Soil Health Card — free soil testing and fertiliser advice
Government of India (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare)
Overview
A scheme that gives farmers a Soil Health Card showing the nutrient status of their soil and how much of which fertiliser to use for each crop. It promotes balanced, judicious use of inputs so that soil fertility, crop yields and farm incomes improve sustainably.
Cards are issued every two years. Following the crop-wise recommendations cuts unnecessary fertiliser costs, avoids overuse of chemicals and raises yields.
All farmers — small, marginal and large — are eligible, with no age or income limit. There is no separate application: government officials or designated agencies collect soil samples from fields at regular intervals. The whole process is free.
At a glance
- Administering authority
- Government of India (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare)
- Scheme type
- Agriculture
- Place of posting / area
- All India
- Application mode
- Offline
- Important dates
- Applications accepted year-round
Benefits
- A Soil Health Card every two years showing your soil's nutrient status
- Crop-wise fertiliser recommendations — which fertiliser and how much
- Lower input costs through balanced fertiliser use
- Better long-term soil fertility by avoiding chemical overuse
- Higher yields and farm income
- Completely free
Eligibility
- All farmers — small, marginal and large
- Both individual farmers and institutional landholders
- Legal access to cultivable land (owned or leased)
- Farmers in every state and union territory
- No age or income restriction
How to apply
- No separate application is needed; officials or designated agencies collect soil samples from your field at regular intervals
- Samples are tested in soil testing laboratories for nutrient levels
- A card with crop-wise nutrient and fertiliser recommendations is prepared from the results
- Cards are distributed through the local agriculture department, panchayats or camps
- In some cases you can register or check details on the Soil Health Card portal
Last updated: 1 Nov 2026
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