What the soil tests found
9
out of 10
Soil score
GoodFor most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2023-24 & 2024-25
- 60
- 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
-
Good
Nitrogen
From 60 soil tests
Low 7% Medium 87% High 7%
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% 87% 7% Salcete 46% 52% 3% South Goa 24% 69% 7% Goa 29% 48% 22% India 65% 29% 6% -
Good
Phosphorus
From 60 soil tests
Low 7% Medium 32% High 62%
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 7% 32% 62% Salcete 24% 31% 46% South Goa 62% 20% 18% Goa 50% 19% 31% India 13% 41% 45% -
Good
Potassium
From 60 soil tests
Low 5% Medium 48% High 47%
1 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 5% 48% 47% Salcete 42% 37% 21% South Goa 28% 35% 37% Goa 26% 38% 36% India 14% 53% 33% -
Good
Organic carbon
From 60 soil tests
Low 2% High 98%
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 2% 0% 98% Salcete 15% 19% 66% South Goa 8% 8% 84% Goa 17% 7% 76% India 49% 28% 23% -
Good
pH
From 60 soil tests
Acidic 13% Neutral 87%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out acidic
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 13% 87% 0% Salcete 67% 33% 0% South Goa 49% 51% 0% Goa 54% 46% 0% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 60 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% Salcete 98% 2% South Goa 94% 6% Goa 92% 8% India 96% 4% -
Okay
Sulphur
From 53 soil tests
Short 28% Enough 72%
3 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 28% 72% Salcete 39% 61% South Goa 50% 50% Goa 53% 47% India 24% 76% -
Good
Zinc
From 59 soil tests
Short 17% Enough 83%
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 17% 83% Salcete 13% 87% South Goa 20% 80% Goa 30% 70% India 35% 65% -
Good
Iron
From 60 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% Salcete 1% 99% South Goa 3% 97% Goa 3% 97% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 60 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% -
Good
Manganese
From 60 soil tests
Short 10% Enough 90%
1 in 10 soil tests here came out short
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 10% 90% Salcete 14% 86% South Goa 6% 94% Goa 7% 93% India 12% 88% -
Okay
Boron
From 49 soil tests
Short 47% Enough 53%
5 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 47% 53% Salcete 33% 67% South Goa 38% 62% Goa 41% 59% 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. 60 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.