season extends up to week 40 with a dry spell during weeks 34–38 (26th Aug. to 23rd Sept.). Crops during this dry spell experience water deficit. The crop growing periods of seven ideritified soils estimated through water balance approach based on weekly rainfall data vary from 133 to 182 days. Vertisols and Vertic intergrades show longer growing periods than Lithic Ustorthents. Based on the length of growing periods, a double cropping (sunflower and sorghum) in Vertisols and Vertic intergrades, a single crop (sunflower) in Lithic Ustorthents and Lithic Ustropepts are suggested.
Growing period, soil water, crop planning, probability
