Identification of efficient cropping zone for Redgram in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The methodological study was made in Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU),Coimbatore. The study was conducted to identify the efficient cropping zone of redgram for Tamil Nadu. The data on area, production and productivity of Redgram for 1997-98 to 2011-12 were collected and indices such as Relative Spread Index (RSI) and Relative Yield Index (RYI) were computed and the potential cropping districts for the Redgram were identified. The results indicated that among the different districts in Tamil Nadu, Selam, Theni, Namakkal, Madurai, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri were most efficient cropping zone. Among all the districts of Tamil Nadu, Vellore had a high relative spreading index and while Theni had a high relative yield index. In some of the districts though RSI is low, RYI is high which indicates the suitability of that Redgram. Market demand and value of the produce, suitablility of the crop made farmers to cultivate redgram in their location which relates in low RSI with high RYI.