What the soil tests found
6
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen and organic carbon.
Not in the score: manganese.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 128
- 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
-
Poor
Nitrogen
From 128 soil tests
Low 100%
Almost every soil test 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 100% 0% 0% West Arani 90% 10% 0% Tiruvannamalai 98% 2% 0% Tamil Nadu 99% 1% 0% India 65% 29% 6% -
Okay
Phosphorus
From 128 soil tests
Low 26% Medium 71% High 3%
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 26% 71% 3% West Arani 22% 60% 18% Tiruvannamalai 18% 51% 31% Tamil Nadu 21% 43% 36% India 13% 41% 45% -
Okay
Potassium
From 128 soil tests
Low 22% Medium 48% High 30%
2 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 22% 48% 30% West Arani 7% 69% 24% Tiruvannamalai 19% 68% 13% Tamil Nadu 11% 43% 46% India 14% 53% 33% -
Poor
Organic carbon
From 128 soil tests
Low 100%
Almost every soil test 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 100% 0% 0% West Arani 93% 7% 0% Tiruvannamalai 93% 6% 1% Tamil Nadu 88% 9% 3% India 49% 28% 23% -
Good
pH
From 128 soil tests
Neutral 99% 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 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 0% 99% 1% West Arani 0% 99% 0% Tiruvannamalai 1% 97% 1% Tamil Nadu 2% 93% 5% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 128 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% West Arani 100% 0% Tiruvannamalai 100% 0% Tamil Nadu 98% 2% India 96% 4% -
Okay
Sulphur
From 128 soil tests
Short 39% Enough 61%
4 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 39% 61% West Arani 29% 71% Tiruvannamalai 40% 60% Tamil Nadu 35% 65% India 24% 76% -
Okay
Zinc
From 128 soil tests
Short 20% Enough 80%
2 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 20% 80% West Arani 39% 61% Tiruvannamalai 60% 40% Tamil Nadu 42% 58% India 35% 65% -
Okay
Iron
From 128 soil tests
Short 35% Enough 65%
4 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 35% 65% West Arani 25% 75% Tiruvannamalai 22% 78% Tamil Nadu 37% 63% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 128 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% West Arani 0% 100% Tiruvannamalai 1% 99% Tamil Nadu 3% 97% India 5% 95% -
Okay
Boron
From 128 soil tests
Short 41% Enough 59%
4 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 41% 59% West Arani 33% 67% Tiruvannamalai 43% 57% Tamil Nadu 45% 55% India 44% 56%
The tests here for manganese 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. 128 samples.
Climate in Tiruvannamalai
Rain
About 1,150 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 810 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 38 °C, nights 27 °C
Coolest in January: days about 30 °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.