Martam

Block soil report

Many samples here are short of sulphur.

What the soil tests found

9

out of 10

Soil score

Good

Short in most fields here: pH.

For most crops. How the soil score works

soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
2,591
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

    Good

    Low 20% Medium 71% High 9%

    2 in 10 soil tests here came out low

    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/ha

    Healthy soil has 280 kg/ha or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place LowMediumHigh
    Here 20% 71% 9%
    Gangtok 19% 72% 9%
    Sikkim 33% 64% 4%
    India 64% 30% 6%
  • Phosphorus

    Good

    Medium 27% High 73%

    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 0% 27% 73%
    Gangtok 0% 29% 71%
    Sikkim 3% 27% 70%
    India 14% 41% 45%
  • Potassium

    Good

    Low 1% Medium 79% High 20%

    Almost every soil test here had enough

    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 1% 79% 20%
    Gangtok 1% 80% 19%
    Sikkim 9% 61% 31%
    India 14% 53% 34%
  • Organic carbon

    Good

    Low 20% Medium 50% High 30%

    2 in 10 soil tests here came out low

    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 20% 50% 30%
    Gangtok 18% 52% 29%
    Sikkim 15% 29% 56%
    India 48% 28% 23%
  • pH

    Poor

    Acidic 55% Neutral 45%

    5 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 55% 45% 0%
    Gangtok 53% 47% 0%
    Sikkim 49% 51% 0%
    India 12% 86% 2%
  • Salt

    Good

    Not 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 Salty

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

    Compared with the wider area
    Place Not saltySalty
    Here 100% 0%
    Gangtok 100% 0%
    Sikkim 98% 2%
    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%
    Gangtok 31% 69%
    Sikkim 9% 91%
    India 24% 76%
  • Zinc

    Good

    Short 2% Enough 98%

    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% 98%
    Gangtok 1% 99%
    Sikkim 3% 97%
    India 35% 65%
  • Iron

    Good

    Short 4% Enough 96%

    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 4% 96%
    Gangtok 3% 97%
    Sikkim 7% 93%
    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%
    Gangtok 0% 100%
    Sikkim 2% 98%
    India 5% 95%
  • Manganese

    Good

    Short 12% Enough 88%

    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 12% 88%
    Gangtok 12% 88%
    Sikkim 22% 78%
    India 13% 87%
  • Boron

    Good

    Short 18% Enough 82%

    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 more

    Healthy soil has 0.5 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 18% 82%
    Gangtok 22% 78%
    Sikkim 21% 79%
    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. 2,591 samples.

Climate in Gangtok

Rain

About 3,660 mm of rain a year

In a normal year. A dry year brings about 3,460 mm.

Temperature

Hottest in August: days about 30°, nights 23°

Coolest in January: days about 20°, nights 8°.

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