What the soil tests found
6
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, sulphur, zinc and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24
- 200
- 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 96% Medium 5%
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 96% 5% 0% Malkharoda 94% 6% 0% Sakti 94% 6% 0% Chhattisgarh 77% 23% 0% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
OkayLow 28% Medium 72% High 1%
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% 72% 1% Malkharoda 16% 73% 11% Sakti 19% 66% 15% Chhattisgarh 24% 67% 9% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 1% Medium 72% High 28%
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 1% 72% 28% Malkharoda 5% 60% 35% Sakti 12% 56% 33% Chhattisgarh 4% 53% 43% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
GoodLow 5% Medium 20% High 75%
Most soil tests here came out high
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 5% 20% 75% Malkharoda 27% 24% 49% Sakti 39% 24% 37% Chhattisgarh 52% 36% 13% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodAcidic 13% Neutral 88%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out acidic
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 13% 88% 0% Malkharoda 7% 93% 0% Sakti 11% 88% 1% Chhattisgarh 9% 90% 0% India 12% 86% 2% -
Salt
GoodNot salty 99% Salty 1%
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 99% 1% Malkharoda 100% 0% Sakti 100% 0% Chhattisgarh 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
PoorShort 100% Enough 1%
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% 1% Malkharoda 100% 0% Sakti 99% 1% Chhattisgarh 37% 63% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
PoorShort 99% Enough 1%
Almost every soil test 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 99% 1% Malkharoda 40% 60% Sakti 41% 59% Chhattisgarh 49% 51% India 35% 65% -
Iron
OkayShort 21% Enough 79%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: spray ferrous sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, when young leaves turn yellow.
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 21% 79% Malkharoda 18% 82% Sakti 16% 84% Chhattisgarh 10% 90% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodShort 1% 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 moreHealthy soil has 0.2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 1% 100% Malkharoda 4% 96% Sakti 4% 96% Chhattisgarh 3% 97% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodShort 4% Enough 97%
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 4% 97% Malkharoda 2% 98% Sakti 7% 93% Chhattisgarh 2% 98% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 62% Enough 39%
6 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 62% 39% Malkharoda 40% 60% Sakti 41% 59% Chhattisgarh 22% 78% 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. 200 samples.
Climate in Sakti
Rain
About 1,310 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,170 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 40 °C, nights 25 °C
Coolest in January: days about 27 °C, nights 11 °C.
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°).