What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, organic carbon, zinc and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24
- 194
- 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
-
Poor
Nitrogen
From 194 soil tests
Low 72% Medium 28%
7 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 72% 28% 0% Palari 87% 13% 0% Balodabazar-Bhatapara 88% 12% 0% Chhattisgarh 77% 23% 0% India 65% 29% 6% -
Good
Phosphorus
From 194 soil tests
Low 3% Medium 94% High 3%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 3% 94% 3% Palari 4% 86% 11% Balodabazar-Bhatapara 5% 80% 14% Chhattisgarh 21% 69% 10% India 13% 41% 45% -
Good
Potassium
From 194 soil tests
Medium 21% High 79%
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% 21% 79% Palari 1% 31% 68% Balodabazar-Bhatapara 1% 35% 64% Chhattisgarh 4% 53% 43% India 14% 53% 33% -
Poor
Organic carbon
From 194 soil tests
Low 61% Medium 36% High 3%
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 61% 36% 3% Palari 67% 29% 4% Balodabazar-Bhatapara 66% 27% 7% Chhattisgarh 52% 36% 13% India 49% 28% 23% -
Good
pH
From 194 soil tests
Neutral 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% Palari 11% 86% 2% Balodabazar-Bhatapara 5% 95% 1% Chhattisgarh 9% 90% 0% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 194 soil tests
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 SaltyUnder 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 salty Salty Here 100% 0% Palari 100% 0% Balodabazar-Bhatapara 100% 0% Chhattisgarh 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Good
Sulphur
From 194 soil tests
Enough 100%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 0% 100% Palari 1% 99% Balodabazar-Bhatapara 1% 99% Chhattisgarh 35% 65% India 24% 76% -
Poor
Zinc
From 194 soil tests
Short 77% Enough 23%
8 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 77% 23% Palari 82% 18% Balodabazar-Bhatapara 80% 20% Chhattisgarh 49% 51% India 35% 65% -
Good
Iron
From 194 soil tests
Short 2% Enough 98%
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 2% 98% Palari 20% 80% Balodabazar-Bhatapara 24% 76% Chhattisgarh 10% 90% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 194 soil tests
Short 7% Enough 93%
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 7% 93% Palari 1% 99% Balodabazar-Bhatapara 1% 99% Chhattisgarh 3% 97% India 5% 95% -
Good
Manganese
From 194 soil tests
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 moreHealthy soil has 2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 0% 100% Palari 7% 93% Balodabazar-Bhatapara 5% 95% Chhattisgarh 2% 98% India 12% 88% -
Poor
Boron
From 194 soil tests
Short 62% Enough 38%
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% 38% Palari 62% 38% Balodabazar-Bhatapara 62% 38% Chhattisgarh 20% 80% 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). 2023-24. 194 samples.
Climate in Balodabazar-Bhatapara
Rain
About 1,140 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 960 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.