What the soil tests found
8
out of 10
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 52
- 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
OkayLow 33% Medium 67%
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 33% 67% 0% Dumri 69% 31% 0% Giridih 61% 38% 0% Jharkhand 49% 51% 1% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodMedium 96% High 4%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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% 96% 4% Dumri 18% 65% 17% Giridih 11% 65% 25% Jharkhand 11% 63% 26% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 19% Medium 63% High 17%
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% 63% 17% Dumri 23% 67% 9% Giridih 22% 72% 6% Jharkhand 15% 76% 9% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
GoodLow 8% Medium 54% High 38%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out low
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 8% 54% 38% Dumri 33% 40% 27% Giridih 27% 51% 23% Jharkhand 34% 48% 19% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
OkayAcidic 42% Neutral 58%
4 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 42% 58% 0% Dumri 28% 72% 1% Giridih 31% 69% 0% Jharkhand 39% 60% 0% India 12% 86% 2% -
Salt
GoodNot salty 83% Salty 17%
2 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 83% 17% Dumri 97% 3% Giridih 99% 1% Jharkhand 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
PoorShort 52% Enough 48%
5 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: use single super phosphate instead of DAP, or add about 100 kg of gypsum per acre before sowing.
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 52% 48% Dumri 24% 76% Giridih 14% 86% Jharkhand 19% 81% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
GoodShort 6% Enough 94%
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 6% 94% Dumri 9% 91% Giridih 7% 93% Jharkhand 17% 83% India 35% 65% -
Iron
OkayShort 27% Enough 73%
3 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 moreHealthy soil has 4.5 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 27% 73% Dumri 14% 86% Giridih 6% 94% Jharkhand 3% 97% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodShort 8% Enough 92%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 8% 92% Dumri 5% 95% Giridih 1% 99% Jharkhand 2% 98% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
OkayShort 40% Enough 60%
4 in 10 soil tests 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 moreHealthy soil has 2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 40% 60% Dumri 13% 87% Giridih 4% 96% Jharkhand 5% 95% India 13% 87% -
Boron
GoodShort 4% Enough 96%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 4% 96% Dumri 26% 74% 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. 52 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.