What the soil tests found
8
out of 10
Soil score
GoodShort in most fields here: nitrogen and organic carbon.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 125
- 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
-
Nitrogen
PoorLow 61% Medium 39%
6 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 61% 39% 0% Tandwa 56% 43% 1% Chatra 45% 55% 0% Jharkhand 49% 51% 1% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 5% Medium 39% High 56%
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 5% 39% 56% Tandwa 4% 62% 34% Chatra 4% 62% 34% Jharkhand 11% 63% 26% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 11% Medium 43% High 46%
1 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/haHealthy soil has 110 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 11% 43% 46% Tandwa 8% 70% 23% Chatra 7% 61% 31% Jharkhand 15% 76% 9% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
PoorLow 63% Medium 32% High 5%
6 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 63% 32% 5% Tandwa 79% 18% 3% Chatra 72% 25% 3% Jharkhand 34% 48% 19% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodAcidic 4% Neutral 96%
Almost every soil test here came out neutral
What this means
How sour (acidic) or alkaline the soil is. It decides which nutrients roots can take up.
Acidic Neutral AlkalineMost crops do best at pH 6.5 to 7.5.
Compared with the wider area Place Acidic Neutral Alkaline Here 4% 96% 0% Tandwa 28% 72% 0% Chatra 27% 73% 0% Jharkhand 39% 60% 0% India 12% 86% 2% -
Salt
GoodNot salty 99% Salty 1%
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 99% 1% Tandwa 100% 0% Chatra 100% 0% Jharkhand 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
GoodShort 1% Enough 99%
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 1% 99% Tandwa 5% 95% Chatra 7% 93% Jharkhand 19% 81% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
OkayShort 42% Enough 58%
4 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 42% 58% Tandwa 32% 68% Chatra 33% 67% Jharkhand 17% 83% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 4% Enough 96%
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 4% 96% Tandwa 1% 99% Chatra 2% 98% Jharkhand 3% 97% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodShort 2% Enough 98%
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 2% 98% Tandwa 3% 97% Chatra 4% 96% Jharkhand 2% 98% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodShort 1% Enough 99%
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 1% 99% Tandwa 0% 100% Chatra 0% 100% Jharkhand 5% 95% India 13% 87% -
Boron
GoodShort 19% Enough 81%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 19% 81% Tandwa 51% 49% Chatra 46% 54% Jharkhand 34% 66% India 45% 55%
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. 125 samples.
Climate in Chatra
Rain
About 1,060 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 940 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 40 °C, nights 26 °C
Coolest in January: days about 23 °C, nights 9 °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.