Alara

Village soil report

Most soil here is low in nitrogen.
See which crops suit Alara

What the soil tests found

6

out of 10

Soil score

Okay

Short in most fields here: nitrogen, sulphur and boron.

Too acidic in most fields here.

For most crops. How the soil score works

soil samples, 2024-25
275
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

    From 275 soil tests

    Poor

    Low 100%

    Almost every soil test 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/ha

    Healthy soil has 280 kg/ha or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place LowMediumHigh
    Here 100% 0% 0%
    Narasinghpur 100% 0% 0%
    Cuttack 73% 26% 1%
    Odisha 70% 28% 2%
    India 65% 29% 6%

  • Phosphorus

    From 275 soil tests

    Okay

    Low 45% Medium 45% High 10%

    4 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/ha

    Healthy soil has 10 kg/ha or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place LowMediumHigh
    Here 45% 45% 10%
    Narasinghpur 23% 42% 36%
    Cuttack 36% 34% 30%
    Odisha 22% 46% 32%
    India 13% 41% 45%

  • Potassium

    From 275 soil tests

    Good

    Low 7% Medium 87% High 7%

    1 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/ha

    Healthy soil has 110 kg/ha or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place LowMediumHigh
    Here 7% 87% 7%
    Narasinghpur 14% 78% 8%
    Cuttack 23% 70% 7%
    Odisha 17% 61% 22%
    India 14% 53% 33%

  • Organic carbon

    From 275 soil tests

    Okay

    Low 34% Medium 53% High 13%

    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 LowMediumHigh
    Here 34% 53% 13%
    Narasinghpur 40% 52% 8%
    Cuttack 38% 44% 18%
    Odisha 49% 35% 16%
    India 49% 28% 23%

  • pH

    From 275 soil tests

    Poor

    Acidic 100%

    Almost every soil test 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 Alkaline

    In 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 AcidicNeutralAlkaline
    Here 100% 0% 0%
    Narasinghpur 50% 50% 0%
    Cuttack 47% 53% 0%
    Odisha 30% 70% 0%
    India 11% 86% 2%

  • Salt

    From 275 soil tests

    Good

    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 Salty

    Under 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 saltySalty
    Here 100% 0%
    Narasinghpur 100% 0%
    Cuttack 99% 1%
    Odisha 99% 1%
    India 96% 4%

  • Sulphur

    From 275 soil tests

    Poor

    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 more

    Healthy soil has 10 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 100% 0%
    Narasinghpur 89% 11%
    Cuttack 38% 62%
    Odisha 35% 65%
    India 24% 76%

  • Zinc

    From 275 soil tests

    Okay

    Short 24% Enough 76%

    2 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 more

    Healthy soil has 0.6 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 24% 76%
    Narasinghpur 36% 64%
    Cuttack 22% 78%
    Odisha 43% 57%
    India 35% 65%

  • Iron

    From 275 soil tests

    Good

    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 more

    Healthy soil has 4.5 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 0% 100%
    Narasinghpur 0% 100%
    Cuttack 1% 99%
    Odisha 13% 87%
    India 24% 76%

  • Copper

    From 275 soil tests

    Good

    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 more

    Healthy soil has 0.2 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 0% 100%
    Narasinghpur 0% 100%
    Cuttack 7% 93%
    Odisha 11% 89%
    India 5% 95%

  • Manganese

    From 275 soil tests

    Good

    Enough 100%

    Almost every soil test here had enough

    What this means

    Helps leaves make food from sunlight.

    Short under 2 ppm Enough 2 ppm or more

    Healthy soil has 2 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 0% 100%
    Narasinghpur 0% 100%
    Cuttack 6% 94%
    Odisha 13% 87%
    India 12% 88%

  • Boron

    From 275 soil tests

    Poor

    Short 81% Enough 19%

    8 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 more

    Healthy soil has 0.5 ppm or more.

    Compared with the wider area
    Place ShortEnough
    Here 81% 19%
    Narasinghpur 39% 61%
    Cuttack 73% 27%
    Odisha 58% 42%
    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). 2024-25. 275 samples.

Climate in Cuttack

Rain

About 1,650 mm of rain a year

In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,470 mm.

Temperature

Hottest in May: days about 38 °C, nights 27 °C

Coolest in January: days about 28 °C, nights 15 °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.