Get your soil tested every two years to receive personalised fertiliser and crop recommendations.
Jurisdiction
All of India — administered by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India; implemented through State Agriculture Departments, State Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs), and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs); national scheme with state-specific implementation; soil health cards are issued every 2 years for the same farm
Who applies
Any farmer — irrespective of landholding size — who wishes to get their soil tested to receive a personalised Soil Health Card containing soil nutrient status and recommendations for fertiliser application, lime/gypsum requirements, and organic manure additions for their specific plot
Typical time
Soil sample collection by government staff: on field visit; soil testing at STL: 15–30 days from sample collection; Soil Health Card generation and delivery: 30–60 days from sample collection in most states; follow-up testing every 2 years
Fee
Free of charge for all farmers — the government bears the cost of sample collection, testing, and card printing/delivery under the Soil Health Card Scheme; private soil testing laboratories charge ₹200–₹500 per sample for faster results
| # | Document | Type needed | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aadhaar Card | Original | Farmer identity verification for registration on the soilhealth.dac.gov.in portal; required for Aadhaar-linked farmer profile to generate and track the Soil Health Card |
| 2 | Land ownership or cultivation record (RTC / 7/12 / Pahani / Khasra) | Self-attested Copy | Identifies the survey number and area of the agricultural plot to be sampled; ensures the Soil Health Card is linked to the correct plot in the farmer's name |
| 3 | Mobile number registered in the farmer's name | Original | Aadhaar-linked or active mobile number to receive SMS notifications about sample collection, testing status, and Soil Health Card readiness; also required for portal registration |
Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.
Visit your nearest state agriculture department office, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), or Common Service Centre (CSC) to register for the Soil Health Card Scheme. Alternatively, state agriculture department staff (field assistants or Junior Technicians) periodically conduct soil sampling drives village by village — enquire from your gram panchayat about the sampling schedule for your village. Provide your Aadhaar number, land details (survey number, district, block, village), and mobile number. You can also self-register on the soilhealth.dac.gov.in portal.
A state agriculture department field staff or KVK technician visits your farm to collect soil samples. For a plot up to 2 hectares, one composite sample is collected: 8–10 soil cores are taken from zigzag points across the plot at a depth of 15–20 cm (plough layer), mixed together, and quartered to obtain a 500 gram composite sample. The sample is labelled with the farmer's name, Aadhaar number, survey number, and plot coordinates and packed in a sealed bag. Alternatively, farmers can be trained to self-collect soil samples following the standard protocol at demonstration camps.
The collected soil sample is sent to the nearest State Soil Testing Laboratory (STL) or an empanelled private testing laboratory. The sample is tested for 12 parameters: pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S), zinc (Zn), boron (B), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu). Each sample is assigned a unique soil sample number that the farmer can use to track testing status on the soilhealth.dac.gov.in portal.
Visit soilhealth.dac.gov.in and navigate to 'Farmer Corner' or 'SHC Status'. Enter your Aadhaar number or the soil sample number provided at registration to track the status of your sample: whether it has reached the lab, is under analysis, or the card has been generated. This step is optional but useful to monitor progress and follow up if there are delays.
After testing is complete, the Soil Health Card is generated on the soilhealth.dac.gov.in portal and the farmer receives an SMS notification. The card can be downloaded and printed from the portal using the farmer's Aadhaar or sample number. In many states, the physical printed card is also delivered by the agriculture field assistant to the farmer at the village. The card shows: soil test results for all 12 parameters, deficiency levels (low/medium/high), and crop-specific fertiliser and manure recommendations for the next 2 years.
Follow the crop-specific recommendations in the Soil Health Card for fertiliser (NPK), micronutrient (zinc, boron), organic manure, lime, or gypsum application for each crop in your crop rotation. If you have doubts about implementing the recommendations, consult your Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) for a demonstration. Schedule the next soil testing cycle after 2 years (or sooner if you significantly change crop patterns or see unexpected soil degradation). The SHC scheme recommends testing every 2 years.
State Government — Department of Agriculture
Farmer registration, soil sample collection, and Soil Health Card delivery
Collects soil samples from farms following the standard sampling protocol, labels and despatches samples to the STL, and delivers the printed SHC to the farmer at the village level.
State Government — Directorate of Agriculture / Department of Soil Testing
Soil chemical analysis and test result upload to the portal
Analyses soil samples for 12 parameters using spectrophotometric, flame photometric, and wet chemistry methods; uploads test results to the soilhealth.dac.gov.in portal.
ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) — Krishi Vigyan Kendra
Farmer training, SHC interpretation, and fertiliser recommendation counselling
Trains farmers on soil sampling procedures, explains SHC results and recommendations in the local language, and demonstrates correct fertiliser application practices at the farm level.
State Government — District Agriculture Office
Scheme coordination, quality control of sampling, and grievance resolution
Coordinates the Soil Health Card scheme in the district, ensures sampling targets are met, supervises STL performance, and addresses farmer grievances regarding SHC delays or incorrect recommendations.
Farmer registration, soil sample tracking, Soil Health Card download, fertiliser recommendation lookup, and STL / KVK locator
Locating the nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra for soil testing assistance, farmer training, and SHC interpretation counselling
Soil health-based fertiliser requirement planning; linked to SHC recommendations for rational fertiliser use and subsidy utilisation tracking
Soil test results are only as accurate as the sampling procedure. Collect samples from the plough depth (15–20 cm) at 8–10 zigzag points across the plot; do not collect from field bunds, near trees, near recent manure application spots, or from a single point. Do not collect samples immediately after fertiliser application — wait at least 30 days. Poor sampling produces misleading results and incorrect fertiliser recommendations.
The Soil Health Card gives crop-specific fertiliser recommendations based on your actual soil nutrient levels and the soil's supplying capacity. Ignoring the SHC and applying blanket NPK doses can result in over-application of one nutrient and deficiency of another, ultimately reducing yield and increasing input cost. If the SHC recommends micronutrient application (zinc, boron), follow it — micronutrient deficiencies are commonly missed and significantly reduce productivity.
A Soil Health Card is generated for a specific plot (usually one survey number). If you cultivate multiple plots with different soil types or cropping histories, you should request separate soil samples for each plot. Mixing samples from different plots produces an averaged result that does not accurately represent either plot's soil condition.
While the Soil Health Card Scheme is a centrally funded programme, implementation is state-specific. Some states have significant backlogs at STLs due to staff shortages or equipment limitations. If you have not received your SHC within 60 days of sample collection, follow up with the District Agriculture Office or the STL directly. You may also use a NABL-accredited private soil testing laboratory and cross-check the results.
The Soil Health Card is valid for 2 crop years. However, if you significantly change your crop rotation, introduce new crops with heavy fertiliser requirements (vegetables, sugarcane), or apply very heavy doses of manure or lime, soil nutrient levels may change faster than expected. In such cases, re-test after 1 year rather than waiting for the full 2-year cycle to ensure your fertiliser management remains optimal.