Vaikom

Block soil report

Most soil here is short of boron.
See which crops suit Vaikom

What the soil tests found

8

out of 10

Soil score

Good

Short in most fields here: potassium and boron.

For most crops. How the soil score works

soil samples, 2024-25
600
nutrients checked in each sample
11

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

  • Phosphorus

    Good

    Low 1% Medium 5% High 95%

    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/ha

    Healthy soil has 10 kg/ha or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place LowMediumHigh
    Here 1% 5% 95%
    Kottayam 6% 14% 80%
    Kerala 9% 17% 74%
    India 14% 41% 45%

  • Potassium

    Poor

    Low 65% Medium 28% High 7%

    6 in 10 soil tests here came out low

    If your field is low: add about a quarter more potash (MOP) than the usual dose.

    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/ha

    Healthy soil has 110 kg/ha or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place LowMediumHigh
    Here 65% 28% 7%
    Kottayam 27% 42% 31%
    Kerala 29% 42% 29%
    India 14% 53% 34%

  • Organic carbon

    Okay

    Low 24% Medium 24% High 52%

    2 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 LowMediumHigh
    Here 24% 24% 52%
    Kottayam 9% 18% 73%
    Kerala 18% 18% 64%
    India 48% 28% 23%

  • pH

    Okay

    Acidic 23% Neutral 77%

    2 in 10 soil tests here came out acidic

    If your field is acidic: add agricultural lime before sowing. A soil lab works out how much your field needs.

    What this means

    How sour (acidic) or alkaline the soil is. It decides which nutrients roots can take up.

    Acidic Neutral Alkaline

    Most crops do best at pH 6.5 to 7.5.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place AcidicNeutralAlkaline
    Here 23% 77% 0%
    Kottayam 44% 56% 0%
    Kerala 33% 67% 0%
    India 12% 86% 2%

  • Salt

    Good

    Not salty 99% Salty 1%

    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 Salty

    Under 1 dS/m is fine. Above 4 harms most crops.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place Not saltySalty
    Here 99% 1%
    Kottayam 99% 1%
    Kerala 99% 1%
    India 96% 4%

  • Sulphur

    Okay

    Short 21% Enough 79%

    2 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 more

    Healthy soil has 10 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 21% 79%
    Kottayam 14% 86%
    Kerala 47% 53%
    India 24% 76%

  • Zinc

    Good

    Short 2% Enough 99%

    Almost every soil test here had enough

    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 more

    Healthy soil has 0.6 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 2% 99%
    Kottayam 1% 99%
    Kerala 6% 94%
    India 35% 65%

  • Iron

    Good

    Enough 100%

    Almost every soil test here had enough

    What this means

    Keeps young leaves green.

    Short under 4.5 ppm Enough 4.5 ppm or more

    Healthy soil has 4.5 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 0% 100%
    Kottayam 1% 99%
    Kerala 2% 98%
    India 24% 76%

  • Copper

    Good

    Enough 100%

    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 more

    Healthy soil has 0.2 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 0% 100%
    Kottayam 0% 100%
    Kerala 1% 99%
    India 5% 95%

  • Manganese

    Good

    Short 5% Enough 95%

    1 in 10 soil tests here came out short

    What this means

    Helps leaves make food from sunlight.

    Short under 2 ppm Enough 2 ppm or more

    Healthy soil has 2 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 5% 95%
    Kottayam 3% 97%
    Kerala 4% 96%
    India 13% 87%

  • Boron

    Poor

    Short 71% Enough 29%

    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 more

    Healthy soil has 0.5 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 71% 29%
    Kottayam 71% 29%
    Kerala 47% 53%
    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). 2024-25. 600 samples.

Climate in Kottayam

Rain

About 3,440 mm of rain a year

In a normal year. A dry year brings about 2,940 mm.

Temperature

Hottest in April: days about 34°, nights 24°

Coolest in January: days about 31°, nights 21°.

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°).

Villages in this block