What the soil tests found
6
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, potassium, sulphur and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 164
- nutrients checked
- 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
-
Poor
Nitrogen
From 164 soil tests
Low 58% Medium 41% High 1%
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 58% 41% 1% Sandur 31% 44% 25% Ballari 23% 56% 21% Karnataka 67% 29% 4% India 65% 29% 6% -
Good
Phosphorus
From 164 soil tests
Low 2% Medium 74% High 24%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 2% 74% 24% Sandur 14% 37% 49% Ballari 17% 49% 34% Karnataka 7% 31% 62% India 13% 41% 45% -
Poor
Potassium
From 164 soil tests
Low 87% Medium 13%
9 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 87% 13% 0% Sandur 67% 21% 12% Ballari 23% 56% 21% Karnataka 13% 47% 40% India 14% 53% 33% -
Okay
Organic carbon
From 164 soil tests
Low 46% Medium 52% High 2%
5 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 46% 52% 2% Sandur 30% 34% 36% Ballari 16% 34% 50% Karnataka 46% 32% 22% India 49% 28% 23% -
Okay
pH
From 164 soil tests
Acidic 5% Neutral 79% Alkaline 15%
2 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 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 5% 79% 15% Sandur 13% 85% 2% Ballari 3% 84% 13% Karnataka 5% 92% 3% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 164 soil tests
Not 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. Between 1 and 4, only crops that can't take salt lose yield. Above 4 harms most crops.
Compared with the wider area Place Not salty Salty Here 100% 0% Sandur 99% 1% Ballari 96% 4% Karnataka 98% 2% India 96% 4% -
Poor
Sulphur
From 164 soil tests
Short 79% Enough 21%
8 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 79% 21% Sandur 66% 34% Ballari 40% 60% Karnataka 31% 69% India 24% 76% -
Okay
Zinc
From 164 soil tests
Short 32% Enough 68%
3 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 32% 68% Sandur 34% 66% Ballari 48% 52% Karnataka 57% 43% India 35% 65% -
Good
Iron
From 164 soil tests
Short 9% Enough 91%
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 9% 91% Sandur 17% 83% Ballari 55% 45% Karnataka 50% 50% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 164 soil tests
Enough 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% Sandur 0% 100% Ballari 1% 99% Karnataka 5% 95% India 5% 95% -
Good
Manganese
From 164 soil tests
Enough 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% Sandur 0% 100% Ballari 2% 98% Karnataka 14% 86% India 12% 88% -
Poor
Boron
From 164 soil tests
Short 98% Enough 2%
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 98% 2% Sandur 86% 14% Ballari 81% 19% Karnataka 55% 45% India 44% 56%
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. 164 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.