What the soil tests found
9
out of 10
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 59
- 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 56% Medium 44%
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 56% 44% 0% Nawdiha Bazar 77% 22% 1% Palamu 46% 49% 4% Jharkhand 49% 51% 1% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodMedium 56% High 44%
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% 56% 44% Nawdiha Bazar 2% 74% 24% Palamu 7% 57% 36% Jharkhand 11% 63% 26% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodMedium 51% High 49%
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% 51% 49% Nawdiha Bazar 1% 64% 35% Palamu 9% 74% 18% Jharkhand 15% 76% 9% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
GoodLow 12% Medium 59% High 29%
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 12% 59% 29% Nawdiha Bazar 36% 43% 20% Palamu 25% 36% 39% Jharkhand 34% 48% 19% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodAcidic 2% Neutral 98%
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 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 2% 98% 0% Nawdiha Bazar 30% 68% 2% Palamu 8% 90% 2% 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% Nawdiha Bazar 100% 0% Palamu 99% 1% Jharkhand 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
GoodShort 10% Enough 90%
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 10% 90% Nawdiha Bazar 18% 83% Palamu 25% 75% Jharkhand 19% 81% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
GoodEnough 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% -
Iron
GoodShort 2% Enough 98%
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 2% 98% Nawdiha Bazar 7% 93% Palamu 8% 92% 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% Nawdiha Bazar 0% 100% Palamu 1% 99% Jharkhand 2% 98% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
OkayShort 39% Enough 61%
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 39% 61% Nawdiha Bazar 18% 82% Palamu 20% 80% Jharkhand 5% 95% India 13% 87% -
Boron
GoodShort 9% Enough 91%
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 9% 91% Nawdiha Bazar 9% 91% Palamu 26% 74% 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. 59 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.