What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: sulphur and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 100
- 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 45% Medium 55%
5 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 45% 55% 0% Udhagamandalam 76% 24% 0% The Nilgiris 73% 27% 1% Tamil Nadu 99% 1% 0% India 64% 30% 6% -
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% Udhagamandalam 0% 23% 77% The Nilgiris 2% 16% 82% Tamil Nadu 21% 43% 36% India 14% 41% 45% -
Potassium
GoodLow 1% High 99%
Most soil tests here came out high
If your field is high: you can use about a quarter less potash than usual.
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 1% 0% 99% Udhagamandalam 8% 27% 64% The Nilgiris 9% 26% 65% Tamil Nadu 11% 43% 46% India 14% 53% 34% -
Organic carbon
GoodLow 5% Medium 11% High 84%
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 5% 11% 84% Udhagamandalam 16% 16% 68% The Nilgiris 22% 15% 63% Tamil Nadu 88% 9% 3% India 48% 28% 23% -
pH
OkayAcidic 35% Neutral 64% Alkaline 1%
3 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 35% 64% 1% Udhagamandalam 71% 29% 0% The Nilgiris 47% 53% 0% Tamil Nadu 2% 93% 5% India 12% 86% 2% -
Salt
GoodNot salty 98% Salty 2%
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 98% 2% Udhagamandalam 99% 1% The Nilgiris 100% 0% Tamil Nadu 98% 2% India 96% 4% -
Sulphur
PoorShort 98% Enough 2%
Almost every soil test 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 98% 2% Udhagamandalam 85% 15% The Nilgiris 68% 32% Tamil Nadu 35% 65% India 24% 76% -
Zinc
OkayShort 48% Enough 52%
5 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 48% 52% Udhagamandalam 21% 79% The Nilgiris 25% 75% Tamil Nadu 42% 58% India 35% 65% -
Iron
OkayShort 40% Enough 60%
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 40% 60% Udhagamandalam 27% 73% The Nilgiris 19% 81% Tamil Nadu 39% 61% India 24% 76% -
Copper
OkayShort 21% Enough 79%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: mix 2 kg of copper sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing.
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 21% 79% Udhagamandalam 8% 92% The Nilgiris 10% 90% Tamil Nadu 3% 97% India 5% 95% -
Manganese
OkayShort 39% Enough 61%
4 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 39% 61% Udhagamandalam 23% 77% The Nilgiris 16% 84% Tamil Nadu 28% 72% India 13% 87% -
Boron
PoorShort 67% Enough 33%
7 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 67% 33% Udhagamandalam 51% 49% The Nilgiris 36% 64% 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). 2024-25. 100 samples.
Climate in The Nilgiris
Rain
About 1,650 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,270 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in April: days about 25 °C, nights 14 °C
Coolest in January: days about 21 °C, nights 9 °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.