What the soil tests found
6
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, phosphorus, salt and iron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 46
- 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% Gariadhar 92% 8% 0% Bhavnagar 97% 3% 0% Gujarat 81% 18% 1% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
PoorLow 52% Medium 37% High 11%
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 52% 37% 11% Gariadhar 47% 38% 15% Bhavnagar 27% 40% 34% Gujarat 9% 24% 67% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 2% Medium 13% High 85%
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 2% 13% 85% Gariadhar 1% 11% 88% Bhavnagar 1% 9% 90% Gujarat 5% 34% 61% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
OkayLow 22% Medium 22% High 57%
2 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 22% 22% 57% Gariadhar 16% 24% 60% Bhavnagar 16% 46% 38% Gujarat 34% 35% 31% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodNeutral 98% Alkaline 2%
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 AlkalineMost crops do best at pH 6.5 to 7.5.
Compared with the wider area Place Acidic Neutral Alkaline Here 0% 98% 2% Gariadhar 0% 100% 0% Bhavnagar 0% 100% 0% Gujarat 0% 98% 2% India 12% 86% 2% -
Salt
PoorNot salty 35% Salty 65%
7 in 10 soil tests here came out salty
If your field is salty: grow crops that take salt, level the field, and wash the salt down with good water before sowing.
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 35% 65% Gariadhar 66% 34% Bhavnagar 54% 46% Gujarat 86% 14% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
GoodEnough 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% Gariadhar 1% 99% Bhavnagar 1% 99% Gujarat 25% 75% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
OkayShort 48% Enough 52%
5 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 48% 52% Gariadhar 57% 43% Bhavnagar 36% 64% Gujarat 39% 61% India 35% 65% -
Iron
PoorShort 52% Enough 48%
5 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 52% 48% Gariadhar 48% 52% Bhavnagar 31% 69% Gujarat 32% 68% 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% Gariadhar 0% 100% Bhavnagar 0% 100% Gujarat 7% 93% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
OkayShort 22% Enough 78%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: spray manganese sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, on the young crop.
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 22% 78% Gariadhar 10% 90% Bhavnagar 7% 93% Gujarat 8% 92% India 13% 87% -
Boron
GoodShort 17% Enough 83%
2 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 17% 83% Gariadhar 17% 83% Bhavnagar 13% 87% Gujarat 51% 49% 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 & 2024-25. 46 samples.
Climate in Bhavnagar
Rain
About 710 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 570 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 38°, nights 26°
Coolest in January: days about 29°, 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°).