Darjeeling

• Nitrogen

  Good
  Low 10% Medium 88% High 2%

  1 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	Low	Medium	High
  Here	10%	88%	2%
  West Bengal	39%	58%	3%
  India	64%	30%	6%

• Phosphorus

  Okay
  Low 36% Medium 24% High 40%

  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/ha

  Healthy soil has 10 kg/ha or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Low	Medium	High
  Here	36%	24%	40%
  West Bengal	7%	21%	72%
  India	14%	41%	45%

• Potassium

  Good
  Low 11% Medium 79% High 10%

  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/ha

  Healthy soil has 110 kg/ha or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Low	Medium	High
  Here	11%	79%	10%
  West Bengal	14%	54%	32%
  India	14%	53%	34%

• Organic carbon

  Good
  Medium 9% High 91%

  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	Low	Medium	High
  Here	0%	9%	91%
  West Bengal	25%	41%	33%
  India	48%	28%	23%

• pH

  Poor
  Acidic 58% Neutral 42%

  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 Alkaline

  Most crops do best at pH 6.5 to 7.5.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Acidic	Neutral	Alkaline
  Here	58%	42%	0%
  West Bengal	27%	73%	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 salty	Salty
  Here	100%	0%
  West Bengal	95%	5%
  India	96%	4%

• Sulphur

  Poor
  Short 98% Enough 2%

  Almost every soil test 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	Short	Enough
  Here	98%	2%
  West Bengal	37%	63%
  India	24%	76%

• Zinc

  Poor
  Short 67% Enough 33%

  7 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 more

  Healthy soil has 0.6 ppm or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Short	Enough
  Here	67%	33%
  West Bengal	25%	75%
  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	Short	Enough
  Here	0%	100%
  West Bengal	1%	99%
  India	24%	76%

• Copper

  Okay
  Short 42% Enough 58%

  4 in 10 soil tests here came out short

  If your field is short: mix 2 kg of copper sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing.

  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	Short	Enough
  Here	42%	58%
  West Bengal	2%	98%
  India	5%	95%

• Manganese

  Poor
  Short 72% Enough 28%

  7 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 more

  Healthy soil has 2 ppm or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Short	Enough
  Here	72%	28%
  West Bengal	12%	88%
  India	13%	87%

• Boron

  Okay
  Short 46% Enough 54%

  5 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	Short	Enough
  Here	46%	54%
  West Bengal	62%	38%
  India	45%	55%

Fixes are the usual advice. Your Soil Health Card or nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra gives the exact dose for your field.