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MAHARASHTRA

Geographical position and climate

Maharashtra is the third largest state (in area) in India after Rajasthan and Madhya
Pradeshlocated between 16° N to 22° N latitudes and 72 .8° E longitudes. It covers an area of
2
307,713 km and is bordered by the states of Madhya Pradesh to the north, Chhattisgarh to the
east, Telangana to the southeast, Karnataka to the south and Goa to the southwest. The state
of Gujarat lies to the northwest, with the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli sandwiched
between the borders. Maharashtra has coastline of 720 km. The Arabian Sea makes up
Maharashtra's west coast. Maharashtra consists of two major relief divisions. The plateau is a
part of the Deccan tableland and the Konkan coastal strip abutting on the Arabian Sea.

The state enjoys a tropical monsoon climate and hot scorching summer(38-47 °C)from March to
the rainy monsoon in early June. The annual rainfall in the state varies from 450 mm in the rain
shadow area to 6000 mm in western ghats of which 80% is received from June to September.
Konkan and western ghat region has a water surplus limited to June to October with growing
period of more than 210 days. While rain shadow areas of western and central Maharashtra have
very few months of water surplus with growing period of 90 to 150 days. In eastern part of the
state, the growing period ranges from 150 to 180 days. The state is divided into six agro-eco-
regions, which in turn are sub divided in to twelve agro-ecological sub regions. The highly
pulsatory character of the monsoon, with its short spells of rainy weather and long dry spells,
floods, as well as droughts add much to the discomfort of the rural economy.

Soils

The geological formations in the state include Deccan trap, Lameta beds, Gondwanas and
Vindhyan system. Physiographically the state is divided into three broad regions viz, western
Konkan coast, western ghats and north deccan plateau. Taxonomically the soils of Maharashtra
are categorized into five soil orders namely Entisols (36.71%), Inceptisols (30.9%), Vertisols
(26.3%), Alfisols (5.6%), and Mollisols (0.1%). The soil type of Maharashtra is predominantly
black clayey soils on the plains punctuated with occasional stretches of shallow soils on the
ridges.Northern Region is carpeted by shallow, poor quality soil type. Southern Maharashtra,
especially Godavari Valley has deep and fertile soils.

Fertility status of soil in the state is low to medium in case of nitrogen and phosphorus and
medium to high in case of potash. As high as 25.7% soil of Vidarbha region are low in secondary
nutrient sulphur. As far as micronutrients are concerned, 49, 18 and 20% soils of Vidarbha are
low in zinc, iron and boron, respectively. In Marathwada region 29.4% soils are low in sulphur
whereas 51.5, 19.4 and 26.2% soils are low in zinc, iron and boron, respectively. In Konkan
region 40.4% soils are low in sulphur whereas 58.7 and 29.8% soils are low in boron and zinc,
respectively. In Western Maharashtra region 14.3% soils are low in sulphur whereas 20.7, 28.2
and 53.0% soils are low in zinc, iron and boron, respectively. As far as overall Maharashtra is
concerned 28.5% soils are low in sulphur whereas 37.8, 16.5 and 36.0% soils are low in zinc,
iron and boron, respectively. Soils of Maharashtra are low to medium in available sulphur status.
Regarding micronutrients, zinc is having the lowest availability, followed by iron. Boron
deficiency is observed in light and red soils of Maharashtra.