What the soil tests found
6
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, pH, sulphur and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 2,093
- 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 77% Medium 22%
8 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 77% 22% 0% Saraikela Kharsawan 75% 25% 0% Jharkhand 49% 51% 1% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
OkayLow 42% Medium 27% High 31%
4 in 10 soil tests here came out low
If your field is low: add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.
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 42% 27% 31% Saraikela Kharsawan 36% 28% 36% Jharkhand 11% 63% 26% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 10% Medium 83% High 8%
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 10% 83% 8% Saraikela Kharsawan 8% 82% 9% Jharkhand 15% 76% 9% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
OkayLow 45% Medium 48% High 7%
4 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 45% 48% 7% Saraikela Kharsawan 49% 42% 9% Jharkhand 34% 48% 19% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
PoorAcidic 63% Neutral 37%
6 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 AlkalineMost crops do best at pH 6.5 to 7.5.
Compared with the wider area Place Acidic Neutral Alkaline Here 63% 37% 0% Saraikela Kharsawan 73% 27% 0% Jharkhand 39% 60% 0% 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% Saraikela Kharsawan 100% 0% Jharkhand 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
PoorShort 52% Enough 48%
5 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 52% 48% Saraikela Kharsawan 40% 60% Jharkhand 19% 81% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
OkayShort 33% Enough 67%
3 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 33% 67% Saraikela Kharsawan 31% 69% Jharkhand 17% 83% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 11% Enough 89%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 11% 89% Saraikela Kharsawan 12% 88% Jharkhand 3% 97% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodShort 14% Enough 86%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 14% 86% Saraikela Kharsawan 7% 93% Jharkhand 2% 98% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
OkayShort 48% Enough 52%
5 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 48% 52% Saraikela Kharsawan 26% 74% Jharkhand 5% 95% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 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 moreHealthy soil has 0.5 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 71% 29% Saraikela Kharsawan 62% 38% Jharkhand 34% 66% 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. 2,093 samples.
Climate in Saraikela Kharsawan
Rain
About 1,450 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,140 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 38°, nights 25°
Coolest in January: days about 25°, 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°).