What the soil tests found
8
out of 10
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 40
- 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
-
Nitrogen
OkayLow 25% Medium 18% High 57%
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 25% 18% 57% Pernem 27% 22% 51% North Goa 36% 24% 40% Goa 29% 48% 22% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 15% Medium 18% High 67%
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 15% 18% 67% Pernem 39% 14% 47% North Goa 36% 18% 47% Goa 50% 19% 31% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodMedium 68% High 33%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 0% 68% 33% Pernem 10% 44% 46% North Goa 23% 42% 35% Goa 26% 38% 36% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
GoodLow 18% Medium 3% High 80%
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 18% 3% 80% Pernem 20% 5% 76% North Goa 27% 5% 68% Goa 17% 7% 76% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
PoorAcidic 70% Neutral 30%
7 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 70% 30% 0% Pernem 42% 58% 0% North Goa 59% 41% 0% Goa 54% 46% 0% 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% Pernem 99% 1% North Goa 89% 11% Goa 92% 8% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
OkayShort 27% Enough 73%
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 27% 73% Pernem 45% 55% North Goa 58% 42% Goa 53% 47% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
GoodShort 18% Enough 83%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 18% 83% Pernem 52% 48% North Goa 42% 58% Goa 30% 70% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodEnough 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% Pernem 5% 95% North Goa 3% 97% Goa 3% 97% 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% Pernem 9% 91% North Goa 4% 96% Goa 3% 97% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodShort 3% Enough 98%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 3% 98% Pernem 3% 97% North Goa 8% 92% Goa 7% 93% India 13% 87% -
Boron
OkayShort 48% Enough 52%
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 48% 52% Pernem 65% 35% North Goa 44% 56% Goa 41% 59% 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. 40 samples.
Climate in North Goa
Rain
About 4,210 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 3,670 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in April: days about 34 °C, nights 25 °C
Coolest in January: days about 32 °C, nights 19 °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.