What the soil tests found
8
out of 10
Soil score
GoodShort in most fields here: nitrogen, zinc, iron and manganese.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 84
- 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 64% Medium 36%
6 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 64% 36% 0% Okhalkanda 68% 32% 1% Nainital 87% 13% 0% Uttarakhand 92% 8% 0% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodMedium 30% High 70%
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 0% 30% 70% Okhalkanda 11% 42% 47% Nainital 16% 61% 23% Uttarakhand 17% 45% 38% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 18% Medium 70% High 12%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out low
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 18% 70% 12% Okhalkanda 6% 67% 27% Nainital 9% 60% 32% Uttarakhand 21% 51% 28% India 14% 53% 34% -
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% Okhalkanda 12% 87% 1% Nainital 4% 96% 0% Uttarakhand 3% 97% 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% Okhalkanda 100% 0% Nainital 100% 0% Uttarakhand 88% 12% 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% Okhalkanda 3% 97% Nainital 30% 70% Uttarakhand 22% 78% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
PoorShort 61% Enough 39%
6 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 61% 39% Okhalkanda 33% 67% Nainital 31% 69% Uttarakhand 13% 87% India 35% 65% -
Iron
PoorShort 64% Enough 36%
6 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 64% 36% Okhalkanda 23% 77% Nainital 47% 53% Uttarakhand 12% 88% 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% Okhalkanda 9% 91% Nainital 12% 88% Uttarakhand 4% 96% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
PoorShort 85% Enough 15%
8 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 85% 15% Okhalkanda 48% 52% Nainital 58% 42% Uttarakhand 14% 86% India 13% 87% -
Boron
OkayShort 24% Enough 76%
2 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 24% 76% Okhalkanda 8% 92% Nainital 10% 90% Uttarakhand 22% 78% India 45% 55%
The tests here for organic carbon 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). 2024-25. 84 samples.
Climate in Nainital
Rain
About 1,470 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,100 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 33 °C, nights 19 °C
Coolest in January: days about 17 °C, nights 6 °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.