Climate and soils shape the economy and life in Odisha. Soil is the top layer of the Earth’s surface, affecting agricultural productivity. Odisha has varied soils and a tropical monsoon climate.
Odisha’s climate is influenced by the sea, being close to it. This leads to hot summers, wet monsoons, and pleasant winters. The weather stays fairly constant throughout the year.
Odisha has three main seasons: summer, rainy, and winter. Let’s look at each season:
Summer Season
Summer in Odisha starts in March and ends in June. It’s very hot, with temperatures often over 40°C.
The Western districts face temperatures between 40-46°C almost all year.
Rainy Season
- The rainy season starts in July and ends in mid-October. North and North-Eastern parts get less than 15% rainfall variability.
- South and South-Western parts see 15-20% rainfall variability.
- Odisha gets rainfall from the South-West Monsoon in summer. The monsoon starts in the coastal plain in early June and affects the whole state by July. By mid-October, it withdraws.
- Coastal areas often face cyclones and tornadoes in this season. July is the wettest month, causing floods in major rivers.
- Humidity is very high in the monsoon season. Coastal Odisha has about 75% humidity, while inland areas have about 60%.
High Annual Rainfall Regions
- The Northern Odisha region gets over 155 cm of rainfall annually. This area includes the catchment basins of the Budhabalanga, Baitarani, Brahmani, and Ib rivers. It covers Mayurbhanj, Northern and Western Kendujhar, Lahara sub-division of Angul, Sundargarh, and Eastern Sambalpur districts.
- This region’s high rainfall is due to cyclones during the monsoon season.
- South-East Odisha also gets a lot of rainfall. The lower reaches of the Brahmani and Mahanadi rivers, including Bhadrak, Sukinda, Kendrapara, and Cuttack, receive high rainfall.
Low Annual Rainfall Regions
The low rainfall areas are mainly in South-East Odisha.
- These areas include the catchment basins of the Vamsadhara and Rushikulya rivers, and a small stretch to the East of lake Chilika. They also cover Eastern Koraput, Ganjam, the Western part of Puri district, the upper Tel catchment basin, the Baragarh plain, and the middle Brahmani catchment basin.
- These regions are not directly affected by cyclones or monsoon winds from the Bay of Bengal
Winter Season
- The winter season in Odisha starts from mid October and ends in February. The
- weather in this season ranges from 25°C-18°C in the coastal areas due to
- moderating influence of the sea. In the interiors the temperature dips to 7°C.
- Winter is not very severe except in some areas in Koraput and Kandhamal where
- minimum temperature may drop to 3-4°C.
- The state also experience little rainfall during winter season in the months of
- October and November, January and February remain dry. The Southern and
- Western parts of the state also experience thunder showers.
Local Seasonal Divisions in Odisha
Although, Odisha has there main seasons, but the year is locally divided into six seasons,
such as:
i. Grishma (Summer) Vaisakha and Jyestha (mid-April to mid-June).
ii. Barsa (Rainy season), Ashadha and Sravana (mid-June to mid-August).
iii. Sharaed (Autumn), Bhadraba and Aswina (mid-August to mid-October).
iv. Hemanta (Winter), Kartik and Margasira (mid-October to mid-December).
v. Sisira (Winter), Pausa and Magha (mid-December to mid-February).
vi. Basanta (Spring), Falguna and Chaitra (mid-February to mid-April).

Rainfall in Odisha
Rainfall in Odisha is mainly experienced during monsoon and winter seasons. The
account of the rainfall of the state is discussed below:
Monsoon Rainfall
- The monsoon rainfall is considered as important rainfall in the state. It is because it
- directly controls the crop production and condition in Odisha. In monsoon season
- when rainfall is above 140 cm, it is considered as high rainfall and if it is less than
- 120 cm, it is considered to be low rainfall. This is hardly sufficient for a good paddy harvest.
- The high monsoon regions of the state are:
- l The parts of Ib River and portions of the Northern Baitarani basin which comprise
- Eastern Sambalpur, Western Sundargarh and Sadar sub-division of Keonjhar
- district.
- l The Phulbani and Phiringia regions receive high rainfall.
- The low monsoon regions, in the state are as follows:
- l The region of South-West of Odisha receive low rainfall during monsoon.
- l The parts of middle Baitarani basin, which extend to North-East of Talcher,
- receives low rainfall during monsoon.
Winter Rainfall
- Winter rainfall is helpful in the growth of the rabi crop in Odisha. If there is a total rainfall above 5 cm, it is considered high winter rainfall and less than 2.5 cm is considered as low winter rainfall in Odisha.
- The areas of high and low winter rainfall are as follows:
- l The high winter rainfall region lies in the North Odisha, from Baripada in the East to Sundargarh in the West. This region covers North-Eastern portions of Sambalpur, Northern part of Keonjhar, almost the whole of Mayurbhanj and the middle portions of Balasore district.
- The coastal areas like Puri and Khurda receive more than 5 cm of rainfall.
- The plateau of Phulbani and Phiringia also receive high winter rainfall.
- l The low winter rainfall region lies in South-West Odisha, it covers the district of Koraput. It is particularly a single-crop region.
Climatic Regions in Odisha
Different Geographers have given different classifications regarding the climate of
Odisha. These classifications are given below:
Agro-Climatic Zone | Agricultural Districts | Climate | Broad Soil Group |
---|---|---|---|
North-Western Plateau | Sundargarh, parts of Deogarh and Sambalpur, Jharsuguda | Hot and moist sub-humid | Red, Brown forest, Red and Yellow, Mixed Red and Black |
North-Central Plateau | Mayurbhanj, major parts of Keonjhar (except Anandpur and Ghasipur block) | Hot and moist sub-humid | Red and Yellow, Mixed Red and Black, Laterite |
North-Eastern Coastal Plain | Balasore, Bhadrak, parts of Jajpur, Hatadihi block of Keonjhar | Moist sub-humid | Red, Deltaic alluvial, Coastal alluvial and Saline |
East and South-Eastern Coastal Plain | Kendrapara, Khurda, part of Cuttack, Puri, Nayagarh and Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur | Hot and humid | Saline, Red and Mixed Red and Black, Laterite, Alluvial |
North-Eastern Ghats | Phulbani, Rayagada, Gajapati, part of Ganjam, small patches of Koraput | Hot and moist sub-humid | Brown forest, Red, Mixed Red and Black, Laterite, Alluvial |
Eastern Ghats Highland | Major parts of Koraput, Nabarangpur | Warm and humid | Red, Mixed Red and Black, Mixed Red and Yellow |
South-Eastern Ghats | Malkangiri and parts of Keonjhar | Warm and humid | Red, Black and Laterite |
Western Undulating Zone | Kalahandi and Nuapada | Hot and moist sub-humid | Red, Mixed Red and Black |
Western Central Table Land | Bargarh, Balangir, Boudh, Sonepur, parts of Sambalpur and Jharsuguda | Hot and moist sub-humid | Red, Yellow, Red Black, Black and Brown Forest, Laterite |
Mid Central Table Land | Angul, Dhenkanal, parts of Cuttack and Jajpur | Hot and moist sub-humid | Alluvial, Red, Mixed Red and Black, Laterite |
- This table summarizes the agro-climatic zones of Odisha along with their corresponding agricultural districts, climate, and broad soil groups.
- Odisha’s climate is classified as tropical savannah type (AW) by Koppen. Thornthwaite’s classification puts it under sub-humid with deficient winter rains. The coastal region is classified as tropical savannah by SB Chatterjee.
- Odisha is divided into 10 agro-climatic zones by the Forest and Environment Department. These zones are crucial for agriculture and planning.
- A cyclone is a large rotating air mass with low pressure at its center. It has high pressure air around it. Cyclones often hit Odisha, causing damage.
- Odisha’s location on the Bay of Bengal makes it prone to cyclones. The 1999 super cyclonic storm was one of the worst. It caused massive destruction and floods.
- Other notable cyclones include Titli, Hudhud, and Phailin. These storms have affected various districts in Odisha.
- Soil is vital for human life. Its characteristics depend on parent rock, climate, relief, vegetation, time, and organisms. Odisha’s soils are heterogeneous, affecting crop productivity.
- Odisha’s soils are classified into two main groups: by formation and by relief features.
- Transported soils are a mix of eroded materials. Residual soils are formed by erosion agents. These soils are found in different parts of Odisha.
- Soils are also classified by relief features into eight major groups. These include red, laterite, and coastal soils, among others.
- Red soil is common in Odisha. It’s formed from iron deposits and has a coarse texture.
- This soil is very porous and holds little water. It covers about 7.14 million hectares in Odisha, making it the largest soil type in the state.
- It’s found in many districts like Koraput, Rayagada, and Nabarangpur. Also, in Keonjhar, Ganjam, and others.
- The soil is not salty and has a red color due to iron oxides. It’s slightly acidic and lacks nitrogen, organic matter, and molybdenum.
- It’s different from laterite soil, having more silica and some bases.
- Crops like rice and potatoes grow well here. Also, fruit trees like mangoes and guavas thrive.
Red and Yellow Soil
- These soils are in undulating terrains with varying depths and textures. They cover 5 million hectares in Odisha.
- They are in Sambalpur, Bargarh, and other districts. These soils are divided into upland and lowland areas.
- Upland soils are coarser and well-drained. They are more acidic than lowland soils.
- Lowland soils are finer and have a pale yellow color. They can show mottling due to seasonal flooding and drying.
- Crops like rice and sugarcane grow in uplands. In lowlands, paddy and fruit trees are common.
Black Soil
- Formed from basic rocks in low-lying areas, this soil covers 0.96 million hectares. It’s found in several districts of Odisha.
- This soil has deep cracks in summer and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. It’s clayey and has a blocky structure.
- It lacks nitrogen and potassium but is rich in minerals. This gives it a black color.
- Crops like rice and jowar grow well here.
Laterite Soil
- Laterite soil is rich in minerals like aluminium and iron. It’s found in high, rainy areas of Odisha.
- It covers about 0.70 million hectares in districts like Puri and Keonjhar. This soil is highly permeable but lacks essential nutrients.
- It’s poor in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Despite this, it supports various crops.
- calcium. It is generally acidic in nature.
- l Crops like groundnut, pulses, rice, finger millet, minor millet, sesame, potatoes
- other vegetables and fruits like mango, jack fruit, banana, guava and sapota are grown in this soil.
Deltaic Alluvial Soil
- The soil texture varies from coarse sand to clay, depending on the geomorphology of the flood plain and the type of alluvium carried by the river.
- The structure of this soil is granular.
- These soils cover 0.67 million hectares of land. They are found in the
- districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Puri,
- Gajapati and Ganjam district.
- These soils have four divisions from North to South such as:
- i. North Balasore region having sandy or sandy loam soil.
- ii. Delta of Baitarani and Brahmani having soil which varies from clay loam to
- stiff clay.
- iii. Delta of Mahanadi having soil which stratified into clay and silt sand.
- iv. Rushikulya Delta having soil which is more sandy in nature.
- l These soils are fertile, but they lack nitrogen and phosphorus. Soil fertility decreases if not recharged by flooding.
- Important crops grown in these soils are rice, groundnut, mustard, sesame, potato,
- black gram, and vegetables.
Coastals Saline and Alluvial Soil
- These soils include high soluble coastal salts. Salinity is due to salty tidal water from the sea.
- These soils have salts like chlorides and sulphates of sodium, magnesium and to a
- lesser extent of calcium and potassium.
- These soils are found along the coastal belt in a narrow strip. They cover 0.254 million hectares of land. These soils are
- found in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri,
Khurda and Ganjam.
- The texture is clay to clay loam and are columnar in structure. Soils of the Chilika
- lake also get affected by salts due to flooding of salty lake water during monsoon.
- Important crops which are grown in these soils are rice, mustard, barley, linseed,
- chilli, sugarbeet, tomato, spinach and cotton.
Brown Forest Soil
- This soil is found in the forest cover regions.
- This soil covers 0.17 million hectares of land. It occurs in the districts of Phulbani,
- Kandhamal, Rayagada and parts of Ganjam and Nayagarh. This is brown to grey
- brown in colour, light texture and acidic in reaction.
- The soil has medium to high organic matter and nitrogen content. Phosphorus and
- potash content are medium in this soil.
- Important crops grown in these soils are maize, tapioca, wheat, mustard and
- horticultural crops like jackfruit, mango, guava and citrus fruits.
Mixed Red and Black Soil
- This soil is found as association of both red and black soil together where black soil
- occurs in patches within the pre-dominant red soil. The red and black soils are so
- intermixed that red soil is found in upper regions whereas, black soil occurs in
- lower regions.
- This soil covers 0.16 million hectares of land. The soil is found in the Western
- districts of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sonepur and Balangir. The texture of these soils is
- light to medium where black soil is rich in calcium and red soil is rich in iron
- which provides catenary formation to the soil.
- Important crops grown in these soils are rice, sugarcane, maize, ragi, groundnut,
- Problems and Management of Soils in Odisha
- The problem soils of Odisha can be grouped into three classes which are:
- Low Fertile Acidic Soils The red and laterite and lateritic group of soils generally
- belong to this category which constitute about two-third of the total areas in the
- state. These soils are highly permeable and susceptible to droughts during frequent
- dry spell in the rainy season. These soils can be managed by the application of
- organic manures and liming material.
- Lowland Soils Posing iron-toxicity problems These soils located on valley slope,
- toe-slope lands receive washing of lateritic constituents rich in iron due to seepage.
- Improving drainage facilities by constructing deep drains around the field, checking
- lateral seepage of water by constructing check embankments across the slope reduces the iron toxicity.
- Coastal Salt Affected Soils During rainy season the salt content in these soils become low because of dilution and flushing off salt through leaching under heavy rain.
- These soils can be managed by application of soil nutrients, avoidance of fallow land and growing of suitable crops.
FAQs
- What type of climate does Odisha have?
Odisha has a tropical climate. - When does the summer season commence in Odisha?
The summer season in Odisha commences in March. - In which month does the whole state of Odisha come under the influence of the South-West monsoon?
The whole state comes under the influence of the South-West monsoon in June. - In which season do some coastal parts of Odisha experience cyclones and tornadoes?
Some coastal parts of Odisha experience cyclones and tornadoes during the rainy season. - What is the average rainfall experienced during July-September in Odisha?
The average rainfall experienced during July-September in Odisha is 200 cm. - Winters are not very severe in Odisha except in which regions?
Winters are not very severe in Odisha except in Koraput and Kandhamal. - When does the Sharaed or Autumn season prevail in Odisha?
The Sharaed or Autumn season prevails in Odisha from mid-August to mid-October. - Which regions in Odisha experience high monsoon rainfall?
Phulbani and Phiringia experience high monsoon rainfall. - Which areas in Odisha receive more than 5 cm of rainfall during winters?
Both Puri and Khurda, and Phulbani receive more than 5 cm of rainfall during winters. - According to Koppen’s classification, what is the climate of Odisha?
According to Koppen’s classification, Odisha has a tropical savannah climate. - Which cyclone hit Odisha in 2018?
Cyclone Titli hit Odisha in 2018. - In which year did the super cyclonic storm that created massive destruction in Odisha occur?
The super cyclonic storm occurred from 25 October to 4 November 1999. - Which is the most heterogeneous in nature in Odisha?
The soils of Odisha are the most heterogeneous in nature. - Which soil covers the largest area in Odisha?
Red soil covers the largest area in Odisha. - Which statement is not correct about red soil of Odisha?
The soil is saline is not correct about red soil of Odisha. - Which soils occur in undulating and rolling terrains in Odisha?
Red and Yellow soils occur in undulating and rolling terrains in Odisha. - Which soil is formed as a result of weathering of basic rock in the low-lying regions of Nuapada, Balangir, Sonepur, Boudh, Sambalpur, and Angul?
Black soil is formed as a result of weathering of basic rock in these regions. - Which soil is rich in aluminum and iron in Odisha?
Laterite soil is rich in aluminum and iron in Odisha. - Where is Laterite soil found in Odisha?
Laterite soil is found in Cuttack, Dhenkanal, and Puri. - What type of soil does the delta area of North Balasore contain?
The delta area of North Balasore contains sandy loam soil. - Which soil loses its fertility if it is not recharged regularly by floods in Odisha?
Deltaic Alluvial soil loses its fertility if it is not recharged regularly by floods. - Which soil is affected by coastal salt in Odisha?
Coastal Saline and Alluvial soil is affected by coastal salt. - Where is Brown soil found in Odisha?
Brown soil is found in both Phulbani and Kandhamal. - Which soil in Odisha is rich in calcium and iron and has a light to medium texture?
Mixed red and black soil is rich in calcium and iron and has a light to medium texture. - What measure is taken to check iron toxicity in lowland soils in Odisha?
Constructing embankments across the slope is a measure taken to check iron toxicity in lowland soils. - Does monsoon rainfall directly control the crop conditions in Odisha?
Yes, monsoon rainfall directly controls the crop conditions in Odisha. - Is the ‘Northern monsoon high’ less widespread than the ‘annual high’ in the same region?
Yes, the ‘Northern monsoon high’ is less widespread than the ‘annual high’ in the same region. - Where is the maximum extension of low annual rainfall found in Odisha?
The maximum extension of low annual rainfall is found in South-East Odisha. - Which soils are found in the Western undulating zone of Odisha?
Red and Mixed Red and Black soils are found in the Western undulating zone of Odisha. - Which soils are found in the Sambalpur district of Odisha?
Red, Mixed Red and Black, and Laterite soils are found in the Sambalpur district of Odisha. - What is the climate of the North-Western Plateau zone in Odisha?
The North-Western Plateau zone has a hot and moist sub-humid climate. - What is the climate of the Eastern Ghats Highland zone in Odisha?
The Eastern Ghats Highland zone has a warm and humid climate. - What is the climate of the North-Eastern Coastal Plain zone in Odisha?
The North-Eastern Coastal Plain zone has a moist sub-humid climate. - What is the climate of the East and South-Eastern Coastal Plain zone in Odisha?
The East and South-Eastern Coastal Plain zone has a hot and humid climate.