SOILS

The soils of India can be classified on the basis of several criteria. The most acceptable classification is provided by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. According to this classification Indian soils are divided into 8 groups:

 

Alluvial Soil

• Most important among soils found in India.
• Covers about 24 % of India’s land surface.
• Composed of sediments deposited by rivers and the waves
• Occupy the great plains from Punjab to Assam and also occur in the valleys of the Narmada and Tapti in Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Gujarat, the Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh and Orissa, the Godavari in Andhra Pradesh and the Cauvery in Tamil Nadu.
• Deficient in Nitrogen and humus content and this necessitates repeated additions of manure and fertilizer to it.

 

Black Soil

• 2^nd major group of soils found in India.
• Ideal for the cultivation of cotton crop due to its high moisture retention capacity
• Frequently referred to as black cotton soil and covers large tracts of the Deccan plateau.
• The crops like sugarcane, citrus fruits and banana also grow well on this type of soil.
• Covers large areas in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• The black colour is due to the presence of compounds of iron and aluminums.

 

Red Soil

• 3rd major soil group and covers the peninsular region reaching up to the Rajmahal Hills in the east, Jhansi in the north and Kutch Hills in the west.
• Generally porous and contains soluble salts and lime in small proportions.
• Deficient in nitrogen, humus and phosphorous.
• Suitable for the cultivation of rice, ragi, tobacco and vegetables.

 

Laterites And Lateritic Soil

• Formed through the process of laterisation, they contain iron oxides which impart a red colour to the soil.
• Occurs in the higher reaches of the Sahyadris, Eastern Ghats, Rajmahal Hills and other higher areas in the peninsular region.

 

Forest Soil

• Forests and hilly areas are covered by forest soil
• Rich in organic matter but varies in character according to relief conditions.
• Plantations of tea, coffee, spices and tropical fruits are laid out on such soils.

 

 

Arid And Desert Soils

• Found in the Northwestern parts of the country.
• Covers the entire area to the west of the Aravallis in Rajasthan and parts of Haryana, Punjab and Gujarat.
• Rich in phosphates but poor in nitrogen and organic matter.
• Due to lack of water and their sandy texture soils of this group are considered poor.

 

Saline And Alkaline Soils

• Found in arid and semi-arid areas of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
• These soils are kallar or usar and are infertile.

 

Peaty And Other Organic Soils

• Contain high accumulations of organic matter and a considerable amount of soluble salts.
• Soil is highly saline, rich in organic matter but deficient in phosphorous and potash.
• Found in the coastal areas of Orissa, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, central and northern Bihar