What the soil tests found
8
out of 10
Soil score
GoodShort in most fields here: sulphur and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 111
- 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
GoodLow 9% Medium 50% High 41%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out low
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 9% 50% 41% Siruguppa 22% 59% 19% Ballari 23% 56% 21% Karnataka 62% 32% 6% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 3% Medium 23% High 74%
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% 23% 74% Siruguppa 17% 51% 31% Ballari 17% 49% 34% Karnataka 7% 36% 57% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 5% Medium 59% High 35%
1 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 5% 59% 35% Siruguppa 9% 67% 24% Ballari 23% 56% 21% Karnataka 13% 47% 40% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
GoodLow 7% Medium 5% High 88%
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 7% 5% 88% Siruguppa 17% 36% 47% Ballari 16% 34% 50% Karnataka 46% 32% 22% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodNeutral 95% Alkaline 5%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out alkaline
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% 95% 5% Siruguppa 0% 86% 14% Ballari 3% 84% 13% Karnataka 7% 90% 3% India 12% 86% 2% -
Salt
GoodNot salty 95% Salty 5%
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 95% 5% Siruguppa 98% 2% Ballari 96% 4% Karnataka 91% 9% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
PoorShort 53% Enough 47%
5 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: use single super phosphate instead of DAP, or add about 100 kg of gypsum per acre before sowing.
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 53% 47% Siruguppa 33% 67% Ballari 40% 60% Karnataka 31% 69% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
GoodShort 20% Enough 80%
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 20% 80% Siruguppa 42% 58% Ballari 48% 52% Karnataka 57% 43% India 35% 65% -
Iron
OkayShort 42% Enough 58%
4 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 42% 58% Siruguppa 68% 32% Ballari 55% 45% Karnataka 52% 48% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodShort 6% Enough 94%
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 6% 94% Siruguppa 1% 99% Ballari 1% 99% Karnataka 5% 95% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodShort 9% Enough 91%
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 9% 91% Siruguppa 3% 97% Ballari 2% 98% Karnataka 14% 86% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 83% Enough 17%
8 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 83% 17% Siruguppa 76% 24% Ballari 81% 19% Karnataka 55% 45% 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. 111 samples.
Climate in Ballari
Rain
About 590 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 420 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in April: days about 37 °C, nights 24 °C
Coolest in January: days about 30 °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.