What the soil tests found
8
out of 10
Soil score
GoodShort in most fields here: nitrogen and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24
- 72
- 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 4%
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% 4% 0% Lakhani 92% 8% 0% Bhandara 92% 8% 0% Maharashtra 86% 13% 1% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 3% Medium 47% High 50%
Most soil tests here came out high
If your field is high: you can use about a quarter less DAP than usual.
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% 47% 50% Lakhani 40% 50% 10% Bhandara 46% 46% 8% Maharashtra 22% 53% 25% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodMedium 1% High 99%
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% 1% 99% Lakhani 0% 24% 76% Bhandara 1% 25% 74% Maharashtra 4% 29% 66% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
OkayLow 42% Medium 25% High 33%
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 42% 25% 33% Lakhani 41% 30% 29% Bhandara 45% 28% 27% Maharashtra 55% 25% 20% 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 AlkalineMost crops do best at pH 6.5 to 7.5.
Compared with the wider area Place Acidic Neutral Alkaline Here 0% 100% 0% Lakhani 9% 91% 0% Bhandara 7% 93% 0% Maharashtra 2% 95% 2% 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% Lakhani 100% 0% Bhandara 100% 0% Maharashtra 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
GoodShort 1% Enough 99%
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 1% 99% Lakhani 23% 77% Bhandara 19% 81% Maharashtra 54% 46% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
GoodShort 19% Enough 81%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 19% 81% Lakhani 26% 74% Bhandara 24% 76% Maharashtra 52% 48% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 4% Enough 96%
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 4% 96% Lakhani 16% 84% Bhandara 20% 80% Maharashtra 59% 41% 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% Lakhani 2% 98% Bhandara 1% 99% Maharashtra 4% 96% 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% Lakhani 2% 98% Bhandara 2% 98% Maharashtra 12% 88% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 72% Enough 28%
7 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 72% 28% Lakhani 53% 47% Bhandara 53% 47% Maharashtra 45% 55% 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. 72 samples.
Climate in Bhandara
Rain
About 1,250 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,080 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 43 °C, nights 28 °C
Coolest in December: days about 29 °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.