What the soil tests found
8
out of 10
Soil score
GoodToo acidic in most fields here.
Not in the score: sulphur and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 805
- 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
-
Okay
Nitrogen
From 803 soil tests
Low 26% Medium 74%
3 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 26% 74% 0% West Jaintia Hills 29% 71% 0% Meghalaya 40% 59% 1% India 65% 29% 6% -
Okay
Phosphorus
From 805 soil tests
Low 28% Medium 38% High 34%
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% 38% 34% West Jaintia Hills 31% 38% 32% Meghalaya 36% 43% 21% India 13% 41% 45% -
Good
Potassium
From 805 soil tests
Low 13% Medium 85% High 1%
1 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 13% 85% 1% West Jaintia Hills 7% 83% 10% Meghalaya 18% 67% 15% India 14% 53% 33% -
Good
Organic carbon
From 800 soil tests
Low 2% Medium 6% High 93%
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 2% 6% 93% West Jaintia Hills 5% 5% 90% Meghalaya 3% 11% 86% India 49% 28% 23% -
Poor
pH
From 798 soil tests
Acidic 95% Neutral 5%
9 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 95% 5% 0% West Jaintia Hills 91% 9% 0% Meghalaya 57% 43% 0% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 801 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% West Jaintia Hills 100% 0% Meghalaya 100% 0% India 96% 4% -
Good
Zinc
From 805 soil tests
Short 16% Enough 84%
2 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 16% 84% West Jaintia Hills 7% 93% Meghalaya 41% 59% India 35% 65% -
Okay
Iron
From 805 soil tests
Short 34% Enough 66%
3 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 34% 66% West Jaintia Hills 41% 59% Meghalaya 25% 75% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 802 soil tests
Short 6% Enough 94%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 6% 94% West Jaintia Hills 1% 99% Meghalaya 23% 77% India 5% 95% -
Good
Manganese
From 805 soil tests
Short 17% Enough 83%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 17% 83% West Jaintia Hills 18% 82% Meghalaya 24% 76% India 12% 88%
The tests here for boron look like a testing error: almost every test reads the same, unlike the districts around. They aren't used.
Too few tests here to judge sulphur (4 tests), out of 805 soil samples.
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. 805 samples.
Climate in West Jaintia Hills
Rain
About 1,810 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,450 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in August: days about 26 °C, nights 20 °C
Coolest in January: days about 18 °C, nights 7 °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.