Difference Between Rabi and Kharif Crops

The Arabic translation of Rabi is ‘Spring’. Rabi crops are sown during winter in India and Pakistan which is why they are also known as winter crops. The sowing season generally starts around November and the crops are harvested between March and April which is springtime in the region. Since monsoon is over by November in these countries, these crops are usually cultivated using irrigation or rainwater that has percolated into the ground. 

The seeds are sown at the start of autumn and the crop is harvested in the spring. Their seeds are planted at the start of the winter season, and the crop is harvested at the conclusion of the winter or early spring. Unseasonal showers in November and December are harmful to the growth of Rabi crops. 

Examples of Rabi crops:

Some of the common examples of major rabi crops grown in India are wheat, mustard, barley, green peas, sunflower, coriander, cumin, etc.

Wheat

A large portion of agricultural income for India comes through the production of wheat. It is the second-largest producer of this crop in the world.

As wheat requires low temperatures to grow, winter is the ideal season for farming this Rabi crop. The ideal temperature range should be around 140 to 180 C with a rainfall of 50 cms to 90cms. The crop is harvested in spring when the temperature is slightly warm. 

In India, Uttar Pradesh is the largest wheat-producing state and is closely followed by Punjab and Haryana.

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Mustard

Mustard is another Rabi crop that is widely used in Indian households for cooking. It requires a dry and cool climate to grow (subtropical climate) and the ideal temperature range is in-between 100 to 250C. With 60% of total production in the country, Uttar Pradesh again is the largest mustard producing state in the country followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

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What are Kharif Crops?

The word Kharif is also Arabic and it means ‘Autumn’ and the Kharif crops are harvested in this season (September or October).  These crops are also known as monsoon crops as they are cultivated in this season. They grow well in rain-fed areas with a hot and humid climate. Kharif crops are highly reliant on rainfall patterns. The quantity and timing of rains are the two most essential parameters that determine Kharif crop output. Their crops are harvested at the end of the monsoon season, and their seeds are planted at the start of the monsoon season.  

However, the Kharif season differs from state to state within India. The general period of sowing starts from June till November depending on the area.  The sowing season varies depending on the arrival of monsoon in different parts of India; for example, in southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, seeds are normally seeded towards the end of May, whereas in northern regions like Punjab and Haryana, seeds are sown around June.

Examples of Kharif crops:

Some examples of Kharif crops are rice, bajra, groundnut, cotton, etc.

Rice

Rice is the most common example of a Kharif crop. India produces 20% of the world’s rice production, second to China. It is one of the most important agricultural crops in the country and is a staple food pan India.

Rice grows in regions with heavy rainfall and requires a minimum rainfall of 100cms and an average temperature of 250 C The crop is traditionally grown in waterlogged rice paddy fields.

West Bengal is the largest rice-producing state in India.

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Maize

Maize is another important cereal crop in India. It requires a minimum rainfall of 50 cms to 75 cms and temperatures in-between 210 to 270C. The largest maize-producing state in India is Karnataka. Dent corn, flint corn, pod corn, popcorn, flour corn, and sweet corn are the six main varieties of maize. [5] Sweet corn varieties are grown for human consumption as kernels, whereas field corn varieties are used for animal feed, various corn-based human food uses (such as grinding into cornmeal or masa, pressing into corn oil, and fermentation and distillation into alcoholic beverages like bourbon whiskey), and chemical feedstocks. Ethanol and other biofuels are also made from maize.

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The Differences Between Rabi and Kharif Crops

What are Zaid Crops?

The wide range of crops that grow in the short season between Kharif and Rabi crop seasons are known as Zaid crops. These are the months of March till July.  Primarily from March to June. These crops are primarily grown throughout the summer, during what is known as the zaid crop season.

They need warm, dry conditions for the most of their growing span, as well as longer day duration for flowering. Between the rabi and kharif crop seasons is the zaid crop season. It is necessary to work during the warm months and during the rainy season. These plants also reach maturity early.

Examples of zaid crops:

Pumpkin, cucumber, bitter gourd, watermelon etc.

Watermelon 

Watermelon is grown in a variety of temperatures around the world, from tropical to temperate, for its enormous edible fruit, which is a berry with a hard skin and no internal divisions and is botanically known as a pepo. Although seedless cultivars exist, the luscious, juicy flesh is usually deep crimson to pink, with abundant black seeds. The rind is edible after cooking, and the fruit can be eaten fresh or pickled. It can also be drunk as a juice or as part of a mixed drink. 

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