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8 Types of Soils in India - Geography of India
SOILS of INDIA
8 Types of Soils in India are explained in this video β
The soils explained are:
Alluvial Soil
- About 43%
- Covers an area of 143 sq. km.
- Widespread in northern plains and river valleys.
- In peninsular-India, they are mostly found in deltas and estuaries.
- Humus, lime and organic matter
- Highly fertile
- Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputhra plain, Narmada-Tapi plain
- Depositional soil β transported and deposited by rivers, streams.
- Sand content decreases from west to east of the country.
- New alluvium is termed as Khadar and old alluvium is termed as Bhangar.
- Colour: Light Grey to Ash Grey.
- Texture: Sandy to silty loam or clay.
- Rich in: potash
- Poor in: phosphorous.
- Wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, pulses, oilseed.
Black Soil
- Cotton cultivation.
- Deccan
- Mature soil
- High water retaining capacity.
- Swells and becomes sticky when wet
- Shrinks when dried.
- Self-ploughing- develops wide cracks when dried.
- Rich in: Iron, lime, calcium, potassium, aluminum and magnesium.
- Deficient in: Nitrogen, Phosphorous and organic matter.
- Colour: Deep black to light black.
- Texture: Clayey
Red Soil
- Low rainfall area.
- Omnibus group.
- Porous, friable structure.
- Absence of lime, kankar (impure calcium carbonate) .
- Deficient in: lime, phosphate, manganese, nitrogen, humus and potash.
- Colour: Red because of Ferric oxide. The lower layer is reddish yellow or yellow.
- Texture: Sandy to clay and loamy.
- Wheat, cotton, pulses, tobacco, oilseeds, potato.
Laterite Soil
- βLaterβ which means Brick.
- Soft when wet and hard when dried.
- High temperature and high rainfall.
- Formed from high leaching.
- Lime and silica leached away
- Organic matter removed fast by the bacteria
- Humus content is low.
- Rich in: Iron and Aluminum
- Deficient in: Nitrogen, Potash, Potassium, Lime, Humus
- Colour: Red colour due to iron oxide.
- Rice, Ragi, Sugarcane and Cashew nuts
Forest Soil
- Regions of high rainfall.
- Humus content is less and thus the soil is acidic.
Peat and Organic Soil
- Heavy rainfall and high humidity.
- Less vegetation
- Dead organic matter makes alkaline.
- Heavy soil with black colour.
Mountain and Skeletal Soil
- Mountain regions of the country
- Immature soil with low humus and acidic.
Alkaline and Saline Soil
β Manishika