Boldampitbari

Nutrient by nutrient

• Nitrogen

  Poor
  Low 75% Medium 25%

  8 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/ha

  Healthy soil has 280 kg/ha or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Low	Medium	High
  Here	75%	25%	0%
  Tikrikilla	22%	76%	2%
  West Garo Hills	20%	78%	2%
  Meghalaya	40%	59%	1%
  India	64%	30%	6%

• Phosphorus

  Okay
  Low 45% Medium 50% High 5%

  5 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	45%	50%	5%
  Tikrikilla	66%	34%	1%
  West Garo Hills	54%	45%	0%
  Meghalaya	36%	43%	21%
  India	14%	41%	45%

• Potassium

  Okay
  Low 35% Medium 65%

  4 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/ha

  Healthy soil has 110 kg/ha or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Low	Medium	High
  Here	35%	65%	0%
  Tikrikilla	11%	89%	1%
  West Garo Hills	16%	82%	2%
  Meghalaya	18%	67%	15%
  India	14%	53%	34%

• Organic carbon

  Good
  Low 5% Medium 45% High 50%

  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	5%	45%	50%
  Tikrikilla	1%	19%	79%
  West Garo Hills	3%	19%	79%
  Meghalaya	3%	11%	86%
  India	48%	28%	23%

• pH

  Poor
  Acidic 85% Neutral 15%

  9 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

  In 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	85%	15%	0%
  Tikrikilla	47%	53%	0%
  West Garo Hills	41%	59%	0%
  Meghalaya	57%	43%	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%
  Tikrikilla	100%	0%
  West Garo Hills	100%	0%
  Meghalaya	100%	0%
  India	96%	4%

• Zinc

  Okay
  Short 25% Enough 75%

  3 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	25%	75%
  Tikrikilla	56%	44%
  West Garo Hills	65%	35%
  Meghalaya	41%	59%
  India	35%	65%

• Iron

  Good
  Short 10% Enough 90%

  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 more

  Healthy soil has 4.5 ppm or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Short	Enough
  Here	10%	90%
  Tikrikilla	5%	95%
  West Garo Hills	9%	91%
  Meghalaya	25%	75%
  India	24%	76%

• Copper

  Good
  Short 15% Enough 85%

  2 in 10 soil tests here came out short

  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	15%	85%
  Tikrikilla	6%	94%
  West Garo Hills	12%	88%
  Meghalaya	23%	77%
  India	5%	95%

• Manganese

  Good
  Short 15% Enough 85%

  2 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 more

  Healthy soil has 2 ppm or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Short	Enough
  Here	15%	85%
  Tikrikilla	4%	96%
  West Garo Hills	6%	94%
  Meghalaya	24%	76%
  India	13%	87%

• Boron

  Okay
  Short 50% Enough 50%

  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	50%	50%
  Tikrikilla	41%	59%
  West Garo Hills	52%	48%
  Meghalaya	64%	36%
  India	45%	55%

The tests here for sulphur look like a testing error: almost every test reads the same, unlike the districts around. They aren't used.

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

Climate in West Garo Hills