What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: organic carbon, pH and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 4
- 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
OkayLow 25% Medium 75%
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 25% 75% 0% Baliguda 45% 55% 0% Kandhamal 30% 70% 0% Odisha 69% 29% 2% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
OkayLow 50% Medium 50%
5 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 50% 50% 0% Baliguda 31% 69% 0% Kandhamal 28% 72% 0% Odisha 26% 44% 30% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodMedium 100%
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% 100% 0% Baliguda 2% 90% 8% Kandhamal 2% 85% 13% Odisha 17% 61% 22% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
PoorLow 75% Medium 25%
8 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 75% 25% 0% Baliguda 82% 18% 0% Kandhamal 89% 11% 0% Odisha 49% 35% 16% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
PoorAcidic 75% Neutral 25%
8 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 75% 25% 0% Baliguda 72% 28% 0% Kandhamal 75% 25% 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% Baliguda 100% 0% Kandhamal 100% 0% Odisha 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
OkayShort 50% Enough 50%
5 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 50% 50% Baliguda 47% 53% Kandhamal 51% 49% 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% Baliguda 9% 91% Kandhamal 10% 90% 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% Baliguda 0% 100% Kandhamal 1% 99% 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% Baliguda 2% 98% Kandhamal 2% 98% 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% Baliguda 0% 100% Kandhamal 0% 100% Odisha 13% 87% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 100%
Almost every soil test 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 100% 0% Baliguda 89% 11% Kandhamal 74% 26% 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. 4 samples.
Climate in Kandhamal
Rain
About 1,380 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,200 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 39°, nights 26°
Coolest in January: days about 28°, nights 14°.
Averages for an area about 100 km across; hills and valleys can differ by several degrees.
Source: IMD gridded daily rainfall (0.25°); IMD gridded daily max/min temperature (1°).