What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen, sulphur, zinc and boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 361
- nutrients checked
- 12
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 360 soil tests
Low 98% Medium 2%
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 98% 2% 0% Athner 95% 5% 0% Betul 91% 9% 0% Madhya Pradesh 69% 31% 1% India 65% 29% 6% -
Good
Phosphorus
From 361 soil tests
Low 10% Medium 80% High 10%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out low
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 10% 80% 10% Athner 6% 54% 40% Betul 10% 68% 22% Madhya Pradesh 10% 65% 24% India 13% 41% 45% -
Good
Potassium
From 361 soil tests
Low 2% Medium 80% High 18%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 2% 80% 18% Athner 4% 87% 9% Betul 2% 72% 26% Madhya Pradesh 4% 56% 40% India 14% 53% 33% -
Good
Organic carbon
From 360 soil tests
Low 10% Medium 23% 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 10% 23% 67% Athner 37% 44% 19% Betul 35% 56% 9% Madhya Pradesh 30% 40% 31% India 49% 28% 23% -
Good
pH
From 359 soil tests
Acidic 1% Neutral 99%
Almost every soil test here came out neutral
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 1% 99% 0% Athner 2% 98% 0% Betul 1% 99% 0% Madhya Pradesh 1% 98% 1% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 359 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% Athner 100% 0% Betul 99% 1% Madhya Pradesh 95% 5% India 96% 4% -
Poor
Sulphur
From 360 soil tests
Short 55% Enough 45%
6 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 55% 45% Athner 23% 77% Betul 24% 76% Madhya Pradesh 19% 81% India 24% 76% -
Poor
Zinc
From 361 soil tests
Short 77% Enough 23%
8 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 77% 23% Athner 37% 63% Betul 52% 48% Madhya Pradesh 45% 55% India 35% 65% -
Okay
Iron
From 361 soil tests
Short 24% Enough 76%
2 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 24% 76% Athner 8% 92% Betul 5% 95% Madhya Pradesh 22% 78% India 24% 76% -
Okay
Copper
From 360 soil tests
Short 23% Enough 78%
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% 78% Athner 5% 95% Betul 3% 97% Madhya Pradesh 7% 93% India 5% 95% -
Good
Manganese
From 361 soil tests
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 moreHealthy soil has 2 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 1% 99% Athner 1% 99% Betul 1% 99% Madhya Pradesh 8% 92% India 12% 88% -
Poor
Boron
From 361 soil tests
Short 63% Enough 37%
6 in 10 soil tests here came out short
If your field is short: mix 4 kg of borax per acre into the soil before sowing.
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 63% 37% Athner 22% 78% Betul 26% 74% Madhya Pradesh 26% 74% India 44% 56%
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. 361 samples.
Climate in Betul
Rain
About 1,190 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 920 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in May: days about 41 °C, nights 26 °C
Coolest in December: days about 28 °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.