What the soil tests found
6
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, potassium, manganese and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 36
- 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 36 soil tests
Low 94% Medium 6%
9 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 94% 6% 0% Mudubidare 97% 3% 0% Dakshina Kannada 97% 3% 0% Karnataka 67% 29% 4% India 65% 29% 6% -
Okay
Phosphorus
From 36 soil tests
Low 25% Medium 50% High 25%
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 25% 50% 25% Mudubidare 19% 41% 40% Dakshina Kannada 22% 50% 28% Karnataka 7% 31% 62% India 13% 41% 45% -
Poor
Potassium
From 36 soil tests
Low 86% Medium 11% High 3%
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 86% 11% 3% Mudubidare 39% 59% 2% Dakshina Kannada 59% 35% 6% Karnataka 13% 47% 40% India 14% 53% 33% -
Good
Organic carbon
From 36 soil tests
Medium 3% High 97%
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 0% 3% 97% Mudubidare 2% 11% 87% Dakshina Kannada 1% 7% 92% Karnataka 46% 32% 22% India 49% 28% 23% -
Okay
pH
From 36 soil tests
Acidic 28% Neutral 72%
3 in 10 soil tests here came out acidic
If your field is acidic: add agricultural lime before sowing. A soil lab works out how much your field needs.
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 28% 72% 0% Mudubidare 31% 69% 0% Dakshina Kannada 30% 70% 0% Karnataka 5% 92% 3% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 36 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% Mudubidare 100% 0% Dakshina Kannada 100% 0% Karnataka 98% 2% India 96% 4% -
Good
Sulphur
From 36 soil tests
Short 19% Enough 81%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 19% 81% Mudubidare 21% 79% Dakshina Kannada 16% 84% Karnataka 31% 69% India 24% 76% -
Okay
Zinc
From 36 soil tests
Short 36% Enough 64%
4 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 36% 64% Mudubidare 56% 44% Dakshina Kannada 40% 60% Karnataka 57% 43% India 35% 65% -
Good
Iron
From 36 soil tests
Short 17% Enough 83%
2 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 17% 83% Mudubidare 19% 81% Dakshina Kannada 12% 88% Karnataka 50% 50% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 36 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% Mudubidare 1% 99% Dakshina Kannada 2% 98% Karnataka 5% 95% India 5% 95% -
Poor
Manganese
From 36 soil tests
Short 53% Enough 47%
5 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 53% 47% Mudubidare 20% 80% Dakshina Kannada 23% 77% Karnataka 14% 86% India 12% 88% -
Poor
Boron
From 36 soil tests
Short 97% Enough 3%
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 97% 3% Mudubidare 93% 7% Dakshina Kannada 83% 17% 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). 2023-24 & 2024-25. 36 samples.
Climate in Dakshina Kannada
Rain
About 3,800 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 3,060 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in April: days about 34 °C, nights 25 °C
Coolest in January: days about 32 °C, nights 20 °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.