What the soil tests found
6
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, sulphur and zinc.
Not in the score: organic carbon and pH.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 1,002
- nutrients checked
- 10
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 962 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% Idukki 100% 0% 0% Kerala 99% 1% 0% India 65% 29% 6% -
Okay
Phosphorus
From 1,001 soil tests
Low 27% Medium 32% High 40%
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 27% 32% 40% Idukki 15% 24% 61% Kerala 9% 17% 74% India 13% 41% 45% -
Okay
Potassium
From 1,001 soil tests
Low 27% Medium 57% High 16%
3 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 27% 57% 16% Idukki 16% 38% 46% Kerala 29% 42% 29% India 14% 53% 33% -
Good
Salt
From 997 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% Idukki 99% 1% Kerala 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Poor
Sulphur
From 1,002 soil tests
Short 84% Enough 16%
8 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 84% 16% Idukki 77% 23% Kerala 44% 56% India 24% 76% -
Poor
Zinc
From 1,002 soil tests
Short 56% Enough 44%
6 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 56% 44% Idukki 33% 67% Kerala 6% 94% India 35% 65% -
Good
Iron
From 1,001 soil tests
Enough 100%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 0% 100% Idukki 1% 99% Kerala 2% 98% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 1,002 soil tests
Short 1% Enough 99%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 1% 99% Idukki 0% 100% Kerala 1% 99% India 5% 95% -
Good
Manganese
From 1,001 soil tests
Short 9% Enough 91%
1 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 9% 91% Idukki 8% 92% Kerala 4% 96% India 12% 88% -
Good
Boron
From 1,001 soil tests
Short 4% Enough 96%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 4% 96% Idukki 30% 70% Kerala 47% 53% India 44% 56%
The tests here for organic carbon and pH 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. 1,002 samples.
Climate in Idukki
Rain
About 1,880 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 1,680 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in April: days about 29 °C, nights 20 °C
Coolest in January: days about 26 °C, nights 17 °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.