What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen.
Not in the score: organic carbon, pH and salt.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 37
- 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 33 soil tests
Low 70% Medium 30%
7 in 10 soil tests 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 70% 30% 0% Chhindwara 27% 67% 6% Chhindwara 45% 51% 4% Madhya Pradesh 69% 31% 1% India 65% 29% 6% -
Good
Phosphorus
From 34 soil tests
Low 3% Medium 59% High 38%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 3% 59% 38% Chhindwara 9% 68% 23% Chhindwara 9% 67% 24% Madhya Pradesh 10% 65% 24% India 13% 41% 45% -
Okay
Potassium
From 35 soil tests
Low 26% Medium 57% High 17%
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 26% 57% 17% Chhindwara 5% 49% 47% Chhindwara 6% 61% 33% Madhya Pradesh 4% 56% 40% India 14% 53% 33% -
Good
Sulphur
From 36 soil tests
Short 11% Enough 89%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 11% 89% Chhindwara 10% 90% Chhindwara 12% 88% Madhya Pradesh 19% 81% India 24% 76% -
Okay
Zinc
From 37 soil tests
Short 35% Enough 65%
4 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 35% 65% Chhindwara 33% 67% Chhindwara 43% 57% Madhya Pradesh 45% 55% India 35% 65% -
Okay
Iron
From 37 soil tests
Short 22% Enough 78%
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 22% 78% Chhindwara 21% 79% Chhindwara 27% 73% Madhya Pradesh 22% 78% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 34 soil tests
Short 12% Enough 88%
1 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 12% 88% Chhindwara 6% 94% Chhindwara 8% 92% Madhya Pradesh 7% 93% India 5% 95% -
Okay
Manganese
From 37 soil tests
Short 38% Enough 62%
4 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 38% 62% Chhindwara 11% 89% Chhindwara 12% 88% Madhya Pradesh 8% 92% India 12% 88% -
Okay
Boron
From 37 soil tests
Short 27% Enough 73%
3 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 27% 73% Chhindwara 21% 79% Chhindwara 28% 72% Madhya Pradesh 26% 74% India 44% 56%
Too few tests here to judge organic carbon (29 tests), pH (27 tests) and salt (29 tests), out of 37 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. 37 samples.
Climate in Chhindwara
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 40 °C, nights 26 °C
Coolest in December: days about 27 °C, nights 11 °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.