The Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme gives every farmer a free laboratory analysis of their soil — 12 parameters including NPK, micronutrients, pH and organic carbon — with crop-wise fertiliser recommendations. Using the card typically cuts fertiliser waste and lifts yields, at zero cost to the farmer.
Key facts
| Benefit | Free soil testing + fertiliser recommendations |
| Parameters tested | 12 — N, P, K, S, micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, B), pH, EC, organic carbon |
| Cost | Free for farmers |
| Cycle | Samples collected and cards issued in regular cycles |
| Apply through | Village agriculture assistant / district agriculture office / soilhealth.dac.gov.in |
What the card tells you
- Current nutrient status of your specific plot
- Crop-wise fertiliser doses — how much urea, DAP, MOP and micronutrients to actually apply
- Soil amendments needed — lime for acidic soils, gypsum for alkaline
- Organic carbon status, the key indicator of long-term soil fertility
How to get your Soil Health Card
- Contact your village-level agriculture assistant or the block/district agriculture office and register your plot
- A trained worker collects a soil sample from your field (or bring a sample as guided)
- The sample goes to a soil testing lab; results are uploaded to the SHC portal
- Download your card from soilhealth.dac.gov.in or collect a printed copy
- Apply fertilisers as recommended — retest each cycle to track improvement
Register your sample and download cards free of cost.
Getting the most from your card
- Follow the recommended dose — most Indian soils are over-fertilised with urea and short on micronutrients
- Fix pH first: nutrients stay locked in strongly acidic/alkaline soils no matter how much you fertilise
- Add organic matter (compost/FYM) to lift organic carbon — it improves the response to every other input
Frequently asked questions
How often should I test my soil?
Every 2–3 years, or whenever you change crops significantly. The scheme runs collection cycles, but you can request testing anytime.
Is the recommendation crop-specific?
Yes — the card gives doses for the crops you specify, based on your soil’s actual status.
My village has no agriculture assistant. What now?
Go directly to the block agriculture office or a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) — both can register samples. Many states also run mobile soil-testing labs.
Related schemes
Disclaimer: PMYojnaUpdates.com is an independent information portal, not affiliated with any government department. Always verify details on the official site soilhealth.dac.gov.in before applying.