Riangba

Nutrient by nutrient

• Nitrogen

  Okay
  Low 25% Medium 75%

  3 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	25%	75%	0%
  Shallang	70%	27%	3%
  West Khasi Hills	57%	42%	1%
  Meghalaya	40%	59%	1%
  India	64%	30%	6%

• Phosphorus

  Okay
  Low 30% Medium 60% High 10%

  3 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	30%	60%	10%
  Shallang	31%	51%	18%
  West Khasi Hills	26%	48%	26%
  Meghalaya	36%	43%	21%
  India	14%	41%	45%

• Potassium

  Good
  Low 15% Medium 80% High 5%

  2 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/ha

  Healthy soil has 110 kg/ha or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Low	Medium	High
  Here	15%	80%	5%
  Shallang	15%	52%	33%
  West Khasi Hills	25%	46%	30%
  Meghalaya	18%	67%	15%
  India	14%	53%	34%

• Organic carbon

  Good
  High 100%

  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	0%	0%	100%
  Shallang	1%	3%	96%
  West Khasi Hills	1%	3%	96%
  Meghalaya	3%	11%	86%
  India	48%	28%	23%

• pH

  Poor
  Acidic 85% Neutral 10% Alkaline 5%

  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

  Most crops do best at pH 6.5 to 7.5.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Acidic	Neutral	Alkaline
  Here	85%	10%	5%
  Shallang	64%	36%	0%
  West Khasi Hills	52%	48%	0%
  Meghalaya	57%	43%	0%
  India	12%	86%	2%

• Salt

  Good
  Not salty 95% Salty 5%

  1 in 10 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	95%	5%
  Shallang	99%	1%
  West Khasi Hills	100%	0%
  Meghalaya	100%	0%
  India	96%	4%

• Sulphur

  Good
  Enough 100%

  Almost every soil test here had enough

  What this means

  Makes oil in oilseeds and protein in pulses.

  Short under 10 ppm Enough 10 ppm or more

  Healthy soil has 10 ppm or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Short	Enough
  Here	0%	100%
  Shallang	0%	100%
  West Khasi Hills	0%	100%
  Meghalaya	42%	58%
  India	24%	76%

• Zinc

  Poor
  Short 90% Enough 10%

  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 more

  Healthy soil has 0.6 ppm or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Short	Enough
  Here	90%	10%
  Shallang	24%	76%
  West Khasi Hills	33%	67%
  Meghalaya	41%	59%
  India	35%	65%

• Iron

  Poor
  Short 75% Enough 25%

  8 in 10 soil tests here came out short

  If your field is short: spray ferrous sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, when young leaves turn yellow.

  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	75%	25%
  Shallang	7%	93%
  West Khasi Hills	35%	65%
  Meghalaya	25%	75%
  India	24%	76%

• Copper

  Poor
  Short 100%

  Almost every soil test 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 more

  Healthy soil has 0.2 ppm or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Short	Enough
  Here	100%	0%
  Shallang	22%	78%
  West Khasi Hills	45%	55%
  Meghalaya	23%	77%
  India	5%	95%

• Manganese

  Poor
  Short 100%

  Almost every soil test here came out short

  If your field is short: spray manganese sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, on the young crop.

  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	100%	0%
  Shallang	32%	68%
  West Khasi Hills	47%	53%
  Meghalaya	24%	76%
  India	13%	87%

• Boron

  Poor
  Short 100%

  Almost every soil test 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	100%	0%
  Shallang	87%	13%
  West Khasi Hills	93%	7%
  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.

Climate in West Khasi Hills