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Mainly Nepal can be divided into 4 zones on the basis of crop’s
production.
Zones
|
Altitude (m)
|
Temperature
(Degree Celcius)
|
Regions Occupied
|
Special Charatcters
|
Tropical
|
Less
than 1000m
|
Greater
than 24
|
Whole
Terai and Lower Valley in Hills
|
High
Temperature, Hot throughout the year, No Frost and Snow, More
Rainfall.
|
Sub-Tropical
|
1000-1500
|
15-24
|
Lower
Mid-Hills and Low High Hills
|
Comparitively
Cooler, Distinct Summer and Mild Frosty Winter.
|
Mild-Temperate
|
1500-2000
|
10-15
|
High
Hills, Mid Hills, Base of High hills, Mahabharat lekh
|
Moderate
Climate throughout the year.
|
Temperate
|
Greater
than 2000m
|
Less
than
10
|
Mahabharat
Lekh and High hills
|
Mostly
Frost and Snow, Very cold throughut the year, Less Rainfall.
|
Zones
|
Fruits
|
Vegetables
|
Tropical
|
Mango,
Banana, Papaya, Litchi, Jack fruit, Guava, Pineapple, Avocado, Coconut, Jack
Fruit, Bread Fruit, Date Fruit, etc.
|
Tender(Non Hardy)
Vegetables
Beans,
Cabbage, Capsicum, Chilli Peppers, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Lettuce, Luffa, Okra
Peppers,
Pumpkins, Radish, Silverbeet , Squash, etc.
|
Sub-Tropical
|
Citrus Fruits, Pomegranate, fig, date,
guava, avocado, etc.
|
Semi-hardy and non-hardy
vegetables
|
Mild-Temperate
|
Mild Decidious Fruits, Peach, plum, Apricot,
pear, almond, persimmon, chestnut, etc.
|
Hardy and Semihardy
vegetables
|
Temperate
|
Apple,
pear, walnut, other temperate fruits.
|
Hardy vegetables(Cold
Temperature resistant vegetables)
|
Explanation:
1. Tropical zone
The
tropical zone below 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) experiences frost less than once
per decade. It can be subdivided into lower tropical (below 300 meters or 1,000
ft.) with 18% of the nation's land area) and upper (18% of land area) tropical
zones. The best mangoes and well as papaya and banana are largely confined to
the lower zone. Other fruit such as litchee, jackfruit, citrus and mangoes of
lower quality grow in the upper tropical zone as well. Winter crops include
grains and vegetables typically grown in temperate climates. The Outer Terai is
virtually all in the lower tropical zone. Inner Terai valleys span both
tropical zones. The Sivalik Hills are mostly upper tropical. Tropical climate
zones extend far up river valleys across the Middle Hills and even into the
Mountain regions.
Average
annual temperature ranges >24 degree celcius.
2. Subtropical zone
The
subtropical climate zone from 1,000 to 1,500meters (3,300 to 5000ft) occupies
22% of Nepal's land area and is the most prevalent climate of the Middle Hills
above river valleys. It experiences frost up to 53 days per year, however this
varies greatly with elevation, proximity to high mountains and terrain either
draining or ponding cold air drainage. Crops include rice, maize, millet,
wheat, potato, stone fruits and citrus.
Average
annual temperature ranges 15 to 24 degree celcius.
The
great majority of Nepal's population occupies the tropical and subtropical
climate zones. In the Middle Hills, upper-caste Hindus are concentrated in
tropical valleys which are well suited for rice cultivation while Janajati
ethnic groups mostly live above in the subtropical zone and grow other grains
more than rice.
3. Mild Temperate Zone
The
Mild Temperate Zone ranges from
altitude 1500 to 2000metres. In this zone, there is moderate climate throughout
the year and winter is not very severe. The higher altitude may get snow during
winters. High hills, mid-hills, base of high hills, lower mahabharat lekh fall
in this zone. The mild decidious fruits such as peach, plum, pear, almond,
apricot, etc and hardy and semi-hardy vegetables can be grown here.
Average
annual temperature ranges 10 to 15 degree celcius.
4. Temperate zone
The
Temperate zone from 2,000 to 3,000
meters (6,600 to 9,800 ft) occupies 12% of Nepal's land area and has up to 153
annual days of frost. It is encountered in higher parts of the Middle Hills and
throughout much of the Mountain region. Crops include cold-tolerant rice,
maize, wheat, barley, potato, apple, walnut, peach, various cole, amaranthus
and buckwheat.
Average
annual temperature ranges <10 celcius.="" degree="" o:p="">
Subalpine zone
The
Subalpine zone from 3,000 to 4,000
meters (9,800 to 13,100 ft) occupies 9% of Nepal's land area, mainly in the
Mountain and Himalayan regions. It has permanent settlements in the Himalaya,
but further south it is only seasonally occupied as pasture for sheep, goats,
yak and hybrids in warmer months. There are up to 229 annual days of frost
here. Crops include barley, potato, cabbage, cauliflower, amaranthus, buckwheat
and apple. Medicinal plants are gathered.
Alpine zone
The
Alpine zone from 4,000 to 5,000 meters (13,100 to 16,400 ft) occupies 8% of the
country's land area. There are a few permanent settlements above 4,000 meters.
There is virtually no plant cultivation although medicinal herbs are gathered.
Sheep, goats, yaks and hybrids are pastured in warmer months.
Above
5,000 meters the climate becomes Nival and there is no human habitation or even
seasonal use.