What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
- soil samples, 2023-24
- 132
- 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
OkayLow 27% Medium 23% High 50%
3 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 27% 23% 50% Tirthahalli 68% 21% 11% Shivamogga 72% 22% 6% Karnataka 62% 32% 6% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
OkayLow 27% Medium 50% High 23%
3 in 10 soil tests here came out low
If your field is low: add about a quarter more DAP or single super phosphate than the usual dose, at sowing.
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 27% 50% 23% Tirthahalli 29% 35% 36% Shivamogga 25% 27% 48% Karnataka 7% 36% 57% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 15% Medium 61% High 23%
2 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 15% 61% 23% Tirthahalli 20% 53% 27% Shivamogga 10% 42% 47% Karnataka 13% 47% 40% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
OkayLow 47% Medium 20% High 33%
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 47% 20% 33% Tirthahalli 24% 32% 44% Shivamogga 22% 28% 50% Karnataka 46% 32% 22% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodAcidic 2% Neutral 97% Alkaline 1%
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 2% 97% 1% Tirthahalli 26% 73% 0% Shivamogga 13% 87% 0% Karnataka 7% 90% 3% India 12% 86% 2% -
Salt
GoodNot salty 98% Salty 2%
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 98% 2% Tirthahalli 100% 0% Shivamogga 99% 1% Karnataka 91% 9% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
OkayShort 35% Enough 65%
3 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 35% 65% Tirthahalli 56% 44% Shivamogga 43% 57% Karnataka 31% 69% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
PoorShort 81% Enough 19%
8 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 81% 19% Tirthahalli 48% 52% Shivamogga 50% 50% Karnataka 57% 43% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 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% Tirthahalli 8% 92% Shivamogga 10% 90% 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% Tirthahalli 4% 96% Shivamogga 3% 97% Karnataka 5% 95% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
OkayShort 21% Enough 79%
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 21% 79% Tirthahalli 25% 75% Shivamogga 11% 89% Karnataka 14% 86% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 55% Enough 45%
5 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 55% 45% Tirthahalli 39% 61% Shivamogga 34% 66% 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. 132 samples.
Climate in Shivamogga
Rain
About 2,050 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,580 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in March: days about 33 °C, nights 20 °C
Coolest in January: days about 29 °C, nights 16 °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.