What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, organic carbon, iron and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24
- 171
- 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
PoorLow 75% Medium 25%
8 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 75% 25% 0% Challakere 88% 12% 0% Chitradurga 87% 12% 0% Karnataka 62% 32% 6% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodMedium 5% High 95%
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 0% 5% 95% Challakere 1% 18% 81% Chitradurga 1% 16% 84% Karnataka 7% 36% 57% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 10% Medium 90%
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 10% 90% 0% Challakere 2% 65% 32% Chitradurga 1% 74% 25% Karnataka 13% 47% 40% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
PoorLow 60% Medium 40% High 1%
6 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 60% 40% 1% Challakere 65% 33% 2% Chitradurga 68% 30% 1% 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 AlkalineMost crops do best at pH 6.5 to 7.5.
Compared with the wider area Place Acidic Neutral Alkaline Here 0% 100% 0% Challakere 0% 100% 0% Chitradurga 0% 100% 0% Karnataka 7% 90% 3% 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% Challakere 100% 0% Chitradurga 100% 0% Karnataka 91% 9% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
GoodShort 1% Enough 99%
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 1% 99% Challakere 6% 94% Chitradurga 5% 95% Karnataka 31% 69% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
GoodShort 4% Enough 96%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 4% 96% Challakere 9% 91% Chitradurga 7% 93% Karnataka 57% 43% India 35% 65% -
Iron
PoorShort 57% Enough 43%
6 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 57% 43% Challakere 45% 55% Chitradurga 40% 60% Karnataka 52% 48% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodShort 2% Enough 98%
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 2% 98% Challakere 2% 98% Chitradurga 5% 95% Karnataka 5% 95% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
OkayShort 22% Enough 78%
2 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 22% 78% Challakere 15% 85% Chitradurga 19% 81% Karnataka 14% 86% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 81% Enough 19%
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 81% 19% Challakere 88% 12% Chitradurga 86% 14% 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. 171 samples.
Climate in Chitradurga
Rain
About 630 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 450 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in April: days about 36°, nights 22°
Coolest in January: days about 30°, nights 15°.
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°).