Ludhiana
Soil
What soil tests across the district found, nutrient by nutrient.
8
out of 10
Soil score
GoodShort in most fields here: potassium and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
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.
-
Phosphorus
GoodLow 18% Medium 34% High 49%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out low
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 18% 34% 49% Punjab 34% 34% 32% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
PoorLow 75% Medium 24% High 1%
7 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/haHealthy soil has 110 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 75% 24% 1% Punjab 63% 23% 14% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
OkayLow 25% Medium 65% High 10%
3 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 25% 65% 10% Punjab 41% 44% 15% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodNeutral 100%
Almost every soil test here came out neutral
What this means
How sour (acidic) or alkaline the soil is. It decides which nutrients roots can take up.
Acidic Neutral AlkalineIn these tests, neutral means about pH 6 to 8, which suits most crops; acidic is below about 6 and alkaline above about 8.
Compared with the wider area Place Acidic Neutral Alkaline Here 0% 100% 0% Punjab 1% 91% 9% 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% Punjab 95% 5% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
GoodShort 6% Enough 94%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 6% 94% Punjab 13% 87% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
GoodShort 4% Enough 96%
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 moreHealthy soil has 0.6 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 4% 96% Punjab 10% 90% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 6% Enough 94%
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 6% 94% Punjab 19% 81% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodEnough 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 moreHealthy soil has 0.2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 0% 100% Punjab 1% 99% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodShort 7% Enough 93%
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 moreHealthy soil has 2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 7% 93% Punjab 50% 50% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 68% Enough 33%
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 68% 33% Punjab 79% 21% India 45% 55%
Too few tests here to judge nitrogen (1 test).
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. 5,942 samples.
Climate
Rain and temperature through the year, from 24 years of weather records.
Rain
About 740 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 580 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 39 °C, nights 24 °C
Coolest in January: days about 18 °C, nights 6 °C.
Typical of the district's villages; a farm much higher or lower can be a few degrees cooler or warmer.
Source: IMD gridded daily rainfall (0.25°); IMD gridded daily max/min temperature (1°); TerraClimate 1991–2020 temperature normals (about 4 km), where each district's villages are.
Crops that suit Ludhiana
Judged on the soil, rain and temperature here, whether or not they're grown here now. Best bets first: what each could earn an acre before costs, with risky crops moved down.
Kharif 0 good fits
No crop fits well in this season here.
Possible with effort: Tomato Chillies (Dry) Onion
Whole year 0 good fits
No crop fits well in this season here.
Possible with effort: Pineapple Dragon Fruit
Sowing Growing
Money a season, before costs. Bar: compared with the best crop here.
What grows here
Each crop's share of the district's farmland in recent years, with its yield. Tap a crop to see it across India.
Yield against other districts
Rice
Yield is better than 99% of districts growing it.
Wheat
Yield is better than 96% of districts growing it.
Sugarcane
Yield is better than 75% of districts growing it.
Source: Crop area, production & yield – district-wise (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – UPAG (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 2010-11 to 2024-25.
Compared with similar soil
What this district harvests, next to districts whose soil tests look alike.
Rice
Districts with similar soil typically get 14 quintals an acre of rice; here it's 20 quintals an acre.
Wheat
Districts with similar soil typically get 18 quintals an acre of wheat; here it's 19 quintals an acre.
Sugarcane
Districts with similar soil typically get 338 quintals an acre of sugarcane; here it's 345 quintals an acre.
Yields also depend on water, weather, seeds and farming practice, not only soil.
Source: Soil Health Card – soil nutrient analysis (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – district-wise (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – UPAG (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare).
Who farms here
- Farms 2011-12
- 70,640
- Average farm size 2011-12
- 11 acres
- Young farmers (18–30) 2011-12
- 2%
- Farmers with secondary school or more 2011-12
- 40%
- Farmland that is irrigated 2011-12
- 100%
- Farmers who took a bank or co-op loan 2011-12
- 75%
- Farmers who had their soil tested 2011-12
- 26%
- Farmers using certified seed 2011-12
- 80%
Source: Agricultural Input Survey (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 2011-12.
Districts with similar soil
Places whose soil tests look most like this district's, and what they grow.
- Malerkotla Punjab Rice Wheat Sugarcane
- Pathankot Punjab Wheat Rice Maize
- Alluri Sitharama Raju Andhra Pradesh Rice Ragi (Finger Millet) Other Pulses
- Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh Rice Maize Coconut
- Rupnagar Punjab Wheat Rice Maize
- See all similar districts
Source: Soil Health Card – soil nutrient analysis (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare).
Blocks in this district
Open a block for its soil report and the villages in it.