My Soil – My Life Partner (Soil Resource). Agriculture Resource Endowment Index 4/10

Soil Matters: The Real Love Story Beneath the Surface, Soil is more than mud—it’s your farm’s true life partner. Its depth, health, and hidden chemistry decide whether crops thrive or struggle.

Step 1 of 4

Q1: Soil Depth, Type and Texture (Alluvial, Black, Sandy, Loamy, Laterite etc.); Soil is the farmer’s permanent partner — it decides how roots grow, how much water is held, and how crops behave. Deep loamy or black soils give confidence and stability, while sandy, shallow, or heavy clays demand constant struggle. For example, cotton thrives in black soil, while sandy soils may drain water before plants can even drink it. So tell us — how would you describe the soil on your farm, and how does it affect your work?

My soil is deep, fertile, and balanced — like black cotton soil or loamy alluvial soil. Crops like cotton, soybean, paddy, or wheat do well without much struggle. I don’t need too many fertilizers or pumps.

My soil is mostly good, like medium loam. Maize, pulses, and vegetables grow fairly well. I manage with some fertilizers and irrigation, but it is not a heavy burden.

My soil is shallow or sandy. Water disappears quickly after rain or irrigation. For example, growing vegetables or sugarcane here is tough — I have to use more urea, DAP, or frequent irrigation.

My soil is heavy clay or lateritic. Waterlogging delays sowing, and roots suffer. For example, paddy may survive, but pulses or vegetables often fail. Fertility management is costly.

My soil is extremely difficult — very shallow, rocky, or degraded. Even hardy crops like bajra or til (sesame) struggle. Farming feels like a fight for survival.

Q2: Soil Fertility — Major Nutrients, Micro-Nutrients, and Deficiencies; Soil fertility is the hidden power of the farm. It comes from balanced nutrients — like Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Boron, etc. When fertility is right, crops grow strong and yields are high. When fertility is weak, crops look stunted, flowers don’t set, and extra money has to be spent on urea, DAP, sprays, and micronutrient packets. So tell us — how fertile is your soil, and how do you feel it affects your crops?

My soil is naturally fertile and balanced. Crops germinate well, stand healthy, and yields are good without too many sprays. For example, my wheat and mustard come out strong every year without heavy input costs.

My soil is fairly fertile. With a normal dose of urea/DAP and some organic manure, I get decent crops. For example, paddy and vegetables grow fine, though I need to watch inputs.

My soil has some weaknesses. Crops often look yellowish or weak unless I add micronutrients like Zinc or Boron. For example, my maize and moong plants look pale until I spray extra nutrients.

My soil is weak in fertility. Crops struggle to grow, flowering is poor, and yields remain low even after fertilizers. For example, cotton flowers drop off or paddy tillers are fewer.

My soil is badly degraded. It feels like I am only feeding fertilizers, not crops. Yields are low despite high spending. For example, vegetables don’t size up, fruits don’t taste good, and costs keep rising.

Q3: Soil Chemical Profile — pH, EC, Mineral Assimilation, Heavy Metal Contamination; Soil chemistry is like a health report. If pH or salts are right, crops drink nutrients easily and grow well. If the balance is wrong, plants remain weak even after fertilizer. For example, too much salinity in canal-irrigated fields turns soil white, while acidic soils leave crops yellow. Sometimes even metals from sewage or polluted water make food unsafe. So tell us — how is the chemical balance of your soil?

My soil is balanced — neutral pH, low salts, no contamination. Crops like wheat, vegetables, and fruits absorb nutrients well, yields are steady, and no market issues.

My soil is mostly fine, but sometimes needs minor corrections — like adding gypsum in slightly saline soil or lime in slightly acidic areas. With these small efforts, crops grow normally.

My soil shows some problems — crops look yellowish even after fertilizer, or growth is uneven. For example, paddy in my field often shows zinc deficiency, or cotton looks stunted after irrigation with salty water.

My soil is seriously imbalanced. Salinity/alkalinity is high — white crusts appear on soil, water doesn’t soak well, and sensitive crops fail. I spend heavily on gypsum, zinc, or sprays just to keep crops alive.

My soil faces heavy chemical stress — sewage water, industrial effluents, or long misuse of chemicals. Crops suffer, and I fear the produce may even be unsafe for markets. Farming feels risky.

Q4: Soil Organic Matter Status, Humus Content, and Biological Soil Profiling; Soil organic matter is like the soul of your land. If humus and microbes are present, soil feels soft, smells earthy, and stays moist. If it is absent, soil cracks, hardens, and only survives with heavy urea and chemicals. Earthworms, fungi, and microbes recycle residues, reduce pests, and keep crops strong. Tell us — what is the condition of organic matter and biology in your soil?

My soil is alive — rich in organic matter, earthworms are plenty, and residues decompose fast. Even after a dry spell, the soil remains moist and crops like vegetables, sugarcane, or pulses grow without too much fertilizer.

My soil has decent humus — crops grow fairly well, and with some compost or FYM added, the soil stays healthy. Earthworms are sometimes visible, and pest outbreaks are less frequent.

My soil feels weak in organic matter. Crop residues don’t decompose easily, and I need more fertilizer to get normal yields. For example, wheat stubble remains standing, and cotton leaves take too long to break down.

My soil is poor in humus. It becomes hard in summer, cracks, and water drains quickly. Crops like maize or mustard often show stress even with fertilizer. No earthworms are seen.

My soil is lifeless — no organic matter, no earthworms, only chemicals keep crops alive. Costs are very high, pests increase, and yields are unstable. For example, vegetables look weak, need constant sprays, and recovery after stress is slow.

Q5: Soil Pests and Soil-Borne Diseases (Termites, Nematodes, etc.); Healthy soil is not just about nutrients, it also has to be free from hidden enemies. Unlike pests we see on leaves, some attackers live below the surface — termites eating seedlings, nematodes stunting roots, or wilt fungi making entire crops collapse. Farmers often say, “kheti achhi lagti hai, par jhad se kamjor ho jaati hai”. So, tell us — how do soil pests and diseases show up in your fields?

My soil is mostly clean and balanced. Crops grow with strong roots, and I rarely see soil-borne problems. For example, wheat stands firm till harvest, and vegetables don’t show sudden wilting.

Sometimes there are minor issues — a patch of wilt here, a few plants attacked by termites there — but overall, crops survive and yields are steady.

Soil pests trouble me regularly. For example, in my brinjal or tomato, roots become weak and plants collapse mid-season. I have to depend on extra pesticides or resistant seed varieties.

Soil pests are a major problem in my farm. Nematodes in vegetables or termites in pulses destroy large patches. Even after spraying, crops remain weak.

My soil feels infested. Diseases like wilt or root rot wipe out crops completely. For example, a whole chilli or banana patch can collapse. Every season I fight with chemicals but still get poor results.

Review

Question :
Q1: Soil Depth, Type and Texture (Alluvial, Black, Sandy, Loamy, Laterite etc.); Soil is the farmer’s permanent partner — it decides how roots grow, how much water is held, and how crops behave. Deep loamy or black soils give confidence and stability, while sandy, shallow, or heavy clays demand constant struggle. For example, cotton thrives in black soil, while sandy soils may drain water before plants can even drink it. So tell us — how would you describe the soil on your farm, and how does it affect your work?

My soil is mostly good, like medium loam. Maize, pulses, and vegetables grow fairly well. I manage with some fertilizers and irrigation, but it is not a heavy burden.

My soil is shallow or sandy. Water disappears quickly after rain or irrigation. For example, growing vegetables or sugarcane here is tough — I have to use more urea, DAP, or frequent irrigation.

My soil is heavy clay or lateritic. Waterlogging delays sowing, and roots suffer. For example, paddy may survive, but pulses or vegetables often fail. Fertility management is costly.

My soil is extremely difficult — very shallow, rocky, or degraded. Even hardy crops like bajra or til (sesame) struggle. Farming feels like a fight for survival.

Your Answer:

Question :
Q2: Soil Fertility — Major Nutrients, Micro-Nutrients, and Deficiencies; Soil fertility is the hidden power of the farm. It comes from balanced nutrients — like Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Boron, etc. When fertility is right, crops grow strong and yields are high. When fertility is weak, crops look stunted, flowers don’t set, and extra money has to be spent on urea, DAP, sprays, and micronutrient packets. So tell us — how fertile is your soil, and how do you feel it affects your crops?

My soil is fairly fertile. With a normal dose of urea/DAP and some organic manure, I get decent crops. For example, paddy and vegetables grow fine, though I need to watch inputs.

My soil has some weaknesses. Crops often look yellowish or weak unless I add micronutrients like Zinc or Boron. For example, my maize and moong plants look pale until I spray extra nutrients.

My soil is weak in fertility. Crops struggle to grow, flowering is poor, and yields remain low even after fertilizers. For example, cotton flowers drop off or paddy tillers are fewer.

Your Answer:

Question :
Q3: Soil Chemical Profile — pH, EC, Mineral Assimilation, Heavy Metal Contamination; Soil chemistry is like a health report. If pH or salts are right, crops drink nutrients easily and grow well. If the balance is wrong, plants remain weak even after fertilizer. For example, too much salinity in canal-irrigated fields turns soil white, while acidic soils leave crops yellow. Sometimes even metals from sewage or polluted water make food unsafe. So tell us — how is the chemical balance of your soil?

My soil is balanced — neutral pH, low salts, no contamination. Crops like wheat, vegetables, and fruits absorb nutrients well, yields are steady, and no market issues.

My soil is mostly fine, but sometimes needs minor corrections — like adding gypsum in slightly saline soil or lime in slightly acidic areas. With these small efforts, crops grow normally.

My soil faces heavy chemical stress — sewage water, industrial effluents, or long misuse of chemicals. Crops suffer, and I fear the produce may even be unsafe for markets. Farming feels risky.

Your Answer:

Question :
Q4: Soil Organic Matter Status, Humus Content, and Biological Soil Profiling; Soil organic matter is like the soul of your land. If humus and microbes are present, soil feels soft, smells earthy, and stays moist. If it is absent, soil cracks, hardens, and only survives with heavy urea and chemicals. Earthworms, fungi, and microbes recycle residues, reduce pests, and keep crops strong. Tell us — what is the condition of organic matter and biology in your soil?

My soil has decent humus — crops grow fairly well, and with some compost or FYM added, the soil stays healthy. Earthworms are sometimes visible, and pest outbreaks are less frequent.

My soil is poor in humus. It becomes hard in summer, cracks, and water drains quickly. Crops like maize or mustard often show stress even with fertilizer. No earthworms are seen.

Your Answer:

Question :
Q5: Soil Pests and Soil-Borne Diseases (Termites, Nematodes, etc.); Healthy soil is not just about nutrients, it also has to be free from hidden enemies. Unlike pests we see on leaves, some attackers live below the surface — termites eating seedlings, nematodes stunting roots, or wilt fungi making entire crops collapse. Farmers often say, “kheti achhi lagti hai, par jhad se kamjor ho jaati hai”. So, tell us — how do soil pests and diseases show up in your fields?

My soil is mostly clean and balanced. Crops grow with strong roots, and I rarely see soil-borne problems. For example, wheat stands firm till harvest, and vegetables don’t show sudden wilting.

Sometimes there are minor issues — a patch of wilt here, a few plants attacked by termites there — but overall, crops survive and yields are steady.

Soil pests trouble me regularly. For example, in my brinjal or tomato, roots become weak and plants collapse mid-season. I have to depend on extra pesticides or resistant seed varieties.

Soil pests are a major problem in my farm. Nematodes in vegetables or termites in pulses destroy large patches. Even after spraying, crops remain weak.

Your Answer:

Soil never demands diamonds or gold—just care and compost. Treat it right, and it’ll stay loyal for generations. 🌾❤️