What the soil tests found
8
out of 10
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 36
- 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
-
Poor
Nitrogen
From 36 soil tests
Low 72% Medium 28%
7 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 72% 28% 0% Nawdiha Bazar 77% 22% 1% Palamu 46% 49% 4% Jharkhand 49% 51% 1% India 65% 29% 6% -
Good
Phosphorus
From 36 soil tests
Medium 97% High 3%
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% 97% 3% Nawdiha Bazar 2% 74% 24% Palamu 7% 57% 36% Jharkhand 11% 63% 26% India 13% 41% 45% -
Good
Potassium
From 36 soil tests
Medium 97% High 3%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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% 97% 3% Nawdiha Bazar 1% 64% 35% Palamu 9% 74% 18% Jharkhand 15% 76% 9% India 14% 53% 33% -
Okay
Organic carbon
From 36 soil tests
Low 42% Medium 39% High 19%
4 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 42% 39% 19% Nawdiha Bazar 36% 43% 20% Palamu 25% 36% 39% Jharkhand 34% 48% 19% India 49% 28% 23% -
Good
pH
From 36 soil tests
Acidic 3% Neutral 86% Alkaline 11%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out alkaline
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 3% 86% 11% Nawdiha Bazar 30% 68% 2% Palamu 8% 90% 2% Jharkhand 39% 60% 0% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 36 soil tests
Not salty 94% Salty 6%
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. 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 94% 6% Nawdiha Bazar 100% 0% Palamu 99% 1% Jharkhand 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Good
Sulphur
From 36 soil tests
Short 3% Enough 97%
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 3% 97% Nawdiha Bazar 18% 83% Palamu 25% 75% Jharkhand 19% 81% India 24% 76% -
Good
Zinc
From 36 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% Nawdiha Bazar 10% 90% Palamu 7% 93% Jharkhand 17% 83% India 35% 65% -
Good
Iron
From 36 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% Nawdiha Bazar 7% 93% Palamu 8% 92% Jharkhand 3% 97% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 36 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% Nawdiha Bazar 0% 100% Palamu 1% 99% Jharkhand 2% 98% India 5% 95% -
Good
Manganese
From 36 soil tests
Short 8% Enough 92%
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 8% 92% Nawdiha Bazar 18% 82% Palamu 20% 80% Jharkhand 5% 95% India 12% 88% -
Good
Boron
From 34 soil tests
Short 15% Enough 85%
1 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 15% 85% Nawdiha Bazar 9% 91% Palamu 26% 74% Jharkhand 34% 66% 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). 2023-24 & 2024-25. 36 samples.
Climate in Palamu
Rain
About 920 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 730 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 41 °C, nights 27 °C
Coolest in January: days about 23 °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.