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Module 2: Crop Selection Based on Soil Data

What We Did

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Guided farmers to shift from water-hungry crops (wheat, paddy) to resilient, soil-appropriate crops: cumin, castor, millet, pulses (udad, moong, chickpea, pigeonpea), onion, and cotton.

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Promoted intercropping (castor + udad, cotton + moong, pearl millet + pigeonpea) and rotations (kharif pulses → rabi cumin/onion; cotton → chickpea) to maximize yield, reduce risk, and improve soil health.

Scientific Evidence (North Gujarat context)

Soil pH (alkaline 7.8–8.5)

  • Wheat fails above pH 7.5.

  • Castor, chickpea, cotton, cumin, and pulses tolerate up to ~8.2, making them more suited.

Moisture & temperature

  • Rainfall averages ~580–600 mm, but sandy loam soils lose water quickly.
     

  • Millets & pulses use 30–40% less water than wheat/paddy.

  • Cotton (deep-rooted) survives deficit irrigation, while cumin thrives in cool winters (20–30 °C).

Salinity (ECe)

  • Millet & castor tolerate 5–6 dS/m.

  • Cotton is moderately salt-tolerant (up to ~6–7 dS/m), making it valuable for saline patches.

Soil fertility

  • Pulses fix 30–50 kg nitrogen/ha, reducing urea needs and boosting soil health.

  • Cotton and castor respond well to rotations with legumes, improving yields and reducing pest pressure.

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 Intercropping & Rotations That Work Here

  • Castor + Udad (1:2 rows): Castor gives cash; udad matures early and fixes nitrogen.
     

  • Cotton + Moong (1:2): Improves soil fertility and reduces pest attack.
     

  • Pearl Millet + Pigeonpea (2:1 strips): Classic drought-resilient combo.
     

  • Moong (kharif) → Onion (rabi): Pulses enrich soil → onion fetches high cash (only on low-EC fields).
     

  • Cotton → Chickpea: Profitable rabi pulse rotation; breaks pest cycles.

Farmers adopted

400+ farmers shifted to soil-suitable crops

Income gains

25–30% higher profits (cumin/onion for cash; cotton for stability)

Land-use efficiency

Intercropping raised productivity by 15–20%

Land converted

750+ acres moved from w heat/paddy to cumin, castor, millet, pulses, onion & cotton

Fertilizer savings

30–50 kg nitrogen/ha fixed by pulses → ₹1,200–1,800/acre saved

Water savings

20-30% less water per acre

Risk reduction

120 acres of saline/alkaline soils restored via cotton & castor

Takeaway: By matching soil data (pH, EC, NPK, moisture) with the right crops, Krishi Mitra farmers achieved higher yields, stable profits, and healthier soils. Cotton adds resilience on saline lands, cumin and onion bring cash in specific soil pockets, while pulses and millets ensure sustainability.

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