What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: sulphur.
Not in the score: zinc, iron, copper and manganese.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 121
- nutrients checked
- 8
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
-
Okay
Nitrogen
From 121 soil tests
Low 29% Medium 69% High 2%
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 29% 69% 2% Latehar 20% 77% 4% Latehar 17% 80% 3% Jharkhand 49% 51% 1% India 65% 29% 6% -
Okay
Phosphorus
From 121 soil tests
Low 28% Medium 51% High 21%
3 in 10 soil tests here came out low
If your field is low: add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.
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 28% 51% 21% Latehar 22% 63% 14% Latehar 32% 58% 11% Jharkhand 11% 63% 26% India 13% 41% 45% -
Good
Potassium
From 121 soil tests
Low 7% Medium 42% High 50%
Most soil tests here came out high
If your field is high: you can use about a quarter less potash than usual.
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 7% 42% 50% Latehar 8% 68% 24% Latehar 8% 71% 21% Jharkhand 15% 76% 9% India 14% 53% 33% -
Okay
Organic carbon
From 121 soil tests
Low 31% Medium 54% High 15%
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 31% 54% 15% Latehar 25% 62% 13% Latehar 22% 66% 12% Jharkhand 34% 48% 19% India 49% 28% 23% -
Okay
pH
From 121 soil tests
Acidic 21% Neutral 79%
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 21% 79% 0% Latehar 27% 73% 0% Latehar 33% 67% 0% Jharkhand 39% 60% 0% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 121 soil tests
Not 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. 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 100% 0% Latehar 100% 0% Latehar 100% 0% Jharkhand 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Poor
Sulphur
From 121 soil tests
Short 100%
Almost every soil test 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 100% 0% Latehar 68% 32% Latehar 62% 38% Jharkhand 19% 81% India 24% 76% -
Okay
Boron
From 119 soil tests
Short 37% Enough 63%
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 37% 63% Latehar 46% 54% Latehar 49% 51% Jharkhand 34% 66% India 44% 56%
Not tested here: zinc, iron, copper and manganese.
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). 2024-25. 121 samples.
Climate in Latehar
Rain
About 1,100 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,010 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 39 °C, nights 25 °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.