What the soil tests found
5
out of 10
Soil score
PoorShort in most fields here: nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon, sulphur and zinc.
Not in the score: iron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 112
- 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 112 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% Narikudi 100% 0% 0% Virudhunagar 100% 0% 0% Tamil Nadu 99% 1% 0% India 65% 29% 6% -
Poor
Phosphorus
From 112 soil tests
Low 100%
Almost every soil test 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 100% 0% 0% Narikudi 92% 8% 0% Virudhunagar 57% 26% 16% Tamil Nadu 21% 43% 36% India 13% 41% 45% -
Good
Potassium
From 112 soil tests
Low 6% Medium 23% High 71%
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 6% 23% 71% Narikudi 19% 41% 40% Virudhunagar 9% 27% 64% Tamil Nadu 11% 43% 46% India 14% 53% 33% -
Poor
Organic carbon
From 112 soil tests
Low 64% Medium 29% High 6%
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 64% 29% 6% Narikudi 72% 23% 6% Virudhunagar 79% 15% 6% Tamil Nadu 88% 9% 3% India 49% 28% 23% -
Good
pH
From 112 soil tests
Neutral 97% Alkaline 3%
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% 97% 3% Narikudi 5% 86% 10% Virudhunagar 1% 80% 19% Tamil Nadu 2% 93% 5% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 112 soil tests
Not salty 94% Salty 6%
1 in 10 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 94% 6% Narikudi 99% 1% Virudhunagar 98% 2% Tamil Nadu 98% 2% India 96% 4% -
Poor
Sulphur
From 112 soil tests
Short 86% Enough 14%
9 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 86% 14% Narikudi 88% 12% Virudhunagar 53% 47% Tamil Nadu 35% 65% India 24% 76% -
Poor
Zinc
From 112 soil tests
Short 92% Enough 8%
9 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 92% 8% Narikudi 76% 24% Virudhunagar 70% 30% Tamil Nadu 42% 58% India 35% 65% -
Okay
Copper
From 112 soil tests
Short 31% Enough 69%
3 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 31% 69% Narikudi 15% 85% Virudhunagar 11% 89% Tamil Nadu 3% 97% India 5% 95% -
Good
Manganese
From 112 soil tests
Enough 100%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 0% 100% Narikudi 4% 96% Virudhunagar 11% 89% Tamil Nadu 22% 78% India 12% 88% -
Okay
Boron
From 112 soil tests
Short 21% Enough 79%
2 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 21% 79% Narikudi 22% 78% Virudhunagar 42% 58% Tamil Nadu 45% 55% India 44% 56%
The tests here for iron 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. 112 samples.
Climate in Virudhunagar
Rain
About 860 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 640 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 37 °C, nights 27 °C
Coolest in January: days about 31 °C, nights 22 °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.