Soil Health Card Scheme: Details, Objectives, and How to Apply in 2025
The Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme is a central government initiative that provides farmers with a printed report of their soil's nutrient status and crop-specific fertiliser recommendations, with the objective of improving soil health and reducing the overuse of chemical fertilisers. Launched in February 2015 and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through state agriculture departments, the scheme covers all agricultural landholdings in India with testing conducted once every two years. This page covers the scheme's objectives, how the card is generated, eligibility, how to apply or register online, and UPSC-relevant details.
What is the Soil Health Card Scheme?
The Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 19 February 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The scheme addresses a critical problem in Indian agriculture: widespread imbalanced fertiliser application driven by generic recommendations rather than field-specific soil data. Overuse of nitrogenous fertilisers and underuse of micronutrients have progressively degraded soil health across farmlands.
Under SHC, state governments test soil samples collected from every 2.5 hectares of irrigated land and every 10 hectares of rain-fed land, once every two years. Each sample is tested for 12 parameters: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), and six micronutrients (sulphur, zinc, boron, iron, manganese, copper). Based on the results, a Soil Health Card is generated for each farm, providing soil health ratings and specific fertilizer recommendations for the crops the farmer intends to grow. The card is issued free of cost. The scheme is implemented in two phases: Phase I (2015–17) and Phase II (2017–19 and beyond). A digital SHC portal at soilhealth.dac.gov.in enables farmers to access their cards online.
Key Benefits of the Soil Health Card Scheme
| Benefit Type | Amount / Description | Applicable Category |
|---|
| Free soil testing | 12-parameter test conducted at no cost to the farmer | All agricultural landholders |
| Personalised fertiliser recommendations | Crop-specific, quantity-specific nutrient application advice | All SHC holders |
| Micronutrient deficiency identification | Zinc, boron, sulphur, iron, manganese, copper deficiency mapped | All agricultural land |
| Reduced input cost | Savings from avoiding unnecessary fertiliser application | All SHC holders |
| Improved yield potential | Balanced nutrition improves crop productivity | All SHC holders |
| Testing cycle | Every 2 years for irrigated land (per 2.5 ha); every 2 years for rain-fed land (per 10 ha) | All agricultural land |
| Online card access | Card downloadable at soilhealth.dac.gov.in using mobile number or Aadhaar | All SHC holders |
| No cost to farmer | Testing, analysis, and card printing are fully government funded | All beneficiaries |
What Does a Soil Health Card Show?
| Parameter Tested | What It Indicates |
|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | Primary macronutrient; deficiency causes yellowing and stunted growth |
| Phosphorus (P) | Root development and flowering; deficiency affects grain quality |
| Potassium (K) | Disease resistance and water regulation; deficiency causes leaf scorch |
| pH | Soil acidity/alkalinity; affects nutrient availability and crop choice |
| Electrical Conductivity (EC) | Soil salinity level, high EC indicates salt stress |
| Organic Carbon (OC) | Soil biological health indicator |
| Sulphur | Secondary macronutrient; deficiency affects oilseed and pulse crops |
| Zinc | Critical micronutrient; most commonly deficient across Indian soils |
| Boron | Affects fruit setting and seed development |
| Iron | Deficiency causes chlorosis in rice and vegetable crops |
| Manganese | Enzyme activator; deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis |
| Copper | Affects grain formation; deficiency rare but mapped |
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|
| Farmer type | All agricultural landholders, owner-cultivators and tenant farmers |
| Land type | Both irrigated and rain-fed agricultural land |
| Farm size | No minimum or maximum land holding requirement |
| Location | All states and Union Territories, scheme is nationwide |
| Cost | Fully free, no payment required from farmer |
| Application needed? | In most states, soil samples are collected proactively by state agriculture department field staff, individual application not required |
Documents Required
Individual farmers generally do not need to submit documents to receive a Soil Health Card, state agriculture departments collect soil samples proactively. However, for online registration or to request priority testing, the following may be required:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|
| Aadhaar card | Identity verification for online registration |
| Mobile number linked to Aadhaar | For OTP verification and SHC SMS delivery |
| Land records / khasra number | To link soil test results to the specific farm plot |
| Survey number / khata number | For geo-referenced soil sampling |
How the Soil Health Card is Generated, Process
- Soil sample collection: State agriculture department field staff collect soil samples from every 2.5 ha (irrigated) or 10 ha (rain-fed) using a geo-referenced grid system, farmers can also submit their own samples at Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs).
- Laboratory testing: Samples are analysed at state government Soil Testing Laboratories for all 12 parameters.
- Data entry: Results are entered on the national SHC portal (soilhealth.dac.gov.in).
- Card generation: The portal automatically generates a Soil Health Card with nutrient ratings and crop-specific fertiliser recommendations.
- Card delivery: Physical cards are printed and delivered through agriculture department field staff, gram sabhas, or Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs); digital cards available at soilhealth.dac.gov.in.
How to Apply / Register for Soil Health Card Online
Online, via Soil Health Card Portal
- Visit soilhealth.dac.gov.in
- Click Farmer Registration or View Your SHC
- Enter your state, district, and mobile number; complete OTP verification
- Register your farm details including survey/khasra number and Aadhaar
- Once registered, you can check whether your farm's soil has been tested and download your SHC if available
Submit Your Own Sample at a Soil Testing Lab
- Collect a composite soil sample from your farm following ICAR guidelines (samples from 8–10 points mixed together, from 15–20 cm depth).
- Take the sample (approximately 500 grams) in a clean, labelled bag to your nearest Soil Testing Laboratory (STL), find yours at soilhealth.dac.gov.in → Soil Testing Laboratory Locator.
- Submit with your land details.
- Receive your SHC within 15–30 days after analysis.
State-Wise Implementation
| State | Implementing Body | State-Specific Notes |
|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | Agriculture Dept, UP; State STLs | Highest sample collection volume; Lekhpal involved in field data linkage |
| Rajasthan | Agriculture Dept, Rajasthan; STLs | Scheme launched here; desert soil micronutrient mapping a key output |
| Maharashtra | Agriculture Dept, Maharashtra; Agri Universities | Strong linkage with BAIF and agri universities for extension services |
| Madhya Pradesh | Rajya Shiksha Kendra and Agri Dept, MP | MP uses SHC data for fertiliser subsidy calibration at district level |
| Andhra Pradesh | Commissioner of Agriculture, AP | Village Secretariat system used for SHC distribution |
| Karnataka | Dept of Agriculture, Karnataka; UAS | UAS Dharwad and Bengaluru support STL capacity; KSHEERA scheme linkage for dairy farmers |
| Gujarat | Agriculture Dept, Gujarat | IKHEDUT portal integrated with SHC data for farmer scheme convergence |
| Tamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu Agriculture Dept; TNAU | Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) supports STL testing |
| Bihar | Agriculture Dept, Bihar; Directorate of Agriculture | DBT Agriculture portal used for SHC linkage with input subsidy |
| Punjab | Agriculture Dept, Punjab; PAU | Punjab Agricultural University provides technical support; recommendation tied to Soil Health Management scheme |
