What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24
- 141
- nutrients checked
- 11
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% Malkharoda 94% 6% 0% Sakti 94% 6% 0% Chhattisgarh 77% 23% 0% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 16% Medium 79% High 5%
2 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 16% 79% 5% Malkharoda 16% 73% 11% Sakti 19% 66% 15% Chhattisgarh 24% 67% 9% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodMedium 23% High 77%
Most soil tests here came out high
If your field is high: you can use about a quarter less potash than usual.
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% 23% 77% Malkharoda 5% 60% 35% Sakti 12% 56% 33% Chhattisgarh 4% 53% 43% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
OkayLow 40% Medium 19% High 40%
4 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 40% 19% 40% Malkharoda 27% 24% 49% Sakti 39% 24% 37% Chhattisgarh 52% 36% 13% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodNeutral 100%
Almost every soil test here came out neutral
What this means
How sour (acidic) or alkaline the soil is. It decides which nutrients roots can take up.
Acidic Neutral AlkalineIn 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 Acidic Neutral Alkaline Here 0% 100% 0% Malkharoda 7% 93% 0% Sakti 11% 88% 1% Chhattisgarh 9% 90% 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% Malkharoda 100% 0% Sakti 100% 0% Chhattisgarh 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Zinc
OkayShort 25% Enough 75%
3 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 25% 75% Malkharoda 40% 60% Sakti 41% 59% Chhattisgarh 49% 51% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 5% Enough 95%
1 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 5% 95% Malkharoda 18% 82% Sakti 16% 84% Chhattisgarh 10% 90% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodShort 6% Enough 94%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 6% 94% Malkharoda 4% 96% Sakti 4% 96% Chhattisgarh 3% 97% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodShort 15% Enough 85%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 15% 85% Malkharoda 2% 98% Sakti 7% 93% Chhattisgarh 2% 98% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 53% Enough 47%
5 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 53% 47% Malkharoda 40% 60% Sakti 41% 59% Chhattisgarh 22% 78% India 45% 55%
The tests here for sulphur look like a testing error: almost every test reads the same, unlike the districts around. They aren't used.
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. 141 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 43 °C, nights 29 °C
Coolest in January: days about 28 °C, nights 13 °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.