District Profile

S. No.

Agro-climatic Zone

Characteristics

1

Semi-Arid Eastern Plain Zone III A of Rajasthan

These zones have alluvial as well as black soils in some Districts. Only 28% area is irrigated and Pearl millet, Sorghum, Green gram, Black gram, Seas mum, Mustard, Wheat and Chickpea are the main crops of Kharif and Rabi in this region.

S. No.

Agro-ecological situation

Characteristics

1

The district Tonk is situated in mid-eastern part of Rajasthan falling in semi eastern plain zone III A. Out of the available 4.8 Lac ha cultivable land, only 1.9 Lac ha is sown more than once in a year. Around 40% land is problematic with brackish water. The major sources of irrigation are wells and ponds (Number 194). However, the irrigated area varies with precipitation and water availability in ponds. The average size of holding is 3.4 ha. Diversity of soils is immense. Rains cause ponding condition and water stress is experienced at later stages of crop growth. Around 21 percent and 12 percent population spreading in 1089 villages belongs to SC and ST categories respectively. Major crops are sorghum, groundnut, pearl millet, green gram, black gram, mustard, wheat, barley, chickpea, spices & vegetables in that order having wide realizable yield gaps. Cows and bullocks (1.71 Lac), buffaloes (4.37 Lac) sheep (2.19 Lac) goats (3.19 Lac) constitute the major bulk of cattle wealth in the district.

The district has seven broad farming situations and micro-farming situation based on soils, rainfall and irrigation facilities.

Rain fed-Coarse Texture Soil (R-CT): Areas adjoining Jaipur district have rainfall between 444-688 mm with low available water holding capacity promises cultivation of one crop in a year during Kharif. This situation can be taken as Sorghum / Pearl millet and Kharif pulses belt.

Rain fed medium Texture Soil (R-MT): Major area of the district has rainfall of 516-670 mm with water holding capacity of medium Texture Soil being 6.38 to 17.86 cm m^-1 in the plough layer and permit conservation of moisture in the monsoon. Sorghum is primary with Pearl millet as next major crop during Kharif followed by Seas mum, Black gram bean. During Rabi Chick pea, Mustard, Barley and wheat are grown on Conserved soil moisture. Now Pearl millet is replacing Sorghum due to limited rains. Sheep rearing is important in the farming situation.

Irrigated-Coarse Texture Soil (I-CT): This situation frequently intercepts the rainfall Coarse Textured situation in cropping pattern but permits 200 or higher cropping intensity and productivity of crops, spices, vegetables and fruits are also grown.

Irrigated-Medium Texture Soil (I-MT): Comparatively small farming situations intercept Rain fed medium Texture Soils. It receives irrigation both from wells and tanks / canals. In addition to Sorghum and Pearl millet, in the region Maize and Cotton are also grown. Cultivation of vegetables in pockets is followed.

Tank-bed and River-bed farming (TB-RB): The district has some large, natural tanks and seasonal Rivers. Farmers grow Wheat, Barley, Chick Pea and Mustard. During Rabi and summer vegetables in their beds after receding of water.

Brackish irrigation area: In the district 25-50 percent of wells supplies brackish water. Either Rain fed crops are grown or fields are left fallow for leaching of salts with rain water. Mustard, Wheat and Barley are grown during Rabi season.   

S. No.

Soil type

Characteristics

Area (000’ha)

1

Deep brown loamy soils

It is intermediate in texture between the clays and sandy soils. It is medium loamy textured soils, dark to light brown colour, more soil depth (> 1m) and clay content up to 35 %. Average nutrient and water holding capacity and fairly resistant to drought.

350.2

2

Medium brown loamy soils

It is intermediate in texture between the clays and sandy soils. It is medium loamy textured soils, dark to light brown colour, medium soil depth (50-100 cm), clay content up to 35%. Average nutrient and water holding capacity and fairly resistant to drought.

319.5

3

Red gravelly loam hilly soils

It is loamy gravelly textured soil, dark to light red colour and clay content up to 35 %. Average nutrient and water holding capacity and suitable for dry land farming.

28.9

4

Deep dark brown sandy soils

It is deep soil (> 1 m), light to dark yellowish brown colour, less clay content (< 15 %). Low nutrient and water holding capacity and not suitable for dry land farming.

19.4