What the soil tests found
8
out of 10
Soil score
GoodShort in most fields here: potassium.
Not in the score: sulphur, zinc, iron and 3 more.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 40
- nutrients checked
- 6
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
-
Good
Nitrogen
From 40 soil tests
Low 13% Medium 88%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out low
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 13% 88% 0% Salooni 10% 90% 0% Chamba 13% 87% 0% Himachal Pradesh 64% 36% 1% India 65% 29% 6% -
Okay
Phosphorus
From 40 soil tests
Low 28% Medium 73%
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 28% 73% 0% Salooni 19% 81% 0% Chamba 20% 80% 0% Himachal Pradesh 13% 59% 28% India 13% 41% 45% -
Poor
Potassium
From 40 soil tests
Low 53% Medium 48%
5 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 53% 48% 0% Salooni 31% 69% 0% Chamba 33% 67% 0% Himachal Pradesh 11% 49% 40% India 14% 53% 33% -
Good
Organic carbon
From 40 soil tests
High 100%
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 0% 0% 100% Salooni 0% 1% 99% Chamba 0% 1% 99% Himachal Pradesh 8% 15% 77% India 49% 28% 23% -
Good
pH
From 40 soil tests
Neutral 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 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% 100% 0% Salooni 0% 100% 0% Chamba 0% 100% 0% Himachal Pradesh 1% 99% 0% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 40 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% Salooni 100% 0% Chamba 100% 0% Himachal Pradesh 100% 0% India 96% 4%
Not tested here: sulphur, zinc, iron, copper, manganese and boron.
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. 40 samples.
Climate in Chamba
Rain
About 1,330 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,120 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in June: days about 29 °C, nights 18 °C
Coolest in January: days about 11 °C, nights 2 °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.