Agro-climatic Zone

S. No

Agro-climatic Zone

Characteristics

1

Coastal Zone, Zone 10

ICAR- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dakshina Kannada, Kankanady, Mangaluru is situated in the Coastal Zone No-10 with an operational area of five Taluks viz., Mangaluru, Bantwal, Belthangady, Puttur and Sullia. The total Geographical area of the district is 4770 sq. km. The district has 130833 ha of net cultivable area mainly dependent on rainfall. The Normal rainfall is 4040 mm. The annual average rainfall received during the period January-2019 to December is 4057.93 mm. This district receives heavy rainfall during the months of  July, August and September. Maximum temperature of 35.3OC was recorded in the month of April-2019 and minimum temperature of 11.2OC was recorded during the month of January-2019. The Average relative humidity was recorded 70.4 during the reporting year. The soil in the major portions of the district consists of three types, viz. coastal sandy, alluvial, laterite and lateritic, red loamy soil. Apart from this, coastal saline soil is also noticed in some parts of the district owing to the proximity to sea or backwater. Soils are low in CEC and highly acidic in condition. The pH of the soil ranges from 4.12 to 5.8 with low soluble salt content. The major nutrient status of the soil is varying from low to medium. The major food crop grown in the district is Paddy.  The Plantation crops are Arecanut, Coconut, Cashew, Rubber, Pepper, Cocoa and Banana.  In some parts of the district, pulses like Black gram, Green gram, Horse gram and cowpea are grown in rabi and summer in paddy fallows. Sesamum is the oil seed crop and vegetables like cucumber, Bhendi, Chilli, Brinjal Bitter gourd, Ash gourd and  Little gourd are grown during Rabi/ Summer season.