Paravoor (Part)
Village soil report
What the soil tests found
8
out of 10
Soil score
GoodShort in most fields here: sulphur and iron.
Not in the score: nitrogen.
For most crops. How the soil score works
- soil samples, 2024-25
- 68
- nutrients checked
- 11
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
Phosphorus
From 68 soil tests
Medium 3% High 97%
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 0% 3% 97% Ithikkara 1% 8% 91% Kollam 3% 8% 89% Kerala 9% 17% 74% India 13% 41% 45% -
Good
Potassium
From 68 soil tests
Low 13% Medium 68% High 19%
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 13% 68% 19% Ithikkara 25% 55% 20% Kollam 28% 50% 22% Kerala 29% 42% 29% India 14% 53% 33% -
Okay
Organic carbon
From 68 soil tests
Low 31% Medium 25% High 44%
3 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 31% 25% 44% Ithikkara 29% 30% 42% Kollam 29% 23% 48% Kerala 19% 19% 62% India 49% 28% 23% -
Good
pH
From 68 soil tests
Acidic 7% Neutral 93%
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 7% 93% 0% Ithikkara 12% 88% 0% Kollam 41% 59% 0% Kerala 28% 72% 0% India 11% 86% 2% -
Good
Salt
From 68 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% Ithikkara 100% 0% Kollam 99% 1% Kerala 99% 1% India 96% 4% -
Poor
Sulphur
From 68 soil tests
Short 91% Enough 9%
9 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 91% 9% Ithikkara 34% 66% Kollam 35% 65% Kerala 44% 56% India 24% 76% -
Good
Zinc
From 68 soil tests
Enough 100%
Almost every soil test here had enough
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 0% 100% Ithikkara 2% 98% Kollam 3% 97% Kerala 6% 94% India 35% 65% -
Poor
Iron
From 68 soil tests
Short 56% Enough 44%
6 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 56% 44% Ithikkara 27% 73% Kollam 14% 86% Kerala 2% 98% India 24% 76% -
Good
Copper
From 68 soil tests
Short 1% Enough 99%
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 1% 99% Ithikkara 3% 97% Kollam 2% 98% Kerala 1% 99% India 5% 95% -
Good
Manganese
From 68 soil tests
Short 9% Enough 91%
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 9% 91% Ithikkara 8% 92% Kollam 13% 87% Kerala 4% 96% India 12% 88% -
Okay
Boron
From 68 soil tests
Short 40% Enough 60%
4 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 40% 60% Ithikkara 50% 50% Kollam 61% 39% Kerala 47% 53% India 44% 56%
Not tested here: nitrogen.
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). 2024-25. 68 samples.
Climate in Kollam
Rain
About 2,410 mm of rain a year
In a normal year. A dry year brings about 2,110 mm.
Temperature
Hottest in March: days about 33 °C, nights 25 °C
Coolest in January: days about 32 °C, nights 23 °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.