Soil and Water Testing Laboratory
Soil and Water Testing Laboratory | Scientific Analysis Since 2007
Sanctioning Authority
Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) under the "Soil Health Card Scheme" and "National Project on Management of Soil Health and Fertility"
Laboratory Infrastructure
Receiving Room
Sample registration, drying, and processing
Soil Testing Section
pH meter, EC meter, spectrophotometer, flame photometer, distillation unit
Water Testing Section
Glassware, chemical reagents, titration setup for hardness, chlorides, alkalinity, RSC, SAR
Computer Section
Data entry, report generation, soil health card printing
Staff: 1-2 trained lab technicians (Programme Assistant - Computer also involved)
Soil Parameters Tested (Standard 12-15 parameters)
Physical
Texture (sand/silt/clay), bulk density, water holding capacity
Chemical
pH, EC, Organic Carbon, N, P, K, Micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Boron)
Biological
Microbial biomass (rarely, part of advanced analysis)
Water Parameters Tested
pH, EC (salinity), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Chlorides (Cl-), Carbonates (CO3--), Bicarbonates (HCO3-), Hardness (Ca++ + Mg++), Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), SAR, RSC
Sampling Procedure Taught to Farmers
Soil: Composite sample from 15-20 spots at 0-15 cm depth (surface) and 15-30 cm depth. Air-dried, mixed, quartered, and 500 g sent to lab
Water: Borewell/drip water collected in clean plastic bottle after running pump for 15-20 minutes. 1 liter sample
Soil Health Card (SHC) Format
Contains pH, EC, OC, N, P, K, micronutrients, and fertilizer recommendation for 12-15 crops (crop-wise NPK + micronutrient dose) based on soil test value
Turnaround Time & Fees
Turnaround Time
7-15 days from sample receipt to SHC delivery
Fees (Subsidized)
Soil testing: Free under SHC scheme
Water testing: ₹50-100 per sample
Impact (2019-24: 24,785 Soil + 14,835 Water Samples)
- 24,785 SHCs distributed to farmers
- Estimated fertilizer saving: 15-20% (≈ ₹1,000-2,000 per acre per season)
- Crop yield increase: 10-15% due to balanced fertilization
Groundwater quality mapping: High salinity and high RSC water identified in 20-30% samples; farmers advised on suitable crops and amendments (gypsum).
Groundwater Quality Mapping
High salinity and high RSC water identified in 20-30% samples; farmers advised on suitable crops and amendments (gypsum)
