What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, organic carbon, sulphur and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 1,475
- nutrients checked in each sample
- 12
This shows what soil in this area tends to be like. Your own field can be different. Get it tested at a soil testing lab before deciding.
Nutrient by nutrient
-
Nitrogen
PoorLow 83% Medium 17%
8 in 10 soil tests here came out low
If your field is low: add about a quarter more urea than the usual dose, in two or three splits. A pulse crop in rotation also adds nitrogen.
What this means
Grows leaves and stems. Short soil gives pale, yellow leaves.
Low under 280 kg/ha Medium 280–560 kg/ha High over 560 kg/haHealthy soil has 280 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 83% 17% 0% Bastar 81% 19% 0% Chhattisgarh 77% 23% 0% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 17% Medium 64% High 19%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out low
What this means
Builds roots and helps the crop flower and fill grain.
Low under 10 kg/ha Medium 10–25 kg/ha High over 25 kg/haHealthy soil has 10 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 17% 64% 19% Bastar 21% 69% 9% Chhattisgarh 24% 67% 9% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 19% Medium 74% High 7%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out low
What this means
Fills grain and fruit, and helps crops stand drought and disease.
Low under 110 kg/ha Medium 110–280 kg/ha High over 280 kg/haHealthy soil has 110 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 19% 74% 7% Bastar 14% 66% 20% Chhattisgarh 4% 53% 43% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
PoorLow 68% Medium 31% High 2%
7 in 10 soil tests here came out low
If your field is low: add 4 tonnes of compost or farmyard manure per acre before sowing, and plough crop leftovers back in instead of burning them.
What this means
Shows how much organic matter the soil has. It keeps soil loose, holds water and feeds the crop slowly.
Low under 0.5% Medium 0.5–0.75% High over 0.75%Healthy soil has 0.5% or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 68% 31% 2% Bastar 65% 33% 3% Chhattisgarh 52% 36% 13% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodAcidic 10% Neutral 89% Alkaline 1%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out acidic
What this means
How sour (acidic) or alkaline the soil is. It decides which nutrients roots can take up.
Acidic Neutral AlkalineMost crops do best at pH 6.5 to 7.5.
Compared with the wider area Place Acidic Neutral Alkaline Here 10% 89% 1% Bastar 11% 89% 0% Chhattisgarh 9% 90% 0% India 12% 86% 2% -
Salt
GoodNot salty 100%
Almost no soil tests here came out salty
What this means
Salt in the soil, shown as EC on the card. Salt makes it hard for roots to drink.
Not salty SaltyUnder 1 dS/m is fine. Above 4 harms most crops.
Compared with the wider area Place Not salty Salty Here 100% 0% Bastar 99% 1% Chhattisgarh 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
PoorShort 50% Enough 50%
5 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: use single super phosphate instead of DAP, or add about 100 kg of gypsum per acre before sowing.
What this means
Makes oil in oilseeds and protein in pulses.
Short under 10 ppm Enough 10 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 10 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 50% 50% Bastar 60% 40% Chhattisgarh 37% 63% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
OkayShort 33% Enough 67%
3 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.
What this means
Needed for growth and healthy leaves. Rice and wheat often run short.
Short under 0.6 ppm Enough 0.6 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 0.6 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 33% 67% Bastar 50% 50% Chhattisgarh 49% 51% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 1% Enough 99%
Almost every soil test here had enough
What this means
Keeps young leaves green.
Short under 4.5 ppm Enough 4.5 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 4.5 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 1% 99% Bastar 4% 96% Chhattisgarh 10% 90% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodShort 3% Enough 97%
Almost every soil test here had enough
What this means
Helps the crop set seed and resist disease.
Short under 0.2 ppm Enough 0.2 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 0.2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 3% 97% Bastar 4% 96% Chhattisgarh 3% 97% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodShort 1% Enough 99%
Almost every soil test here had enough
What this means
Helps leaves make food from sunlight.
Short under 2 ppm Enough 2 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 1% 99% Bastar 7% 93% Chhattisgarh 2% 98% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 70% Enough 30%
7 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: mix 4 kg of borax per acre into the soil before sowing.
What this means
Needed for flowers to set seed and fruit.
Short under 0.5 ppm Enough 0.5 ppm or moreHealthy soil has 0.5 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 70% 30% Bastar 68% 32% Chhattisgarh 22% 78% India 45% 55%
Fixes are the usual advice. Your Soil Health Card or nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra gives the exact dose for your field.
Source: Soil Health Card – soil nutrient analysis (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 2023-24 & 2024-25. 1,475 samples.
Climate in Bastar
Rain
About 1,590 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,410 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 39°, nights 26°
Coolest in January: days about 29°, nights 15°.
Averages for an area about 100 km across; hills and valleys can differ by several degrees.
Source: IMD gridded daily rainfall (0.25°); IMD gridded daily max/min temperature (1°).