What the soil tests found
6
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, organic carbon, pH and sulphur.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 14
- 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 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/haHealthy soil has 280 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 100% 0% 0% Gondia 99% 1% 0% Dhenkanal 99% 1% 0% Odisha 69% 29% 2% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 7% Medium 57% High 36%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out low
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 7% 57% 36% Gondia 13% 49% 39% Dhenkanal 20% 49% 31% Odisha 26% 44% 30% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
OkayLow 43% Medium 57%
4 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 43% 57% 0% Gondia 12% 52% 37% Dhenkanal 6% 55% 39% Odisha 17% 61% 22% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
PoorLow 64% Medium 29% High 7%
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 64% 29% 7% Gondia 91% 5% 4% Dhenkanal 90% 7% 3% Odisha 49% 35% 16% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
PoorAcidic 71% Neutral 29%
7 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 71% 29% 0% Gondia 49% 51% 0% Dhenkanal 39% 61% 0% Odisha 30% 70% 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% Gondia 100% 0% Dhenkanal 100% 0% Odisha 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
PoorShort 64% Enough 36%
6 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 64% 36% Gondia 86% 14% Dhenkanal 88% 12% Odisha 36% 64% 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% Gondia 2% 98% Dhenkanal 11% 89% Odisha 43% 57% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodEnough 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% Gondia 0% 100% Dhenkanal 0% 100% Odisha 13% 87% 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% Gondia 0% 100% Dhenkanal 0% 100% Odisha 11% 89% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodEnough 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 moreHealthy soil has 2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 0% 100% Gondia 0% 100% Dhenkanal 0% 100% Odisha 13% 87% India 13% 87% -
Boron
GoodShort 14% Enough 86%
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 14% 86% Gondia 81% 19% Dhenkanal 77% 23% Odisha 58% 42% 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). 2024-25. 14 samples.
Climate in Dhenkanal
Rain
About 1,580 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,350 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 39 °C, nights 27 °C
Coolest in January: days about 28 °C, nights 14 °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.