What the soil tests found
6
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: phosphorus, potassium and zinc.
Too 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
- 30
- 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
-
Good
Nitrogen
From 30 soil tests
Low 7% Medium 90% High 3%
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 7% 90% 3% Dalu 35% 61% 5% West Garo Hills 20% 78% 2% Meghalaya 40% 59% 1% India 65% 29% 6% -
Poor
Phosphorus
From 30 soil tests
Low 73% Medium 27%
7 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 73% 27% 0% Dalu 19% 81% 1% West Garo Hills 54% 45% 0% Meghalaya 36% 43% 21% India 13% 41% 45% -
Poor
Potassium
From 30 soil tests
Low 73% Medium 27%
7 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 73% 27% 0% Dalu 27% 73% 0% West Garo Hills 16% 82% 2% Meghalaya 18% 67% 15% India 14% 53% 33% -
Good
Organic carbon
From 30 soil tests
Low 3% Medium 30% High 67%
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 3% 30% 67% Dalu 1% 12% 88% West Garo Hills 3% 19% 79% Meghalaya 3% 11% 86% India 49% 28% 23% -
Poor
pH
From 30 soil tests
Acidic 100%
Almost every soil test 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 100% 0% 0% Dalu 74% 26% 0% West Garo Hills 41% 59% 0% Meghalaya 57% 43% 0% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 30 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% Dalu 100% 0% West Garo Hills 100% 0% Meghalaya 100% 0% India 96% 4% -
Poor
Zinc
From 30 soil tests
Short 63% Enough 37%
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 63% 37% Dalu 50% 50% West Garo Hills 65% 35% Meghalaya 41% 59% India 35% 65% -
Good
Iron
From 30 soil tests
Short 17% Enough 83%
2 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 17% 83% Dalu 10% 90% West Garo Hills 9% 91% Meghalaya 25% 75% India 24% 76% -
Okay
Copper
From 30 soil tests
Short 23% Enough 77%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: mix 2 kg of copper sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing.
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 23% 77% Dalu 14% 86% West Garo Hills 12% 88% Meghalaya 23% 77% India 5% 95% -
Okay
Manganese
From 30 soil tests
Short 20% Enough 80%
2 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: spray manganese sulphate, 5 g per litre of water, on the young crop.
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 20% 80% Dalu 16% 84% West Garo Hills 6% 94% Meghalaya 24% 76% India 12% 88%
The tests here for sulphur 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 boron (20 tests), out of 30 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. 30 samples.
Climate in West Garo Hills
Rain
About 3,280 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 2,570 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in April: days about 32 °C, nights 22 °C
Coolest in January: days about 24 °C, nights 12 °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.