What the soil tests found
5
out of 10
Soil score
PoorShort in most fields here: nitrogen, phosphorus, pH, sulphur, zinc and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 23
- 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 57% High 43%
6 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 57% 0% 43% Rerapara 36% 60% 5% South West Garo Hills 34% 64% 3% Meghalaya 40% 59% 1% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
PoorLow 96% Medium 4%
Almost every soil test 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 96% 4% 0% Rerapara 52% 46% 2% South West Garo Hills 52% 47% 1% Meghalaya 36% 43% 21% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
OkayLow 26% Medium 74%
3 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 26% 74% 0% Rerapara 24% 71% 5% South West Garo Hills 26% 70% 4% Meghalaya 18% 67% 15% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
OkayLow 22% Medium 43% High 35%
2 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 22% 43% 35% Rerapara 5% 25% 70% South West Garo Hills 4% 27% 69% Meghalaya 3% 11% 86% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
PoorAcidic 65% Neutral 35%
7 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 65% 35% 0% Rerapara 62% 38% 0% South West Garo Hills 59% 41% 0% Meghalaya 57% 43% 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% Rerapara 100% 0% South West Garo Hills 100% 0% Meghalaya 100% 0% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
PoorShort 100%
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 moreHealthy soil has 10 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 100% 0% Rerapara 90% 10% South West Garo Hills 90% 10% Meghalaya 42% 58% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
PoorShort 87% Enough 13%
9 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 87% 13% Rerapara 76% 24% South West Garo Hills 76% 24% Meghalaya 41% 59% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodEnough 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 moreHealthy soil has 4.5 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 0% 100% Rerapara 12% 88% South West Garo Hills 9% 91% Meghalaya 25% 75% India 24% 76% -
Copper
OkayShort 26% Enough 74%
3 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 moreHealthy soil has 0.2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 26% 74% Rerapara 21% 79% South West Garo Hills 19% 81% Meghalaya 23% 77% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodShort 4% Enough 96%
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 4% 96% Rerapara 9% 91% South West Garo Hills 7% 93% Meghalaya 24% 76% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 77% Enough 23%
8 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 77% 23% Rerapara 66% 34% South West Garo Hills 62% 38% Meghalaya 64% 36% 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. 23 samples.
Climate in South West Garo Hills
Rain
About 3,200 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 2,430 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in April: days about 33 °C, nights 22 °C
Coolest in January: days about 24 °C, nights 12 °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.