What the soil tests found
10
out of 10
Soil score
GoodFor most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 27
- nutrients checked
- 9
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
GoodLow 12% Medium 62% High 27%
1 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 12% 62% 27% Kandaghat 10% 28% 63% Solan 17% 39% 44% Himachal Pradesh 13% 59% 28% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 7% Medium 93%
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 7% 93% 0% Kandaghat 7% 52% 41% Solan 14% 58% 28% Himachal Pradesh 11% 49% 40% India 14% 53% 34% -
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% Kandaghat 0% 99% 0% Solan 1% 99% 0% Himachal Pradesh 1% 99% 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% Kandaghat 96% 4% Solan 96% 4% Himachal Pradesh 100% 0% India 96% 4% -
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% Kandaghat 2% 98% Solan 3% 97% Himachal Pradesh 4% 96% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 7% Enough 93%
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 7% 93% Kandaghat 7% 93% Solan 7% 93% Himachal Pradesh 3% 97% 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% Kandaghat 1% 99% Solan 0% 100% Himachal Pradesh 1% 99% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodEnough 100%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 0% 100% Kandaghat 1% 99% Solan 4% 96% Himachal Pradesh 11% 89% India 13% 87%
The tests here for organic carbon look like a testing error: almost every test reads the same, unlike the districts around. They aren't used.
Too few tests here to judge nitrogen (1 test).
Source: Soil Health Card – soil nutrient analysis (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 2023-24 & 2024-25. 27 samples.
Climate in Solan
Rain
About 1,200 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,000 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 32 °C, nights 20 °C
Coolest in January: days about 15 °C, nights 5 °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.