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Soil Data

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pH

Soil pH is a critical property that indicates the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. pH affects nutrient availability, microbial activity, and plant growth. Soils with a pH value below 6 are considered acidic, while those above 7 are alkaline. A pH value around 6.5 to 7 is generally considered optimal for most crops. This dataset provides pH levels for different soil samples across Nepal, which helps researchers understand soil health and its suitability for various crops.

Metadata

Resolution: 250 meters
CRS: WGS 84
Bounding Box: 26°N, 80°E, 30°N, 88°E
Format: GeoTIFF
Release Date: December 2024
Source: NARC in collaboration with CIMMYT
Data License: Nepal Government

Clay Content

Clay content determines soil texture, which influences water retention, nutrient availability, and aeration. Soils with higher clay content are more likely to retain water but may have drainage issues, while those with lower clay content may drain too quickly, leading to nutrient leaching. This dataset provides the percentage of clay particles in soil samples, which is essential for understanding the soil’s physical properties and its suitability for specific agricultural practices.

Metadata

Resolution: 250 meters
CRS: WGS 84
Bounding Box: 26°N, 80°E, 30°N, 88°E
Format: GeoTIFF
Release Date: December 2024
Source: NARC in collaboration with CIMMYT
Data License: Nepal Government

Organic Matter

Organic matter in soil is a key factor influencing soil fertility, structure, and water retention. It enhances microbial activity, improves nutrient cycling, and helps prevent erosion. This dataset provides measurements of the organic matter content in soil samples across Nepal, highlighting regions with rich organic content that are ideal for sustainable agriculture. High organic matter content is also beneficial for carbon sequestration, an important factor in mitigating climate change.

Metadata

Resolution: 250 meters
CRS: WGS 84
Bounding Box: 26°N, 80°E, 30°N, 88°E
Format: GeoTIFF
Release Date: December 2024
Source: NARC in collaboration with CIMMYT
Data License: Nepal Government

Total Nitrogen

Total nitrogen content in soil is crucial for plant growth since nitrogen is a key nutrient for plants. It influences protein synthesis and overall plant development. This dataset measures the nitrogen levels in soils across Nepal, which helps in understanding the fertility of soils and optimizing fertilizer use for better crop yields. Adequate nitrogen levels also contribute to soil microbial health and biodiversity.

Metadata

Resolution: 250 meters
CRS: WGS 84
Bounding Box: 26°N, 80°E, 30°N, 88°E
Format: GeoTIFF
Release Date: December 2024
Source: NARC in collaboration with CIMMYT
Data License: Nepal Government

Boron Content

Boron is a micronutrient essential for the growth of plants, particularly for the development of flowers, fruits, and seeds. Deficiency in boron can cause poor plant growth and reduced crop yields. This dataset provides measurements of boron content in soil across different regions of Nepal. Researchers use this data to identify areas with potential boron deficiencies and recommend corrective measures to optimize agricultural productivity.

Metadata

Resolution: 250 meters
CRS: WGS 84
Bounding Box: 26°N, 80°E, 30°N, 88°E
Format: GeoTIFF
Release Date: December 2024
Source: NARC in collaboration with CIMMYT
Data License: Nepal Government

Phosphate

Phosphate is an essential nutrient for plant growth, playing a vital role in energy transfer, root development, and flowering. Phosphorus deficiencies can limit crop yields and reduce soil fertility. This dataset provides measurements of Phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) content in soils. It aids researchers and farmers in understanding soil fertility, determining nutrient requirements, and developing sustainable fertilization practices.

Metadata

Resolution: 250 meters
CRS: WGS 84
Bounding Box: 26°N, 80°E, 30°N, 88°E
Format: GeoTIFF
Release Date: December 2024
Source: NARC in collaboration with CIMMYT
Data License: Nepal Government

Sand Content

Sand content in soil is a key factor influencing soil structure and drainage. High sand content leads to well-draining soils, whereas low sand content results in more compacted soils. This dataset measures the sand content in soils across various regions of Nepal, helping researchers understand soil texture, water retention capacity, and its suitability for different crops.

Metadata

Resolution: 250 meters
CRS: WGS 84
Bounding Box: 26°N, 80°E, 30°N, 88°E
Format: GeoTIFF
Release Date: December 2024
Source: NARC in collaboration with CIMMYT
Data License: Nepal Government

Silt Content

Silt content in soil influences its ability to retain water and nutrients. High silt content often results in soil with good fertility but poor drainage. This dataset provides measurements of silt content in the soil, allowing researchers and farmers to assess soil quality and improve agricultural practices based on water retention and nutrient availability.

Metadata

Resolution: 250 meters
CRS: WGS 84
Bounding Box: 26°N, 80°E, 30°N, 88°E
Format: GeoTIFF
Release Date: December 2024
Source: NARC in collaboration with CIMMYT
Data License: Nepal Government

Zinc Content

Zinc is an essential micronutrient for plants, playing a crucial role in enzyme function and plant metabolism. A deficiency in zinc can lead to stunted growth and poor crop yields. This dataset provides measurements of zinc content in soils, helping to identify areas with potential zinc deficiencies and guide soil treatment strategies for sustainable agriculture.

Metadata

Resolution: 250 meters
CRS: WGS 84
Bounding Box: 26°N, 80°E, 30°N, 88°E
Format: GeoTIFF
Release Date: December 2024
Source: NARC in collaboration with CIMMYT
Data License: Nepal Government

Potassium Content

Potassium is a vital macronutrient that aids in water regulation, enzyme activation, and the overall health of plants. A deficiency in potassium can lead to reduced crop yield and poor plant growth. This dataset measures the potassium content in soils, providing valuable information for researchers and farmers to optimize fertilization practices and improve soil health.

Metadata

Resolution: 250 meters
CRS: WGS 84
Bounding Box: 26°N, 80°E, 30°N, 88°E
Format: GeoTIFF
Release Date: December 2024
Source: NARC in collaboration with CIMMYT
Data License: Nepal Government

Over View

Soil properties have a significant influence on crop growth and the yields. In Nepal, access to soil testing facilities to know the fertility status are rather scarce thereby making it difficult for farmers to know the fertilizer requirement of their own land. The absence of a well-developed soil information system and soil fertility maps has been lacking for decades. So, it is difficult for the government and other stakeholders to design strategies for soil fertility and fertilizer management to improve crop productivity, estimate total fertilizer requirements in the country and correct soil acidity.

To address this gap, NARC’s National Soil Science Research Center (NSSRC) in partnership with USAID’s Nepal Seed and Fertilizer (NSAF) project produced an interactive digital soil map (DSM) that provides access to location-specific information on soil properties across the country.

The web portal of the soil map can help users retrieve information by selecting any province, district or municipality of Nepal. Users can also select an area of interest (either a single point or a large area) to obtain information on soil properties with a single click. The portal allows users to download these soil properties as a map or multiple properties in a tabular format.