What the soil tests found
9
out of 10
Soil score
GoodNot in the score: nitrogen and organic carbon.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 1,296
- 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
Phosphorus
From 1,296 soil tests
Low 25% Medium 61% High 14%
2 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 25% 61% 14% Nainital 16% 61% 23% Uttarakhand 17% 45% 38% India 13% 41% 45% -
Good
Potassium
From 1,296 soil tests
Low 4% Medium 43% High 53%
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 4% 43% 53% Nainital 9% 60% 32% Uttarakhand 21% 51% 28% India 14% 53% 33% -
Good
pH
From 1,259 soil tests
Acidic 5% Neutral 95%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out acidic
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 5% 95% 0% Nainital 4% 96% 0% Uttarakhand 3% 97% 0% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 1,275 soil tests
Not 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. 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 99% 1% Nainital 100% 0% Uttarakhand 88% 12% India 96% 4% -
Okay
Sulphur
From 1,296 soil tests
Short 26% Enough 74%
3 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 26% 74% Nainital 30% 70% Uttarakhand 22% 78% India 24% 76% -
Good
Zinc
From 1,296 soil tests
Short 19% Enough 81%
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 19% 81% Nainital 31% 69% Uttarakhand 13% 87% India 35% 65% -
Good
Iron
From 1,296 soil tests
Short 8% Enough 92%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 8% 92% Nainital 47% 53% Uttarakhand 12% 88% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 1,296 soil tests
Short 18% Enough 82%
2 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 18% 82% Nainital 12% 88% Uttarakhand 4% 96% India 5% 95% -
Good
Manganese
From 1,296 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% Nainital 58% 42% Uttarakhand 14% 86% India 12% 88% -
Good
Boron
From 1,296 soil tests
Short 10% Enough 90%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 10% 90% Nainital 10% 90% Uttarakhand 22% 78% India 44% 56%
The tests here for organic carbon 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 nitrogen (61 tests), out of 1,296 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. 1,296 samples.
Climate in Nainital
Rain
About 1,470 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,100 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 33 °C, nights 19 °C
Coolest in January: days about 17 °C, nights 6 °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.