What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 116
- 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 33% Medium 66% High 1%
3 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 33% 66% 1% Karapa 32% 65% 2% Kakinada 49% 44% 7% Andhra Pradesh 73% 24% 3% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
OkayLow 33% Medium 34% High 34%
3 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 33% 34% 34% Karapa 14% 24% 62% Kakinada 19% 29% 52% Andhra Pradesh 16% 34% 50% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 2% Medium 17% High 81%
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% 17% 81% Karapa 10% 26% 63% Kakinada 12% 31% 56% Andhra Pradesh 10% 30% 60% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
OkayLow 35% Medium 53% High 11%
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 35% 53% 11% Karapa 29% 43% 28% Kakinada 28% 37% 34% 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% Karapa 1% 99% 0% Kakinada 3% 97% 0% Andhra Pradesh 1% 93% 6% India 12% 86% 2% -
Salt
OkayNot salty 53% Salty 47%
5 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 53% 47% Karapa 49% 51% Kakinada 82% 18% Andhra Pradesh 93% 7% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
GoodShort 3% Enough 97%
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 3% 97% Karapa 6% 94% Kakinada 11% 89% Andhra Pradesh 15% 85% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
OkayShort 43% Enough 57%
4 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 43% 57% Karapa 49% 51% Kakinada 41% 59% Andhra Pradesh 38% 62% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 6% Enough 94%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 6% 94% Karapa 8% 92% Kakinada 15% 85% Andhra Pradesh 29% 71% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodShort 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% Karapa 3% 97% Kakinada 4% 96% Andhra Pradesh 6% 94% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodShort 12% Enough 88%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 12% 88% Karapa 10% 90% Kakinada 10% 90% Andhra Pradesh 12% 88% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 68% Enough 32%
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 68% 32% Karapa 77% 23% Kakinada 61% 39% 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. 116 samples.
Climate in Kakinada
Rain
About 1,120 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 920 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 37°, nights 27°
Coolest in January: days about 29°, nights 18°.
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°).