What the soil tests found
9
out of 10
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 83
- 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 1% Medium 92% High 7%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 1% 92% 7% Channagiri 6% 89% 6% Davanagere 7% 88% 5% Karnataka 62% 32% 6% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodMedium 11% High 89%
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% 11% 89% Channagiri 1% 20% 79% Davanagere 1% 20% 79% Karnataka 7% 36% 57% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 5% Medium 30% High 65%
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 5% 30% 65% Channagiri 1% 25% 75% Davanagere 1% 26% 74% Karnataka 13% 47% 40% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
GoodLow 8% Medium 37% High 54%
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 8% 37% 54% Channagiri 33% 37% 31% Davanagere 28% 37% 35% 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% Channagiri 0% 100% 0% Davanagere 1% 99% 0% Karnataka 7% 90% 3% India 12% 86% 2% -
Salt
GoodNot salty 99% Salty 1%
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 99% 1% Channagiri 100% 0% Davanagere 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% Channagiri 0% 100% Davanagere 0% 100% Karnataka 31% 69% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
OkayShort 30% Enough 70%
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 30% 70% Channagiri 32% 68% Davanagere 36% 64% Karnataka 57% 43% India 35% 65% -
Iron
PoorShort 67% Enough 33%
7 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 67% 33% Channagiri 54% 46% Davanagere 58% 42% Karnataka 52% 48% India 24% 76% -
Copper
GoodShort 8% Enough 92%
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 8% 92% Channagiri 3% 97% Davanagere 3% 97% Karnataka 5% 95% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
OkayShort 24% Enough 76%
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 24% 76% Channagiri 11% 89% Davanagere 14% 86% Karnataka 14% 86% India 13% 87% -
Boron
GoodShort 13% Enough 87%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 13% 87% Channagiri 23% 77% Davanagere 21% 79% 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. 83 samples.
Climate in Davanagere
Rain
About 810 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 550 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in April: days about 36 °C, nights 23 °C
Coolest in December: days about 29 °C, nights 17 °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.