Agroclimatic Zones of Tamil Nadu

Agroclimatic Zones of Tamil Nadu

There is a huge variation in terms of georaphical makeup of Tamil Nadu. It is generally helpful for anyone to understand this makeup before understanding crop pattern across the state. For which, the state of Tamil Nadu can be divided into seven agroclimatic zones. These zones are

1. North Eastern Zone
Districts: Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Viluppuram
Altitude: 100-200 m
Average Rainfall: 1100 mm
Cultivated area: 50.5%
Irrigated area: Data Not Available
Major Crops: Paddy, Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, Groundnut, Sugarcane and Cashewnut
Soil: Red sandy loam, clay loam, saline coastal alluvium

2. North Western Zone
Districts: Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem, and Parts of Namakkal, Perambalur, and Ariyalur
Altitude: 200-600 m
Average Rainfall: 850 mm
Cultivated area: 56.3%
Irrigated area: 23%
Major Crops: Paddy, Wheat, Maize, Ragi, Bajra, Sugarcane, Groundnut, Cotton, Sunflower
Soil: Non calcereous red, brown and black soils.

3. Western Zone
Districts: Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Dindigul, Theni and part of Karur, Namakkal, Perambalur and Ariyalur
Altitude: 200-600 m
Average Rainfall: 654 mm
Area Under Cultivation: 44.5%
Irrigated area: 42.4%
Major Crops: Jowar, Paddy, Pulses, Maize, Banana, Sugarcane, Groundnut
Soil: Red loamy and black

4. Cauvery Delta Zone
Districts: Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirappalli and parts of Karur, Ariyalur, Pudukkottal and Cuddalore
Altitude: 100-200 m
Average Rainfall: 950 mm
Cultivated area: 60.2%
Irrigated area: 50.1%
Major crops: Paddy, Sugarcane, Cotton, Groundnut, Sunflower, Banana and Ginger
Soil: Red loamy and alluvial

5. Southern Zone
Districts: Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Thoothukkudi, and Parts of Pudukkottai, and Karur
Altitude: 100-600 m
Average rainfall: 816 mm
Cultivated land: 45%
Irrigated land: 44%
Major Crops: Paddy, Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, Groundnut, Cotton, Banana and Tobacco
Soil: Coastal alluvium, black, red sandy and deep red soil

6. High Rainfall Zone
District: Kanniyakumari
Altitude 100-2000 m
Average Rainfall: 1450 mm
Cultivated area: 63.1%
Irrigated area: 47.4%
Major crops: Paddy, Coconut, Vegetables, Cashew nut, Banana and Rubber
Soil: Saline coastal, alluvium, and deep red loam

7. Hilly and High Altitude Zone
District: The Nilgiris and Kodaikanal (Dindigul)
Altitude: 2,000
Average Rainfall: 1850 mm
Cultivated area: 28.9%
Irrigated area: 0.84%
Major Crops: Tea, Coffee, Vegetable, Paddy and Groundnut
Soil: lateritic

Source:
1. http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/pdf/2012/Season%20&%20Crop%20Report%202012.pdf
2. http://tnhorticulture.tn.gov.in/horti/agro-climatic-zones