What the soil tests found
5
out of 10
Soil score
PoorShort in most fields here: nitrogen, potassium, organic carbon, pH, sulphur, zinc and manganese.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24
- 18
- nutrients checked in each sample
- 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 94% Medium 6%
9 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 94% 6% 0% Nala 62% 37% 0% Jamtara 59% 40% 1% Jharkhand 49% 51% 1% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
OkayLow 28% Medium 39% High 33%
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% 39% 33% Nala 16% 44% 40% Jamtara 19% 43% 38% Jharkhand 11% 63% 26% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
PoorLow 83% Medium 17%
8 in 10 soil tests here came out low
If your field is low: add about a quarter more potash (MOP) than the usual dose.
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 83% 17% 0% Nala 59% 36% 4% Jamtara 53% 42% 5% Jharkhand 15% 76% 9% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
PoorLow 61% Medium 33% High 6%
6 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 61% 33% 6% Nala 45% 38% 17% Jamtara 39% 41% 20% Jharkhand 34% 48% 19% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
PoorAcidic 50% Neutral 39% Alkaline 11%
5 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 AlkalineMost crops do best at pH 6.5 to 7.5.
Compared with the wider area Place Acidic Neutral Alkaline Here 50% 39% 11% Nala 71% 28% 1% Jamtara 68% 31% 1% 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% Nala 99% 1% Jamtara 99% 1% Jharkhand 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
PoorShort 67% Enough 33%
7 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 67% 33% Nala 31% 69% Jamtara 34% 66% Jharkhand 19% 81% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
PoorShort 67% Enough 33%
7 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.
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 67% 33% Nala 50% 50% Jamtara 50% 50% Jharkhand 17% 83% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 17% Enough 83%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 17% 83% Nala 8% 92% Jamtara 5% 95% Jharkhand 3% 97% India 24% 76% -
Copper
OkayShort 50% Enough 50%
5 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: mix 2 kg of copper sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing.
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 50% 50% Nala 28% 72% Jamtara 29% 71% Jharkhand 2% 98% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
PoorShort 78% Enough 22%
8 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 78% 22% Nala 66% 34% Jamtara 62% 38% Jharkhand 5% 95% India 13% 87% -
Boron
OkayShort 44% Enough 56%
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 44% 56% Nala 49% 51% Jamtara 56% 44% 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. 18 samples.
Climate in Jamtara
Rain
About 1,390 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,110 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 39 °C, nights 26 °C
Coolest in January: days about 25 °C, nights 11 °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.