Identification of efficient cropping zone for major pulse crops in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

An analytical study was carried over to identify the efficient cropping zone for cultivation of major pulses like Bengalgram, Pigeon pea, Greengram, Blackgram and Horsegram in Tamil Nadu. The data on area, production and productivity of the crops for the period from 1985-86 to 2015-16 (excluding 2014-15) were collected and analysed for their Relative Yield Index (RYI), Relative Spread Index (RSI).Based on the pooled result of the indices for thirty years the efficient cropping zones for the crops were identified. Cuddalore district for Blackgram, Salem, Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli districts for Greengram, Salem, Dharmapuri and Theni districts for Redgram, Coimbatore district for Bengalgram, Salem, Dharmapuri and Dindigul districts for Horsegram were identified as the most efficient cropping zones for the respective pulse crops.