What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen and organic carbon.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 160
- 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
-
Nitrogen
PoorLow 96% Medium 4%
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 96% 4% 0% Vembakkam 97% 3% 0% Tiruvannamalai 98% 2% 0% Tamil Nadu 99% 1% 0% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 9% Medium 79% High 11%
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% 79% 11% Vembakkam 24% 50% 26% Tiruvannamalai 18% 51% 31% Tamil Nadu 21% 43% 36% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 3% Medium 66% High 31%
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 3% 66% 31% Vembakkam 22% 68% 9% Tiruvannamalai 19% 68% 13% Tamil Nadu 11% 43% 46% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
PoorLow 96% Medium 4%
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 96% 4% 0% Vembakkam 97% 3% 0% Tiruvannamalai 93% 6% 1% Tamil Nadu 88% 9% 3% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodAcidic 1% Neutral 96% Alkaline 4%
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 1% 96% 4% Vembakkam 2% 97% 1% Tiruvannamalai 1% 97% 1% Tamil Nadu 2% 93% 5% 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% Vembakkam 100% 0% Tiruvannamalai 100% 0% Tamil Nadu 98% 2% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
GoodShort 14% Enough 86%
1 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 14% 86% Vembakkam 27% 73% Tiruvannamalai 40% 60% Tamil Nadu 35% 65% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
GoodShort 9% Enough 91%
1 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 9% 91% Vembakkam 28% 72% Tiruvannamalai 60% 40% Tamil Nadu 42% 58% India 35% 65% -
Iron
GoodShort 5% Enough 95%
1 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 5% 95% Vembakkam 26% 74% Tiruvannamalai 22% 78% Tamil Nadu 39% 61% 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% Vembakkam 2% 98% Tiruvannamalai 1% 99% Tamil Nadu 3% 97% India 5% 95% -
Boron
OkayShort 38% Enough 63%
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 38% 63% Vembakkam 36% 64% Tiruvannamalai 43% 57% Tamil Nadu 45% 55% India 45% 55%
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). 2023-24 & 2024-25. 160 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.