What the soil tests found
7
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen and organic carbon.
Not in the score: sulphur.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 53
- 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 53 soil tests
Low 70% Medium 9% High 21%
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% 9% 21% Bicholim 38% 27% 35% North Goa 36% 24% 40% Goa 29% 48% 22% India 65% 29% 6% -
Good
Phosphorus
From 50 soil tests
Low 14% Medium 6% High 80%
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/haHealthy soil has 10 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 14% 6% 80% Bicholim 33% 21% 47% North Goa 36% 18% 47% Goa 50% 19% 31% India 13% 41% 45% -
Good
Potassium
From 53 soil tests
Low 17% Medium 40% High 43%
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/haHealthy soil has 110 kg/ha or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Low Medium High Here 17% 40% 43% Bicholim 18% 36% 46% North Goa 23% 42% 35% Goa 26% 38% 36% India 14% 53% 33% -
Poor
Organic carbon
From 53 soil tests
Low 51% Medium 11% High 38%
5 in 10 soil tests here came out low
If your field is low: add 4 tonnes of compost or farmyard manure per acre before sowing, and plough crop leftovers back in instead of burning them.
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 51% 11% 38% Bicholim 27% 7% 66% North Goa 27% 5% 68% Goa 17% 7% 76% India 49% 28% 23% -
Okay
pH
From 53 soil tests
Acidic 45% Neutral 55%
5 in 10 soil tests 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 45% 55% 0% Bicholim 62% 38% 0% North Goa 59% 41% 0% Goa 54% 46% 0% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 53 soil tests
Not salty 94% Salty 6%
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 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 94% 6% Bicholim 80% 20% North Goa 89% 11% Goa 92% 8% India 96% 4% -
Okay
Zinc
From 53 soil tests
Short 47% Enough 53%
5 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 47% 53% Bicholim 27% 73% North Goa 42% 58% Goa 30% 70% India 35% 65% -
Good
Iron
From 53 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% Bicholim 2% 98% North Goa 3% 97% Goa 3% 97% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 53 soil tests
Enough 100%
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 0% 100% Bicholim 2% 98% North Goa 4% 96% Goa 3% 97% India 5% 95% -
Good
Manganese
From 53 soil tests
Enough 100%
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 0% 100% Bicholim 4% 96% North Goa 8% 92% Goa 7% 93% India 12% 88% -
Okay
Boron
From 39 soil tests
Short 28% Enough 72%
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 28% 72% Bicholim 43% 57% North Goa 44% 56% Goa 41% 59% India 44% 56%
Too few tests here to judge sulphur (25 tests), out of 53 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. 53 samples.
Climate in North Goa
Rain
About 4,210 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 3,670 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in April: days about 34 °C, nights 25 °C
Coolest in January: days about 32 °C, nights 19 °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.