What the soil tests found
8
out of 10
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 5,022
- 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
OkayLow 45% Medium 55%
4 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 45% 55% 0% Dhar 44% 56% 0% Madhya Pradesh 69% 31% 1% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 5% Medium 82% High 13%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 5% 82% 13% Dhar 8% 80% 12% Madhya Pradesh 10% 65% 25% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 6% Medium 70% High 24%
1 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 6% 70% 24% Dhar 4% 63% 34% Madhya Pradesh 4% 56% 40% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
GoodLow 11% Medium 18% High 71%
Most soil tests here came out high
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 11% 18% 71% Dhar 12% 19% 69% Madhya Pradesh 30% 40% 30% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodNeutral 100%
Almost every soil test here came out neutral
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 0% 100% 0% Dhar 0% 100% 0% Madhya Pradesh 1% 98% 1% 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% Dhar 100% 0% Madhya Pradesh 93% 7% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
OkayShort 37% Enough 63%
4 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 37% 63% Dhar 32% 68% Madhya Pradesh 19% 81% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
PoorShort 51% Enough 49%
5 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 51% 49% Dhar 50% 50% Madhya Pradesh 45% 55% India 35% 65% -
Iron
OkayShort 40% Enough 60%
4 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: spray ferrous sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, when young leaves turn yellow.
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 40% 60% Dhar 39% 61% Madhya Pradesh 22% 78% India 24% 76% -
Copper
OkayShort 22% Enough 78%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: mix 2 kg of copper sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing.
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 22% 78% Dhar 19% 81% Madhya Pradesh 7% 93% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
OkayShort 41% Enough 59%
4 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: spray manganese sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, on the young crop.
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 41% 59% Dhar 39% 61% Madhya Pradesh 8% 92% India 13% 87% -
Boron
OkayShort 38% Enough 62%
4 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 38% 62% Dhar 36% 64% Madhya Pradesh 26% 74% 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. 5,022 samples.
Climate in Dhar
Rain
About 850 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 730 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 41°, nights 26°
Coolest in January: days about 27°, nights 11°.
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°).