What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: potassium, organic carbon and sulphur.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 87
- nutrients checked in each sample
- 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
-
Phosphorus
GoodHigh 100%
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% 0% 100% Oachira 1% 1% 98% Kollam 3% 8% 89% Kerala 9% 17% 74% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
PoorLow 77% Medium 22% High 1%
8 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 77% 22% 1% Oachira 56% 38% 6% Kollam 28% 50% 22% Kerala 29% 42% 29% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
PoorLow 60% Medium 22% High 18%
6 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 60% 22% 18% Oachira 54% 26% 20% Kollam 29% 23% 48% Kerala 18% 18% 64% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodAcidic 2% Neutral 98%
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% 98% 0% Oachira 18% 82% 0% Kollam 41% 59% 0% Kerala 33% 67% 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% Oachira 100% 0% Kollam 99% 1% Kerala 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
PoorShort 51% Enough 49%
5 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 51% 49% Oachira 55% 45% Kollam 35% 65% Kerala 47% 53% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
GoodShort 1% Enough 99%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 1% 99% Oachira 2% 98% Kollam 3% 97% Kerala 6% 94% India 35% 65% -
Iron
OkayShort 22% Enough 78%
2 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 22% 78% Oachira 8% 92% Kollam 14% 86% Kerala 2% 98% 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% Oachira 3% 97% Kollam 2% 98% Kerala 1% 99% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
GoodShort 10% Enough 90%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 10% 90% Oachira 17% 83% Kollam 13% 87% Kerala 4% 96% India 13% 87% -
Boron
OkayShort 33% Enough 67%
3 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 33% 67% Oachira 56% 44% Kollam 61% 39% Kerala 47% 53% 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). 2024-25. 87 samples.
Climate in Kollam
Rain
About 2,410 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 2,110 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in March: days about 33 °C, nights 25 °C
Coolest in January: days about 32 °C, nights 23 °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.