Soils Of India and their Distribution

• Soils of India and their Distribution

  

  
  

1. A. Alluvial Soil:
   • Deposited by Indus and Brahmaputra
   • Highly porous, very fertile and agricultural
   • Lack nitrogen
   • Present in entire Northern Plains and Eastern Coastal Plains
   • Consist of Potash, Phosphoric acid and Lime
   • Two types: Khadar (New alluvium and porous)
   • Bhangar (Old alluvium, has Kankar and found in Doabs)
   B. Black Soil:
   • Also called Regur or Black cotton soil
   • Has capacity to hold moisture, very fertile
   • Made up of lava flows and develop cracks in hot weather
   • Found in Deccan Plateau, along Krishna Godavari Valley, Plateau of Maharashtra, MP and Chhattisgarh
   • Closely related to Red soil, mixture of red and black soil found in parts of South India like Coimbatore, Madurai and Tamil Nadu
   C. Red and Yellow Soils:
   • Have light texture, porous and need irrigation for cultivation
   • Found on crystalline igneous rocks in area of low rainfall in East and South part of Deccan Plateau
   • Have Reddish color due to diffusion of iron and is Yellow in color in hydrated form
   D. Laterite Soil:
   • The end product of decomposition
   • Have low fertility and acidic in nature
   • Laterization: removal of Silica and over concentration of oxides of iron and aluminum
   • Found in area with high temperature and heavy rainfall
   • Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
   • Useful for growing tea and coffee
   E. Arid Soil:
   • Salt content is very high i.e. alkaline
   • Lack humus and moisture, rich in minerals
   • Lower horizon occupied by Kankar
   • Blows from Coastal region and Indus Valley
   • Found in Western Rajasthan, South Punjab and North Gujrat
   F. Forest Soil:
   • Acidic and rich in organic contents
   • Found where sufficient rain forests available
   • Area of Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir