SOIL OF INDIA//MAJOR SOIL TYPE OF INDIA
Definition of Soil
Soil can be simply defined as a mixture
of small rock particles/debris and organic materials/ humus which develop on
the earth surface and support growth of plants.
Soil Classification
In India, soil had been classified from
the ancient period itself even though it was not as detail as the modern
classifications.
In the ancient period, the
classification was based on only two things; whether the soil is fertile or
sterile. Thus the classification was:
·
fertile
·
sterile
Classification
of Soil
·
Soils were classified on
the basis of their inherent characteristics and external features including
texture, color, slope of land, and moisture content in the soil.
·
Soil Survey of India,
established in 1956, made
comprehensive study of soils.
Major Soil type of India
·
On
the basis of genesis, color, composition, and location, the soils of India have
been classified as −
v
Alluvial
soils
v
Black
soils
v
Red
and Yellow soils
v
Laterite
soils
v
Arid
soils
v
Forest
soils
v
Saline
soils
v
Peaty
soils.
·
Alluvial
Soils
I.
Alluvial
soils are widespread in the northern plains and the river valleys and cover
about 40% of total area of India.
II.
Alluvial
soils are depositional soils, as transported and deposited by the rivers
streams.
III.
Alluvial
soils are normally rich in potash, but poor in phosphorous.
IV.
In
the Upper and Middle Ganga plain, two different types of alluvial soils are
found i.e. Khadar (it is the new alluvium and is deposited by floods annually)
and Bhangar (it is a system of older alluvium, deposited away from the flood
plains).
V.
The
alluvial soils normally vary in nature from sandy, loamy, to clayey and its
color varies from light grey to ash grey.
·
Black
Soils
I.
Also
popular as Regur Soil or the Black Cotton Soil, Black soil covers most of the
Deccan Plateau; for example, black soil is found in parts of Maharashtra,
Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
II.
Black
soil is usually clayey, deep, and impermeable; therefore, it can retain the
moisture for a very long time (very useful for the crops especially cotton).
III.
Black
soil is rich in lime, iron, magnesia, alumina, and also potash.
IV.
The
color of the black soil varies from deep black to grey.
·
Red
& Yellow Soils
I.
Red
soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in the areas of low rainfall,
especially, in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan Plateau.
II.
Red
soil develops a reddish color because of a wide diffusion of iron in
crystalline and metamorphic rocks. On the other hand, it develops yellow color
when it occurs in a hydrated form.
III.
The
fine-grained red and yellow soils are usually fertile, whereas coarse-grained
soils found in dry upland areas have poor fertility.
IV.
The
red and yellow soils normally have poor content of nitrogen, phosphorous and
humus.
·
Laterite
Soils
1. The laterite soils develop in areas of
high temperature and high rainfall.
2. The laterite soils are commonly found
in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Odisha
and Assam.
3. Laterite soils are the result of
intense leaching due to tropical rains; because of rain, lime and silica are
leached away, and soils become rich in iron oxide and aluminum.
4. Laterite soils however are poor in
organic matter, nitrogen, phosphate, and calcium, but rich in iron oxide and
potash.
5. Laterite soils are normally infertile;
however, it is widely to make bricks (used in building construction).
6. Normally sandy in structure and saline
in nature, arid soils vary from red to brown in color.
·
Arid
Soils
1. Lower horizons of the arid soils are
occupied by ‘kankar’ layers because of the increasing calcium content
downwards.
2. Arid soils have poor content of humus
and organic matter.
3. Arid soils are typically developed in
western Rajasthan.
·
Saline
Soils
1. Saline soils contain a larger
proportion of sodium, potassium, and magnesium, and thus, they are infertile,
and do not support vegetation.
2. Because of the dry climate and poor
drainage system, saline soil contains more salt.
3. Saline soils are normally found in arid
and semi-arid regions, as well as in waterlogged and swampy areas.
4. Deficient in nitrogen and calcium,
saline soils are found in western Gujarat, deltas of the eastern coast, and in
Sunderban areas of West Bengal.
·
Forests
Soils
1. Forest soils are usually formed in the
forest areas where sufficient rainfall is available.
2. Like other organism, soils are living
systems, as they too develop and decay, get degraded, and respond to proper
treatment if administered in time.
·
Peaty
Soils
1. In the areas of heavy rainfall and high
humidity, large quantity of dead organic matter accumulates and enriches humus
and organic content that forms the peaty soils.
2. Peaty soils are normally heavy and
black in color and widely found in the northern part of Bihar, southern part of
Uttaranchal, and the coastal areas of West Bengal, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu.
3. Decline in soil fertility because of
any reason (either natural or human induced) is known as soil degradation
(example shown in the image given below).
IF YOU WANT TO PDF
If you want to join my telegram group
Read more:-
ICSE class -ix click here
ICSE class -x click here
.jpg)
0 Comments