What the soil tests found
9
out of 10
- soil samples, 2023-24
- 7
- 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
GoodMedium 86% High 14%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 0% 86% 14% Katrisarai 26% 67% 7% Nalanda 19% 73% 8% Bihar 62% 37% 1% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 14% Medium 29% High 57%
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/haHealthy soil has 10 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 14% 29% 57% Katrisarai 9% 36% 56% Nalanda 2% 36% 61% Bihar 3% 21% 76% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 14% Medium 57% High 29%
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 14% 57% 29% Katrisarai 10% 54% 37% Nalanda 6% 57% 37% Bihar 6% 72% 22% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
GoodLow 14% Medium 57% High 29%
1 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 Low Medium High Here 14% 57% 29% Katrisarai 40% 43% 17% Nalanda 32% 48% 20% Bihar 33% 53% 14% 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 AlkalineMost crops do best at pH 6.5 to 7.5.
Compared with the wider area Place Acidic Neutral Alkaline Here 0% 100% 0% Katrisarai 0% 99% 0% Nalanda 0% 100% 0% Bihar 3% 96% 1% 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% Katrisarai 96% 4% Nalanda 97% 3% Bihar 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
OkayShort 29% Enough 71%
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 moreHealthy soil has 10 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 29% 71% Katrisarai 20% 80% Nalanda 16% 84% Bihar 22% 78% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
GoodEnough 100%
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 0% 100% Katrisarai 14% 86% Nalanda 13% 87% Bihar 23% 77% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 14% Enough 86%
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 14% 86% Katrisarai 9% 91% Nalanda 6% 94% Bihar 7% 93% 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% Katrisarai 0% 100% Nalanda 1% 99% Bihar 2% 98% 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% Katrisarai 2% 98% Nalanda 1% 99% Bihar 5% 95% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 86% Enough 14%
9 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 86% 14% Katrisarai 54% 46% Nalanda 56% 44% Bihar 38% 62% 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. 7 samples.
Climate in Nalanda
Rain
About 870 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 710 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 39 °C, nights 26 °C
Coolest in January: days about 23 °C, nights 9 °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.