What the soil tests found
6
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, organic carbon and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 99
- nutrients checked
- 10
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 100%
Almost every soil test 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 100% 0% 0% Chanchal-I 98% 2% 0% Malda 94% 6% 0% West Bengal 39% 58% 3% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodMedium 5% High 95%
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 0% 5% 95% Chanchal-I 2% 8% 90% Malda 4% 17% 79% West Bengal 7% 21% 72% India 14% 41% 45% -
Organic carbon
PoorLow 75% Medium 22% High 3%
7 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 75% 22% 3% Chanchal-I 66% 29% 5% Malda 57% 31% 12% West Bengal 25% 41% 33% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodAcidic 7% Neutral 93%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out acidic
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 7% 93% 0% Chanchal-I 5% 95% 0% Malda 11% 88% 1% West Bengal 27% 73% 0% India 12% 86% 2% -
Salt
GoodNot salty 92% Salty 8%
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 SaltyUnder 1 dS/m is fine. Above 4 harms most crops.
Compared with the wider area Place Not salty Salty Here 92% 8% Chanchal-I 96% 4% Malda 97% 3% West Bengal 95% 5% India 96% 4% -
Zinc
GoodShort 1% Enough 99%
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 1% 99% Chanchal-I 3% 97% Malda 15% 85% West Bengal 25% 75% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 1% Enough 99%
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 1% 99% Chanchal-I 1% 99% Malda 4% 96% West Bengal 1% 99% 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% Chanchal-I 0% 100% Malda 0% 100% West Bengal 2% 98% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodShort 2% Enough 98%
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 2% 98% Chanchal-I 10% 90% Malda 15% 85% West Bengal 12% 88% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 98% Enough 2%
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 moreHealthy soil has 0.5 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 98% 2% Chanchal-I 99% 1% Malda 98% 2% West Bengal 62% 38% India 45% 55%
The tests here for potassium and 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.
Source: Soil Health Card – soil nutrient analysis (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 2023-24 & 2024-25. 99 samples.
Climate in Malda
Rain
About 1,310 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,170 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 35 °C, nights 25 °C
Coolest in January: days about 24 °C, nights 10 °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.