What the soil tests found
8
out of 10
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 10
- 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
OkayLow 50% Medium 40% High 10%
5 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 50% 40% 10% Araku Valley 32% 65% 3% Alluri Sitharama Raju 44% 52% 4% Andhra Pradesh 73% 24% 3% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
OkayLow 20% Medium 60% High 20%
2 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 20% 60% 20% Araku Valley 33% 33% 34% Alluri Sitharama Raju 25% 24% 52% Andhra Pradesh 16% 34% 50% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
OkayLow 20% Medium 80%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out low
If your field is low: add about a quarter more potash (MOP) than the usual dose.
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 20% 80% 0% Araku Valley 36% 56% 8% Alluri Sitharama Raju 40% 40% 19% Andhra Pradesh 10% 30% 60% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
GoodMedium 40% High 60%
Most soil tests here came out high
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 0% 40% 60% Araku Valley 11% 42% 47% Alluri Sitharama Raju 20% 54% 27% Andhra Pradesh 57% 24% 19% 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% Araku Valley 3% 97% 0% Alluri Sitharama Raju 2% 95% 3% Andhra Pradesh 1% 93% 6% 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% Araku Valley 95% 5% Alluri Sitharama Raju 98% 2% Andhra Pradesh 93% 7% 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% Araku Valley 12% 88% Alluri Sitharama Raju 10% 90% Andhra Pradesh 15% 85% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
OkayShort 50% Enough 50%
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 50% 50% Araku Valley 70% 30% Alluri Sitharama Raju 53% 47% Andhra Pradesh 38% 62% India 35% 65% -
Iron
OkayShort 30% Enough 70%
3 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 30% 70% Araku Valley 38% 62% Alluri Sitharama Raju 23% 77% Andhra Pradesh 29% 71% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodShort 10% Enough 90%
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 10% 90% Araku Valley 13% 87% Alluri Sitharama Raju 6% 94% Andhra Pradesh 6% 94% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
OkayShort 40% Enough 60%
4 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 40% 60% Araku Valley 19% 81% Alluri Sitharama Raju 9% 91% Andhra Pradesh 12% 88% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 100%
Almost every soil test 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 100% 0% Araku Valley 89% 11% Alluri Sitharama Raju 70% 30% Andhra Pradesh 26% 74% 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. 10 samples.
Climate in Alluri Sitharama Raju
Rain
About 1,280 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,130 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 34 °C, nights 23 °C
Coolest in January: days about 26 °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.