Karaikal

• Nitrogen

  From 1,928 soil tests

  Poor
  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/ha

  Healthy soil has 280 kg/ha or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Low	Medium	High
  Here	100%	0%	0%
  Puducherry	100%	0%	0%
  India	65%	29%	6%

• Phosphorus

  From 1,928 soil tests

  Good
  Low 5% Medium 42% High 53%

  Most soil tests here came out high

  If your field is high: you can use about a quarter less DAP than usual.

  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/ha

  Healthy soil has 10 kg/ha or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Low	Medium	High
  Here	5%	42%	53%
  Puducherry	17%	29%	54%
  India	13%	41%	45%

• Potassium

  From 1,928 soil tests

  Good
  Low 16% Medium 58% High 27%

  2 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/ha

  Healthy soil has 110 kg/ha or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Low	Medium	High
  Here	16%	58%	27%
  Puducherry	39%	43%	18%
  India	14%	53%	33%

• pH

  From 1,928 soil tests

  Good
  Acidic 2% Neutral 94% Alkaline 4%

  Almost no soil tests here fell short

  What this means

  How sour (acidic) or alkaline the soil is. It decides which nutrients roots can take up.

  Acidic Neutral Alkaline

  In 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	2%	94%	4%
  Puducherry	2%	95%	3%
  India	11%	86%	2%

• Salt

  From 1,928 soil tests

  Good
  Not salty 88% Salty 12%

  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 Salty

  Under 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	88%	12%
  Puducherry	91%	9%
  India	96%	4%

• Zinc

  From 1,928 soil tests

  Good
  Short 18% Enough 82%

  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 more

  Healthy soil has 0.6 ppm or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Short	Enough
  Here	18%	82%
  Puducherry	9%	91%
  India	35%	65%

• Iron

  From 1,928 soil tests

  Good
  Short 2% Enough 98%

  Almost every soil test here had enough

  What this means

  Keeps young leaves green.

  Short under 4.5 ppm Enough 4.5 ppm or more

  Healthy soil has 4.5 ppm or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Short	Enough
  Here	2%	98%
  Puducherry	5%	95%
  India	24%	76%

• Copper

  From 1,928 soil tests

  Good
  Short 2% Enough 98%

  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 more

  Healthy soil has 0.2 ppm or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Short	Enough
  Here	2%	98%
  Puducherry	1%	99%
  India	5%	95%

• Manganese

  From 1,928 soil tests

  Good
  Short 1% Enough 99%

  Almost every soil test here had enough

  What this means

  Helps leaves make food from sunlight.

  Short under 2 ppm Enough 2 ppm or more

  Healthy soil has 2 ppm or more.

  Compared with the wider area

  Place	Short	Enough
  Here	1%	99%
  Puducherry	1%	99%
  India	12%	88%

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.

Not tested here: sulphur and boron.

Fixes are the usual advice. Your Soil Health Card or nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra gives the exact dose for your field.