Agroclimatic Zones of Odisha

Agroclimatic Zones of Odisha

India has been divided into fifteen major agroclimatic zones. The eastern coastal state of Odisha falls under the agroclimatic VII, namely Easter Plateau and Hilly Region. However, the state can be further divided into ten agroclimatic zones at regional level on the basis of climate, temperature, relief and rainfall.

Zone I
North Western Plateau
Region: Sundargarh, parts of Sambalpur, parts of Jharsuguda and parts of Deogarh
Area Covered: 15570 sq km
Climate: Hot and Moist Sub-humid
Average Rainfall: 160 cm
Average Temperature: 15.0 °C (Winter) and 38.0 °C (Summer)
Soils: Red, Brown forest, Red and Yellow, Red and Black 
Major Crops: Rice, Greengram, Blackgram, Arhar

Zone II
North Central Plateau
Region: Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar (except Anandapur and Ghasipura block)
Area Covered: 17906 sq km
Climate: Hot and Moist Sub-humid
Average Rainfall: 153 cm
Average Temperature: 11.0 °C (Winter) and 36.6 °C (Summer)
Soils: Lateritic, Red and Yellow, Red and Black
Major Crops: Rice, Wheat, Arhar, Greengram

Zone III
North Eastern Coastal Plains
Region: Balasore, Bhadrak, parts of Jajpur and Hatdihi block of Keonjhar
Area Covered: 9342 sq km
Climate: Moist Sub-humid
Average Rainfall: 157 cm
Average Temperature: 15.0 °C (Winter) and 36.0 °C (Summer)
Soils: Red, Lateritic, Alluvial, Coastal Alluvial and Saline
Major Crops: Rice, Greengram, Blackgram, Mustard

Zone IV
North East and South Eastern Coastal Plains
Region: Kendrapara, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Nayagarh, parts of Cuttack, and parts of Ganjam
Area Covered: 20241 sq km
Climate: Hot and humid
Average Rainfall: 157.8 cm
Average Temperature: 11.5 °C (Winter) and 39.0 °C (Summer)
Soils: Saline, Lateritic, Alluvial, Red and Black
Major Crops: Rice, Maize, Greengram, Blackgram, Jute

Zone V
North Eastern Ghat
Region: Phulbani, Rayagada, Gajapati, parts of Ganjam and parts of Koraput
Area Covered: 23356 sq km
Climate: Hot and Moist Sub-humid
Average Rainfall: 160 cm
Average Temperature: 10.4 °C (Winter) and 37.0 °C (Summer)
Soils: Brown hilly, Lateritic, Alluvial, Red and Black
Major Crops: Rice, Maize, Jowar, Ragi, Sugarcane

Zone VI
Eastern Ghat Highland
Region: Majority of Koraput, Nabarangpur
Area Covered: 12456 sq km
Climate: Warm and humid
Average Rainfall: 152 cm
Average Temperature: 7.5 °C (Winter) and 34.0 °C (Summer)
Soils: Red, Red and Black, Red and Yellow
Major Crops: Rice, Maize, Ragi, Jowar, Small Millets

Zone VII
South Eastern Ghat
Region: Malkangiri and parts of Keonjhar
Area Covered: 7010 sq km
Climate: Warm and humid
Average Rainfall: 171 cm
Average Temperature: 13.0 °C (Winter) and 34.0 °C (Summer)
Soils: Red, Lateritic, Black
Major Crops: Rice, Ragi, Maize, Horsegram, Wheat

Zone VIII
Western Undulating Zone
Region: Kalahandi and Nuapada
Area Covered: 11678 sq km
Climate: Hot and Moist Sub-humid
Average Rainfall: 135 cm
Average Temperature: 12.0 °C (Winter) and 38.0 °C (Summer)
Soils: Red, Red and Black, Black
Major Crops: Rice, Maize, Wheat, Jowar, Arhar

Zone IX
Western Central Tableland
Region: Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Sonepur, parts of Sambalpur and parts of Jharsuguda
Area Covered: 24913 sq km
Climate: Hot and Moist Sub-humid
Average Rainfall: 161 cm
Average Temperature: 12.0 °C (Winter) and 40.0 °C (Summer)
Soils: Red and Yellow, Red and Black, Black, Brown Hilly
Major Crops: Rice, Wheat, Arhar, Greengram, Blackgram

Zone X
Mid Central Tableland
Region: Angul, Dhenkanal, parts of Cuttack and parts of Jajpur
Area Covered: 13325 sq km
Climate: Hot and Moist Sub-humid
Average Rainfall: 142 cm
Average Temperature: 14.0 °C (Winter) and 38.5 °C (Summer)
Soils: Alluvial, Red, Lateritic, Red and Black
Major Crops: Rice, Maize, Greengram, Blackgram, Arhar

Resource: Panchayati Raj Department of Odisha