What the soil tests found
8
out of 10
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 270
- 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 51% Medium 49%
5 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 51% 49% 0% Jamua 57% 41% 2% Giridih 61% 38% 0% Jharkhand 49% 51% 1% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 15% Medium 71% High 14%
1 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 15% 71% 14% Jamua 17% 62% 22% Giridih 11% 65% 25% Jharkhand 11% 63% 26% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 19% Medium 80% High 1%
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/haHealthy soil has 110 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 19% 80% 1% Jamua 28% 69% 3% Giridih 22% 72% 6% Jharkhand 15% 76% 9% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
OkayLow 25% Medium 56% High 19%
3 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 25% 56% 19% Jamua 29% 47% 24% Giridih 27% 51% 23% Jharkhand 34% 48% 19% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
OkayAcidic 20% Neutral 80%
2 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 20% 80% 0% Jamua 25% 75% 0% Giridih 31% 69% 0% Jharkhand 39% 60% 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% Jamua 100% 0% Giridih 99% 1% Jharkhand 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
GoodShort 8% Enough 92%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 8% 92% Jamua 10% 90% Giridih 14% 86% Jharkhand 19% 81% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
GoodShort 7% Enough 93%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 7% 93% Jamua 6% 94% Giridih 7% 93% Jharkhand 17% 83% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodEnough 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% Jamua 12% 88% Giridih 6% 94% Jharkhand 3% 97% 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% Jamua 1% 99% Giridih 1% 99% Jharkhand 2% 98% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodShort 10% Enough 90%
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 10% 90% Jamua 4% 96% Giridih 4% 96% Jharkhand 5% 95% India 13% 87% -
Boron
OkayShort 42% Enough 58%
4 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 42% 58% Jamua 29% 71% Giridih 30% 70% 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. 270 samples.
Climate in Giridih
Rain
About 1,080 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 900 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 39 °C, nights 26 °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.