What the soil tests found
6
out of 10
Soil score
OkayShort in most fields here: nitrogen and potassium.
Too acidic in most fields here.
Not in the score: boron.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24
- 44
- 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 44 soil tests
Low 61% Medium 39%
6 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 61% 39% 0% Salcete 46% 52% 3% South Goa 24% 69% 7% Goa 29% 48% 22% India 65% 29% 6% -
Okay
Phosphorus
From 44 soil tests
Low 32% Medium 41% High 27%
3 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 32% 41% 27% Salcete 24% 31% 46% South Goa 62% 20% 18% Goa 50% 19% 31% India 13% 41% 45% -
Poor
Potassium
From 44 soil tests
Low 61% Medium 23% High 16%
6 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 61% 23% 16% Salcete 42% 37% 21% South Goa 28% 35% 37% Goa 26% 38% 36% India 14% 53% 33% -
Good
Organic carbon
From 44 soil tests
Low 9% Medium 36% High 55%
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 9% 36% 55% Salcete 15% 19% 66% South Goa 8% 8% 84% Goa 17% 7% 76% India 49% 28% 23% -
Poor
pH
From 44 soil tests
Acidic 93% Neutral 7%
9 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 93% 7% 0% Salcete 67% 33% 0% South Goa 49% 51% 0% Goa 54% 46% 0% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 44 soil tests
Not salty 89% Salty 11%
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 89% 11% Salcete 98% 2% South Goa 94% 6% Goa 92% 8% India 96% 4% -
Okay
Sulphur
From 42 soil tests
Short 36% Enough 64%
4 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 36% 64% Salcete 39% 61% South Goa 50% 50% Goa 53% 47% India 24% 76% -
Good
Zinc
From 44 soil tests
Short 16% Enough 84%
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 moreHealthy soil has 0.6 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 16% 84% Salcete 13% 87% South Goa 20% 80% Goa 30% 70% India 35% 65% -
Good
Iron
From 44 soil tests
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 moreHealthy soil has 4.5 ppm or more.
Compared with the wider area Place Short Enough Here 2% 98% Salcete 1% 99% South Goa 3% 97% Goa 3% 97% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 44 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% Salcete 1% 99% South Goa 2% 98% Goa 3% 97% India 5% 95% -
Okay
Manganese
From 43 soil tests
Short 26% Enough 74%
3 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 26% 74% Salcete 14% 86% South Goa 6% 94% Goa 7% 93% India 12% 88%
Too few tests here to judge boron (26 tests), out of 44 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. 44 samples.
Climate in South Goa
Rain
About 3,730 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 3,200 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.