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Describe briefly the important feature of each soil found in India. |
| Answer» Alluvial soil:\tMostly available soil in India (about 43%) which covers an area of 143 sq.km.\tWidespread in northern plains and river valleys.\tIn peninsular-India, they are mostly found in deltas and estuaries.\tHumus, lime and organic matters are present.\tHighly fertile.\tIndus-Ganga-Brahmaputhra plain, Narmada-Tapi plain etc are examples.\tThey are depositional soil – transported and deposited by rivers, streams etc.\tSand content decreases from west to east of the country.\tNew alluvium is termed as Khadar and old alluvium is termed as Bhangar.\tColour: Light Grey to Ash Grey.\tTexture: Sandy to silty loam or clay.\tRich in: potash\tPoor in: phosphorous.\tWheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, pulses, oilseed etc are cultivated mainly.\tRed soil:\t\tSeen mainly in low rainfall area.\tAlso known as Omnibus group.\tPorous, friable structure.\tAbsence of lime, kankar (impure calcium carbonate).\tDeficient in: lime, phosphate, manganese, nitrogen, humus and potash.\tColour: Red because of Ferric oxide. The lower layer is reddish yellow or yellow.\tTexture: Sandy to clay and loamy.\tWheat, cotton, pulses, tobacco, oilseeds, potato etc are cultivated.\t\tBlack soil / regur soil:\t\tRegur means cotton – best soil for cotton cultivation.\tMost of the Deccan is occupied by Black soil.\tMature soil.\tHigh water retaining capacity.\tSwells and will become sticky when wet and shrink when dried.\tSelf-ploughing is a characteristic of the black soil as it develops wide cracks when dried.\tRich in: Iron, lime, calcium, potassium, aluminum and magnesium.\tDeficient in: Nitrogen, Phosphorous and organic matter.\tColour: Deep black to light black.\tTexture: Clayey.Laterite soil:\tName from Latin word ‘Later’ which means Brick.\tBecome so soft when wet and so hard when dried.\tIn the areas of high temperature and high rainfall.\tFormed as a result of high leaching.\tLime and silica will be leached away from the soil.\tOrganic matters of the soil will be removed fast by the bacteria as it is high temperature and humus will be taken quickly by the trees and other plants. Thus, humus content is low.\tRich in: Iron and Aluminum\tDeficient in: Nitrogen, Potash, Potassium, Lime, Humus\tColour: Red colour due to iron oxide.\tRice, Ragi, Sugarcane and Cashew nuts are cultivated mainly.Desert / arid soil:\tSeen under Arid and Semi-Arid conditions.\tDeposited mainly by wind activities.\tHigh salt content.\tLack of moisture and Humus.\tKankar or Impure Calcium carbonate content is high which restricts the infiltration of water.\tNitrogen is insufficient and Phosphate is normal.\tTexture: Sandy\tColour: Red to Brown.Peaty / marshy soil:\tAreas of heavy rainfall and high humidity.\tGrowth of vegetation is very less.\tA large quantity of dead organic matter/humus which makes the soil alkaline.\tHeavy soil with black colour.Forest soil:\tRegions of high rainfall.\tHumus content is less and thus the soil is acidic | |