What the soil tests found
9
out of 10
- soil samples, 2023-24
- 45
- nutrients checked
- 11
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
GoodLow 2% Medium 96% High 2%
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 2% 96% 2% Bajengdoba 22% 77% 1% North Garo Hills 41% 59% 1% Meghalaya 40% 59% 1% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 16% Medium 84%
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 16% 84% 0% Bajengdoba 44% 56% 0% North Garo Hills 43% 56% 1% Meghalaya 36% 43% 21% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodMedium 78% High 22%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 0% 78% 22% Bajengdoba 9% 88% 3% North Garo Hills 11% 84% 4% Meghalaya 18% 67% 15% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
GoodLow 11% Medium 16% High 73%
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 11% 16% 73% Bajengdoba 4% 23% 73% North Garo Hills 7% 33% 60% Meghalaya 3% 11% 86% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
OkayAcidic 49% Neutral 51%
5 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 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 49% 51% 0% Bajengdoba 56% 44% 0% North Garo Hills 48% 52% 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% Bajengdoba 100% 0% North Garo Hills 100% 0% Meghalaya 100% 0% India 96% 4% -
Zinc
PoorShort 69% Enough 31%
7 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 69% 31% Bajengdoba 63% 37% North Garo Hills 56% 44% Meghalaya 41% 59% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 2% Enough 98%
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 2% 98% Bajengdoba 3% 97% North Garo Hills 9% 91% Meghalaya 25% 75% India 24% 76% -
Copper
OkayShort 20% Enough 80%
2 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 20% 80% Bajengdoba 15% 85% North Garo Hills 15% 85% Meghalaya 23% 77% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodShort 9% Enough 91%
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 9% 91% Bajengdoba 9% 91% North Garo Hills 6% 94% Meghalaya 24% 76% India 13% 87%
The tests here for sulphur 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 boron (4 tests).
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. 45 samples.
Climate in North Garo Hills
Rain
About 2,970 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 2,390 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in August: days about 31 °C, nights 25 °C
Coolest in January: days about 23 °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.