Agro-Ecological Regions

Agro-Ecological Regions by NBSS & LUP:

• The National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS & LUP) divided the country into 20 agro-ecological zones.
• These 20 zones are further subdivided into 60 sub-zones, focusing on the length of the growing period.

Differences between Agro-Climatic and Agro-Ecological Zones

• Agro-Climatic Zone: Defined by major climate factors. Focuses on the length of growing periods and moisture availability.
• Agro-Ecological Zone: Derived from agro-climatic zones. Considers landforms that influence climate and growing periods.

1. Western Himalayas (Cold Arid Eco-Region)

• Area: 15.2 million ha, representing 9.78 per cent of the total geographical area of the country.
• It represents the area of the north-western Himalayas, covering Ladakh and Gilgit districts.
• Growing Period (LGP) of less than 90 days in a year.
• Occupying 4.7 per cent of the total geographical area (329 m ha) of the country.
• Climate: Mild summers, severe winters; annual rainfall <150 mm.
• Soils: Skeletal, calcareous, alkaline, low organic matter.
• Key Crops: Vegetables, apple, apricot.
• Livestock: Mules, sheep, goats, yaks.
• Constraints: Severe climatic conditions, limited growing period, nutrient imbalance in soils.
• This zone is known for grazing (by pashmina goats).

2. Western Plain (Kachchh and Kathiawar Peninsula, Hot Arid Eco-Region)

• Area: 31.9 million ha. representing 9.78 per cent of the total geographical area of the country.
• The western Plain (Kachchh and part of Kathiawar peninsula), States of Punjab and Haryana, western parts of Rajasthan
•  LGP of less than 90 days.
• Climate: Hot summers, cool winters; annual precipitation <400 mm.
• The ecosystem represents aridic soil moisture and hyperthermic soil temperature.
• Soils: Sandy, moderately calcareous, alkaline.
• Key Crops: Pearl millet, pulses, cotton, sugarcane.
• Constraints: Erratic rainfall, soil salinity, nutrient imbalances especially for N, P Zn and Fe

3. Deccan Plateau (Hot Arid Eco-Region)

• Area: 4.9 million ha. representing 1.5 per cent of the total geographical area of the country.
• districts of Bellary, SW parts of Bijapur and Raichur of Karnataka and Anantapur of Andhra Pradesh.
• The LGP is of less than 90 days.
• Climate: Hot dry summers, mild winters; rainfall 400-500 mm.
• Soils: Red loamy and clayey black soils.
• Key Crops: Sorghum, safflower, groundnut, cotton.
• Constraints: High runoff, prolonged dry spells, drought.

4. Northern Plain and Central Highlands (Hot Semi-Arid Eco-Region)

• Area: 32.3 million ha. parts of Gujarat, northern plains
• representing 9.8 per cent of the total geographical area of the country.
• Climate: Hot dry summers, cool winters; annual precipitation 500-1000 mm.
• The LGP ranges between 90 and 150 days.
• Soils: Coarse to fine loamy.
• Almost 65 per cent of the region is under irrigated agriculture
• Key Crops: Rice, millets, pulses, wheat, sugarcane.
• Constraints: Coarse soil texture, groundwater over-extraction, salinity issues.

5. Central (Malwa) Highlands, Gujarat Plains, and Kathiawar Peninsula Ecoregion

• Area: 17.6 million ha. Central highlands (Malwa), Gujarat plains and Kathiawar peninsula, western parts of Madhya Pradesh
• Climate: Hot wet summers, dry winters; rainfall 500-1000 mm.
• Soils: Deep loamy to clayey, black soils.
• Key Crops: Sorghum, pearl millet, groundnut, wheat.
• Constraints: Intermittent dry spells, salinity, coastal inundation.
• Dry land farming is the common practice in the region.
• The Kharif crops usually cultivated in the area are sorghum, pearl millet, pigeonpea, groundnut, soybean, maize and pulses.
• The common Rabi crops are sorghum, safflower, sunflower and gram.
• Wheat is grown under irrigated conditions.
• The natural vegetation comprises dry deciduous forest.

6. Deccan Plateau (Hot Semi-Arid Eco-Region)

• Area: 31.0 million ha. central and western parts of Maharashtra, northern parts of Karnataka and western parts of Andhra Pradesh.
• Climate: Hot humid summers, mild dry winters; rainfall 600-1000 mm.
• Soils: Loamy and clayey.
• Key Crops: Sorghum, pigeonpea, cotton, groundnut.
• Constraints: Dry spells, runoff during storms, Deficiency of N, P and Zn leads to nutrient imbalance.
• The natural vegetation in the region comprises tropical, dry deciduous and thorn forests.

7. Deccan Plateau (Telangana) and Eastern Ghats (Hot Semi-Arid Eco-Region)

• Area: 16.5 million ha. Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.
• Climate: Hot moist summers, mild dry winters; rainfall 600-1100 mm.
• Soils: Black cotton (clayey, calcareous), red soils.
• Key Crops: Sorghum, cotton, rice, groundnut.
• Constraints: Runoff causing soil loss, subsoil salinity, Deficiency of N, P and Zn in soils results in nutrient imbalance.
• At places rice is cultivated under irrigation in Rabi season.
• The natural vegetation comprises tropical, dry deciduous and thorn forests.

8. Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu Uplands, and Deccan (Karnataka) Plateau (Hot Semi-Arid Eco-Region)

• Area: 19.1 million ha
• Climate: Hot dry summers, mild winters; rainfall 600-1000 mm.
• Soils: Red loamy.
• The western parts of the region falling in Karnataka receive about 70 per cent of the rainfall during June to September
• Key Crops: Millets, pulses, groundnut, rice.
• Constraints: Soil erosion, nutrient imbalances.

9. Northern Plain (Hot Subhumid Dry Eco-Region)

• Area: 12.1 million ha.
• Climate: Hot summers, cool winters; rainfall 1000-1200 mm. 70 per cent of which is received during July to September.
• Soils: Deep loamy (alluvium-derived).
• Key Crops: Rice, maize, wheat, pulses.
• Constraints: Water-logging and salinity from irrigation mismanagement.

10. Central Highlands (Malwa and Bundelkhand) (Hot Subhumid Dry Eco-Region)

• Area: 22.3 million ha. Malwa plateau and Bundelkhand
• Climate: Hot summers, mild winters; rainfall 1000-1500 mm.
• Soils: Red and black soils.
• Key Crops: Rice, sorghum, pigeonpea, wheat.
• Constraints: Inundation risks, drought spells, Deficiency of N, P and Zn resulting in nutrient imbalances
• Rainfed agriculture is the common practice

11. Chhattisgarh/Mahanadi Basin Agro-Eco-Region

• Area: 14.1 million ha (4.3% of India) It covers Chhattisgarh region and southwest highlands of Bihar State.
• Climate: Hot, sub-humid; annual rainfall 1200-1600 mm (70-80% from July-September); LGP: 150-180 days.
• Crops: Kharif – rice, millets, pigeonpea, moong, blackgram; Rabi – wheat and rice (irrigated).
• Natural Vegetation: Tropical moist deciduous forest.
• Constraints: Soil erosion, waterlogging, drought, nutrient deficiencies (N, P, Zn, B).

12. Eastern Plateau (Chhotanagpur) and Eastern Ghats

• Area: 26.8 million ha (8.2% of India)
• Climate: Hot summers, cool winters; annual rainfall 1000-1600 mm; LGP: 150-210 days.
• Crops: Kharif – rice, pulses, groundnut; Rabi – rice and wheat (irrigated).
• Natural Vegetation: Tropical dry and moist deciduous forests.
• Constraints: Soil erosion, seasonal drought, nutrient deficiencies (N, P, Zn, B).

13. Eastern Plain, Hot Subhumid (Moist) Eco-Region

• Area: 11.1 million ha (3.4% of India)
• Climate: Hot, wet summers; cool, dry winters; annual rainfall 1400-1800 mm; LGP: 180-210 days.
• Crops: Kharif – rice, maize, pigeonpea, moong; Rabi – wheat, lentil, groundnut.
• Natural Vegetation: Tropical moist and dry deciduous forests.
• Constraints: Flooding, salinity/sodicity, nutrient deficiencies (N, P, Zn).

14. Western Himalayas, Warm Subhumid (To Humid) Eco-Region

• Area: 21.2 million ha (6.3% of India)
• Climate: Mild summers, cold winters; rainfall 1000-2000 mm (more in parts); LGP: 150-210 days.
• Crops: Wheat, millet, maize, rice (rainfed); horticultural crops (apples).
• Natural Vegetation: Himalayan moist temperate, subtropical pine, sub-alpine forests.
• Constraints: Limited crop choice due to severe climate, soil erosion, soil degradation.

15. Assam and Bengal Plain, Hot Subhumid to Humid Eco-Region

• Area: 12.1 million ha (3.7% of India)
• Climate: Hot summers, cool winters; rainfall 1400-2000 mm; LGP: >210 days.
• Crops: Rice, jute (rainfed), tea, horticultural crops in foothills.
• Natural Vegetation: Tropical moist and dry deciduous forests.
• Constraints: Flooding, excessive leaching, low base status soils.

16. Eastern Himalayas, Warm Perhumid Eco-Region

• Area: 9.6 million ha (2.9% of India)
• Climate: Warm summers, cool winters; rainfall 2000 mm; LGP: >270 days.
• Crops: Jhum cultivation, millets, vegetables, plantation crops (tea, apples).
• Natural Vegetation: Subtropical pine, temperate wet evergreen forests.
• Constraints: Erosion, soil degradation, low temperature limits second crops.

17. North-Eastern Hills (Purvanchal), Warm Perhumid Eco-Region

• Area: 10.6 million ha (3.3% of India)
• Climate: Warm summers, cool winters; precipitation 2000-3000 mm; LGP: >270 days.
• Crops: Jhum cultivation, rice, millets, plantation crops (tea, coffee).
• Natural Vegetation: Wet evergreen and tropical moist deciduous forests.
• Constraints: Soil erosion, nutrient leaching, small land holdings.

18. Eastern Coastal Plain, Hot Subhumid to Semiarid Eco-Region

• Area: 8.5 million ha (2.6% of India)
• Climate: Varied; rainfall 900-1600 mm; LGP: 90-210 days.
• Crops: Rice (main), pulses, coconut, fisheries.
• Natural Vegetation: Varies due to maritime influence.
• Constraints: Soil salinity, cyclones.

19. Western Ghats and Coastal Plain, Hot Humid-Perhumid Eco-Region

• Area: 11.1 million ha (3.6% of India)
• Climate: Hot and humid summers, warm winters; rainfall >2000 mm; LGP: 150-210 days.
• Crops: Rice, tapioca, coconut, spices.
• Natural Vegetation: Tropical moist deciduous forests.
• Constraints: Nutrient leaching, water logging, soil erosion.

20. Islands of Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep, Hot Humid to Perhumid Island Eco-Region

• Area: 0.8 million ha (0.3% of India)
• Climate: Tropical; rainfall 1600-3000 mm; LGP: >210 days.
• Crops: Rice, coconut, intercropping with pineapple, tapioca.
• Natural Vegetation: Tropical rainforests.
• Constraints: Soil erosion, saline marshes, ecosystem degradation.