Not all crops grow in the same season. Different crops have different needs and preferable climatic conditions. Crops in India are divided into two types depending on climatic conditions which are the rabi crops and kharif crops. Now let’s take a closer look at Kharif and Rabi crops and how they differ.
What Are Rabi Crops?
Rabi crops are known as winter crops and are harvested in the spring. They include wheat, barley, gram, peas, and lentils. There are numerous rabi crop varieties, but wheat, barley, and rapeseed are among the most widely grown. These crops are planted in the fall and grow throughout the winter. They are collected in the spring only when the weather is warmer.
The following are some of the most common rabi crops:
- Wheat
- Linseed
- Oats
- Barley
- Mustard
- Pulses
Rabi Crop Seasons-
Rabi crops are sown in mid-November, usually after the monsoon rains have gone, and its harvesting starts in April/May. Crops are grown by either percolated rainwater or irrigation. A good winter rain damages rabi crops but benefits kharif crops.
What Are Kharif Crops?
Kharif crops are the most crops grown in India during the rainy season. They are grown during the rainy season, in which there is a lot of rain. These crops are irrigated using surface water and precipitation.
The following are some of the common kharif crops:
- Bajra
- Rice
- Sorghum
- Maize
- Cotton
- Soybean
Kharif Crop Seasons-
The Kharif season varies by crop and region, beginning in May and ending in January. In India, the season is commonly thought to begin in June and close in October. Kharif crops are typically planted at the start of the first rains of the south-west monsoon season and harvested at the end of the season (October–November). Monsoon sowing dates fluctuate, starting at the end of May in the southern state of Kerala and lasting until July in some northern Indian states. Kharif crops are sown in May, June, and July in other regions, such as Maharashtra, the west coast of India, and Pakistan, where rains fall in June.
Kharif crops are dependent on the quantity and timing of rainfall. Excessive, less, or rain at the wrong moment can devastate an entire year’s worth of work.
Difference Between Kharif Crops And Rabi Crops?
The following are the key distinctions between rabi and kharif crops:
| Kharif Crops | Rabi Crops |
| Kharif crops are typically planted in May, at the beginning of the first rainy season. | Rabi crops are typically planted in mid – november, just after monsoon rains are over. |
| Autumn crops and monsoon crops are other names for Kharif crops. | Rabi crops are also referred to as winter crops. |
| Kharif crops require either too little or excessive rainfall. | Rabi crops are not affected by rains because they are sown in the winter. |
| Kharif crops necessitate hot weather and an abundance of water. | Rabi crops necessitate a warm climate for seed germination and a cold climate to grow. |
| Pests and diseases are more common in Kharif crops than in Rabi crops. | Rabi crops are irrigated with water from wells, canals, as well as other sources. |
| Shorter days are required for flowering. | A longer day length is required for flowering. |
| Example: Maize, Cotton, Rice, Jowar, Groundnut | Example Barley, Peas, Wheat, Oilseeds, Gram |
What Effect Do Different Seasons Have On The Crop?
The vast bulk of field crops are entirely dependent on the weather. Weather also affects livestock ease and food supplies. Adverse weather conditions can cause productivity losses on occasion, particularly if they happen during critical stages of growth. Farmers can sow the first crop (winter barley) earlier than usual because of the warmer spring climate, allowing them to grow the second crop (rapeseed) for the rest of the growing season, enhancing soil fertility and income.
Another limiting factor for cropland development in the area is the presence of water and fertile soil (soil deposition is powered by water transportation), so agricultural expansion and intensification are presently limited to a certain distance from major river systems.
