What the soil tests found
6
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: phosphorus and boron.
Too acidic and salty in most fields here.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 50
- nutrients checked
- 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
-
Okay
Nitrogen
From 50 soil tests
Low 28% Medium 72%
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/haHealthy soil has 280 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 28% 72% 0% Gosaba 49% 50% 0% South 24 Parganas 27% 70% 2% West Bengal 39% 58% 3% India 65% 29% 6% -
Poor
Phosphorus
From 50 soil tests
Low 54% Medium 46%
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/haHealthy soil has 10 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 54% 46% 0% Gosaba 44% 51% 4% South 24 Parganas 14% 21% 65% West Bengal 7% 21% 72% India 13% 41% 45% -
Good
Potassium
From 50 soil tests
Medium 42% High 58%
Most soil tests here came out high
If your field is high: you can use about a quarter less potash than usual.
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% 42% 58% Gosaba 0% 12% 88% South 24 Parganas 3% 33% 64% West Bengal 11% 56% 33% India 14% 53% 33% -
Okay
Organic carbon
From 50 soil tests
Low 24% Medium 76%
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 24% 76% 0% Gosaba 49% 45% 7% South 24 Parganas 24% 47% 29% West Bengal 25% 41% 33% India 49% 28% 23% -
Poor
pH
From 50 soil tests
Acidic 94% Neutral 6%
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 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 94% 6% 0% Gosaba 24% 76% 0% South 24 Parganas 17% 83% 0% West Bengal 27% 73% 0% India 11% 86% 2% -
Poor
Salt
From 50 soil tests
Salty 100%
Almost every soil test here came out salty
If your field is salty: grow crops that take salt, level the field, and wash the salt down with good water before sowing.
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. Between 1 and 4, only crops that can't take salt lose yield. Above 4 harms most crops.
Compared with the wider area Place Not salty Salty Here 0% 100% Gosaba 25% 75% South 24 Parganas 63% 37% West Bengal 95% 5% India 96% 4% -
Good
Sulphur
From 50 soil tests
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 moreHealthy soil has 10 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 0% 100% Gosaba 1% 99% South 24 Parganas 34% 66% West Bengal 33% 67% India 24% 76% -
Good
Zinc
From 50 soil tests
Enough 100%
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 0% 100% Gosaba 47% 53% South 24 Parganas 41% 59% West Bengal 24% 76% India 35% 65% -
Good
Iron
From 50 soil tests
Enough 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% Gosaba 0% 100% South 24 Parganas 2% 98% West Bengal 1% 99% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 50 soil tests
Enough 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% Gosaba 0% 100% South 24 Parganas 2% 98% West Bengal 1% 99% India 5% 95% -
Good
Manganese
From 50 soil tests
Enough 100%
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 0% 100% Gosaba 0% 100% South 24 Parganas 5% 95% West Bengal 11% 89% India 12% 88% -
Poor
Boron
From 50 soil tests
Short 88% Enough 12%
9 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 88% 12% Gosaba 80% 20% South 24 Parganas 48% 52% West Bengal 62% 38% India 44% 56%
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). 2024-25. 50 samples.
Climate in South 24 Parganas
Rain
About 1,640 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,430 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 35 °C, nights 26 °C
Coolest in January: days about 25 °C, nights 13 °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.