Varkala

Block soil report

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

What the soil tests found

8

out of 10

Soil score

Good

Short in most fields here: boron.

For most crops. How the soil score works

soil samples, 2024-25
1,652
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 10% High 89%

    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% 10% 89%
    Thiruvananthapuram 2% 10% 88%
    Kerala 9% 17% 74%
    India 14% 41% 45%

  • Potassium

    Okay

    Low 31% Medium 52% High 17%

    3 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 31% 52% 17%
    Thiruvananthapuram 15% 45% 40%
    Kerala 29% 42% 29%
    India 14% 53% 34%

  • Organic carbon

    Good

    Low 6% Medium 8% High 86%

    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 LowMediumHigh
    Here 6% 8% 86%
    Thiruvananthapuram 13% 19% 67%
    Kerala 18% 18% 64%
    India 48% 28% 23%

  • pH

    Good

    Acidic 19% Neutral 81%

    2 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 Alkaline

    Most crops do best at pH 6.5 to 7.5.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place AcidicNeutralAlkaline
    Here 19% 81% 0%
    Thiruvananthapuram 15% 85% 0%
    Kerala 33% 67% 0%
    India 12% 86% 2%

  • Salt

    Good

    Not salty 98% Salty 2%

    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 98% 2%
    Thiruvananthapuram 98% 2%
    Kerala 99% 1%
    India 96% 4%

  • Sulphur

    Okay

    Short 30% Enough 70%

    3 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 30% 70%
    Thiruvananthapuram 34% 66%
    Kerala 47% 53%
    India 24% 76%

  • Zinc

    Good

    Enough 100%

    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 0% 100%
    Thiruvananthapuram 0% 100%
    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%
    Thiruvananthapuram 0% 100%
    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%
    Thiruvananthapuram 0% 100%
    Kerala 1% 99%
    India 5% 95%

  • Manganese

    Good

    Short 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 more

    Healthy soil has 2 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 1% 99%
    Thiruvananthapuram 0% 100%
    Kerala 4% 96%
    India 13% 87%

  • Boron

    Poor

    Short 87% Enough 13%

    9 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 87% 13%
    Thiruvananthapuram 43% 57%
    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. 1,652 samples.

Climate in Thiruvananthapuram

Rain

About 1,840 mm of rain a year

In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,630 mm.

Temperature

Hottest in April: days about 34°, nights 25°

Coolest in January: days about 31°, nights 22°.

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