What the soil tests found
4
out of 10
Soil score
PoorShort in most fields here: nitrogen, organic carbon, zinc, iron and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 71
- nutrients checked
- 10
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% Devadurga 100% 0% 0% Raichur 100% 0% 0% Karnataka 62% 32% 6% India 64% 30% 6% -
Potassium
GoodLow 3% Medium 97%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 3% 97% 0% Devadurga 3% 97% 0% Raichur 5% 95% 0% Karnataka 13% 47% 40% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
PoorLow 94% Medium 6%
9 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 94% 6% 0% Devadurga 91% 9% 0% Raichur 94% 6% 0% Karnataka 46% 32% 22% 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 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% Devadurga 0% 100% 0% Raichur 0% 98% 2% Karnataka 7% 90% 3% India 12% 86% 2% -
Sulphur
GoodShort 14% Enough 86%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 14% 86% Devadurga 3% 97% Raichur 6% 94% Karnataka 31% 69% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
PoorShort 100%
Almost every soil test 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 100% 0% Devadurga 100% 0% Raichur 100% 0% Karnataka 57% 43% India 35% 65% -
Iron
PoorShort 99% Enough 1%
Almost every soil test 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 99% 1% Devadurga 97% 3% Raichur 98% 2% Karnataka 52% 48% 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% Devadurga 0% 100% Raichur 5% 95% Karnataka 5% 95% 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% Devadurga 0% 100% Raichur 1% 99% Karnataka 14% 86% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 94% Enough 6%
9 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 94% 6% Devadurga 99% 1% Raichur 100% 0% Karnataka 55% 45% India 45% 55%
The tests here for phosphorus and salt 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). 2023-24 & 2024-25. 71 samples.
Climate in Raichur
Rain
About 650 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 460 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 38 °C, nights 26 °C
Coolest in December: days about 31 °C, nights 18 °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.