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has been assessed as 100, 20.8, 20.4, 13.8, 15.3, 21.6, 6.2, 5.2 and 3.3%, respectively. Despite
this deficiency, a considerable portion of soils, which are categorized just above the deficiency
level need special attention because improper management of these soils may again render them
in deficient category. As of now, the critical micronutrients in Haryana soils are Fe, followed by
Zn, Mn, Cu and B. It has been proved that application of micronutrient fertilizers was useful in
mitigating the deficiency in plants and also helped in exploiting the potential of crops.

Crops and cropping systems

The South-west Haryana grows important dry land crops of bajra, jowar (fodder), cotton and
cluster bean (Guar) during kharif season and gram, mustard, wheat and barley during rabi
season. Inter and mixed cropping of guar, moong, cowpea, mothbean, til, bajra and mixed
cropping of mustard in gram are common. The cropping intensity in rainfed area seldom exceeds
100 per cent. Under irrigated conditions, wheat, barley and mustard crops occupy major areas.
However, in some pockets of Bhiwani and Jhajjar districts, cotton and sugarcane are also
cultivated under irrigation conditions. As explained earlier, cropping intensity played a key role
in propelling Haryana agriculture to a commanding position. In order to keep pace with the
requirements of conventional high intensity cropping, it is necessary to quickly prepare fields for
timely planting of the next crop. Accomplishing right tilth in a speedier way is a prerequisite,
which in turn calls for employment of machines like cultivators and tractors. The cropping
intensity is high (140%) in Nuh and Ferozpur-Zirka, medium (140-120%) in Mahendragarh and
low (120-110%) in all other area except in Loharu sub-division of Bhiwani district where the
intensity is lowest (l06%). The cropping pattern in this zone is dominated by cereal crops like
rice, wheat and maize. Sugarcane is a major cash crop. Rapeseed and mustard, vegetable and
pulses are also grown. Groundnut is also taken in northern part of Ambala district.

Fertilizer consumption
Total consumption of N, P 2O 5 and K 2O was 69,931, 18,491 and 6,204 tonnes, whereas
consumption of ZnSO 4 was 21,360 and 7,680 tonnes in Kharif and Rabi season, respectively in
2016-17.