What the soil tests found
9
out of 10
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 35
- nutrients checked
- 11
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
-
Good
Phosphorus
From 35 soil tests
Low 9% Medium 43% High 49%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out low
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 9% 43% 49% Ponnampet 8% 39% 52% Kodagu 9% 38% 54% Karnataka 7% 31% 62% India 13% 41% 45% -
Good
Potassium
From 35 soil tests
Low 9% Medium 57% High 34%
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 9% 57% 34% Ponnampet 9% 52% 39% Kodagu 10% 50% 40% Karnataka 13% 47% 40% India 14% 53% 33% -
Okay
Organic carbon
From 35 soil tests
Low 43% Medium 46% High 11%
4 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 43% 46% 11% Ponnampet 13% 44% 43% Kodagu 12% 45% 43% Karnataka 46% 32% 22% India 49% 28% 23% -
Good
pH
From 35 soil tests
Acidic 9% Neutral 91%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out acidic
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 9% 91% 0% Ponnampet 4% 96% 0% Kodagu 2% 98% 0% Karnataka 5% 92% 3% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 35 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% Ponnampet 100% 0% Kodagu 100% 0% Karnataka 98% 2% India 96% 4% -
Good
Sulphur
From 35 soil tests
Short 3% Enough 97%
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 3% 97% Ponnampet 8% 92% Kodagu 9% 91% Karnataka 31% 69% India 24% 76% -
Okay
Zinc
From 35 soil tests
Short 31% Enough 69%
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 31% 69% Ponnampet 14% 86% Kodagu 14% 86% Karnataka 57% 43% India 35% 65% -
Good
Iron
From 35 soil tests
Enough 100%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 0% 100% Ponnampet 2% 98% Kodagu 2% 98% Karnataka 50% 50% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 35 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% Ponnampet 0% 100% Kodagu 0% 100% Karnataka 5% 95% India 5% 95% -
Okay
Manganese
From 35 soil tests
Short 29% Enough 71%
3 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 29% 71% Ponnampet 24% 76% Kodagu 21% 79% Karnataka 14% 86% India 12% 88% -
Good
Boron
From 35 soil tests
Enough 100%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 0% 100% Ponnampet 0% 100% Kodagu 0% 100% Karnataka 55% 45% India 44% 56%
The tests here for nitrogen look like a testing error: almost every test reads the same, unlike the districts around. They aren't used.
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. 35 samples.
Climate in Kodagu
Rain
About 1,500 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,340 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in March: days about 31 °C, nights 19 °C
Coolest in January: days about 27 °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.