If you are a farmer in a location with acute water constraints, you’d want crops that can survive and yield well in dry circumstances. What are your alternatives? This blog covers exactly that. All you need to know about drought-resistant crops is in this blog article.
Drought-resistant crops are the crops that can grow not falling victim to water scarcity. They can withstand minimal rainfall, high temperatures, and arid environments.
Mustard Greens
Mustard Greens are low-calorie, high-fibre crops with many essential vitamins and minerals. In particular, they’re an excellent source of vitamins C, and K. Mustard Greens can grow in a subtropical climate and thrive well in dry and cool weather. The mustard seed tree requires temperatures between 10°C to 25°C. Furthermore, the mustard crop grows in areas receiving 625 -1000 mm annual rainfall. The mustard farm does not tolerate freeze, so it requires a clear sky with frost-free conditions. Farming directions for Mustard Greens include:
- Soil Requirement: Mustard farming can happen in wide varieties of soils that range from light to heavy loamy soils. However, medium to deep soils with good drainage are best suitable for cultivating the mustard crop. Soil’s ideal pH range for mustard variety is 6.0 to 7.5.
- Land Preparation: Prepare the field by ploughing twice or harrowing once. You can simply mount it to a Mahindra Yuvo 415 Di and finish the job.
- Seed Treatment: Treat the seeds with thiram at 3 grams per kg of seeds to protect the plants from any seed disease.
- Sowing Methods: If you are planning mustard as an intercrop, sowing one line of mustard and four lines of a gram or one line of mustard and nine lines of wheat would be ideal.
India stands first in the production of mustard. According to reports from the IMARC Group, the India mustard oil market saw moderate growth in the 2015-2020 span and can grow at a CAGR of 9.5% during 2021-2026.
Figs
Figs are unique fruits that resemble a teardrop. They’re about the size of a thumb, filled with several tiny seeds, and have an edible green or purple peel. Figs have low calories and high vitamins and mineral content. They’re very high in fibre, copper, and vitamin B6. Fig, or Ficus carica, is one of the oldest fruits man knows of, which also has a mention in the Bible. Reports suggest that humans consumed it right from 3000-2000 BC in the eastern Mediterranean region. Farming directions for Figs include:
- Soil Requirement: Fig being a deciduous and sub-tropical tree, prefers areas having arid or semiarid environments, high summer temperature, plenty of sunshine and moderate water.
- Land Preparation: Dig pits with a size of 0.6 meters x 0.6 meters x 0.6 meters during land preparation for planting the cuttings.
India is one of the countries where there is a commercial cultivation of figs. The market for processed figs has grown due to the increased demand for convenience and longer shelf life. In addition, natural figs are popular among health-conscious consumers.
Quinoa
Quinoa can grow up to about 4,000 m from sea level. This grain can grow in poor soils as well. However, the most suited soil for quinoa farming is sandy loam. Avoid heavy clay soils as they are not suitable. Furthermore, Frost causes damage at the flowering stage, which results in yield reduction. Soils should have good drainage and high organic matter, with moderate slopes and average nutrient content. Quinoa prefers neutral soils, although it is usually grown on alkaline soils up to a pH of 9.0 and acidic soils up to a pH of 5.0. Farming directions for Quinoa include:
- Land Preparation: Land should be given a couple of ploughings to make it weed-free and bring the soil to a fine tilth stage.
- Sowing: Seeds can be directly sown in the main field or transplanted. You can use a superseeder mounted on your Mahinra Jivo 365.
The India quinoa market size reached 49,026.2 Tons in 2021. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach 189,196.2 Tons by 2027, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 25.3% during 2022-2027.
Buckwheat
Buckwheat is a pseudocereal that is gluten-free and packed with nutrients like protein, fibre, copper, and manganese. It also contains antioxidants and has potential blood sugar-lowering effects. Buckwheat can be grown on well-managed soil with moderate fertility and tolerates soil pH levels as low as 4.8. However, it does not tolerate stressful conditions or poorly prepared soil. Its fine roots penetrate the soil quickly but do not tolerate compaction, flooding or drought. Buckwheat grows on a wide range of soil types and fertility levels and is an efficient crop in extracting phosphorous of low availability from the soil. Farming directions for Buckwheat include:
- Soil Requirement: Buckwheat will perform well on well-managed soil with moderate fertility.
- Land Preparation: Land should be given a couple of ploughings to make it weed-free and bring the soil to a fine tilth stage.
- Sowing: Seeds can be directly sown in the main field or transplanted.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the drought-tolerant vegetables you may grow this summer. There are several other possibilities based on your region, temperature, and tastes. As a result, before deciding to grow drought-resistant crops this summer, do some study on the best kinds, methods, and markets for your specific circumstances. You should also contact specialists, extension workers, or other farmers who have grown these crops in the past. You should also monitor your crops on a regular basis and change your practices as needed.