What the soil tests found
5
out of 10
Soil score
PoorShort in most fields here: nitrogen, organic carbon, sulphur, iron, manganese and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 103
- nutrients checked in each sample
- 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
PoorLow 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% Marakkanam 100% 0% 0% Viluppuram 100% 0% 0% Tamil Nadu 99% 1% 0% India 64% 30% 6% -
Phosphorus
GoodLow 8% Medium 69% High 23%
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 8% 69% 23% Marakkanam 1% 26% 73% Viluppuram 11% 34% 55% Tamil Nadu 21% 43% 36% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 16% Medium 74% High 11%
2 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 16% 74% 11% Marakkanam 21% 71% 7% Viluppuram 10% 70% 20% Tamil Nadu 11% 43% 46% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
PoorLow 94% Medium 6%
9 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 94% 6% 0% Marakkanam 78% 18% 4% Viluppuram 80% 15% 5% Tamil Nadu 88% 9% 3% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
GoodNeutral 100%
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 0% 100% 0% Marakkanam 1% 99% 0% Viluppuram 1% 98% 1% Tamil Nadu 2% 93% 5% India 12% 86% 2% -
Salt
GoodNot salty 99% Salty 1%
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 99% 1% Marakkanam 99% 1% Viluppuram 98% 2% Tamil Nadu 98% 2% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
PoorShort 80% Enough 20%
8 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 80% 20% Marakkanam 84% 16% Viluppuram 42% 58% Tamil Nadu 35% 65% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
OkayShort 21% Enough 79%
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 21% 79% Marakkanam 12% 88% Viluppuram 32% 68% Tamil Nadu 42% 58% India 35% 65% -
Iron
PoorShort 95% Enough 5%
Almost every soil test 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 95% 5% Marakkanam 93% 7% Viluppuram 65% 35% 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% Marakkanam 0% 100% Viluppuram 1% 99% Tamil Nadu 3% 97% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
PoorShort 75% Enough 25%
7 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 75% 25% Marakkanam 89% 11% Viluppuram 47% 53% Tamil Nadu 28% 72% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 95% Enough 5%
Almost every soil test 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 95% 5% Marakkanam 96% 4% Viluppuram 76% 24% Tamil Nadu 45% 55% 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. 103 samples.
Climate in Viluppuram
Rain
About 1,210 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 830 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 37 °C, nights 27 °C
Coolest in January: days about 30 °C, nights 21 °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.