What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, organic carbon and iron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 1,531
- 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 96% Medium 4%
Almost every soil test 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 96% 4% 0% Prakasam 97% 2% 0% Andhra Pradesh 73% 24% 3% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 9% Medium 27% High 65%
Most soil tests here came out high
If your field is high: you can use about a quarter less DAP than usual.
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 9% 27% 65% Prakasam 5% 27% 68% Andhra Pradesh 16% 34% 50% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 1% Medium 13% High 86%
Most soil tests here came out high
If your field is high: you can use about a quarter less potash than usual.
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 1% 13% 86% Prakasam 1% 15% 84% Andhra Pradesh 10% 30% 60% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
PoorLow 65% Medium 1% High 34%
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 65% 1% 34% Prakasam 68% 10% 21% Andhra Pradesh 57% 24% 19% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
OkayNeutral 53% Alkaline 47%
5 in 10 soil tests here came out alkaline
If your field is alkaline: add compost or farmyard manure. Very alkaline land also needs gypsum; a soil lab works out how much.
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% 53% 47% Prakasam 0% 79% 21% Andhra Pradesh 1% 93% 6% 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% Prakasam 100% 0% Andhra Pradesh 93% 7% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
GoodShort 1% Enough 99%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 1% 99% Prakasam 3% 97% Andhra Pradesh 15% 85% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
OkayShort 35% Enough 65%
4 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 35% 65% Prakasam 32% 68% Andhra Pradesh 38% 62% India 35% 65% -
Iron
PoorShort 66% Enough 34%
7 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 66% 34% Prakasam 33% 67% Andhra Pradesh 29% 71% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodShort 1% Enough 99%
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 1% 99% Prakasam 6% 94% Andhra Pradesh 6% 94% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodEnough 100%
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 0% 100% Prakasam 6% 94% Andhra Pradesh 12% 88% India 13% 87% -
Boron
GoodShort 20% Enough 80%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 20% 80% Prakasam 8% 92% Andhra 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. 1,531 samples.
Climate in Prakasam
Rain
About 820 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 650 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 40°, nights 28°
Coolest in January: days about 31°, nights 19°.
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°).