1. Made by:- Yash Kishore 7th C 40 (Roll No.) Science Project
Different types of soil in India and their specific crops
2. Types of soil Alluvial Soils Black Soils Red Soils Laterite
Soils Mountain Soils Desert Soils
3. It is the most important type of soil found in India
covering about 40 per cent of the total land area. It is very
fertile and contributes the largest share of agricultural wealth.
This soil supports nearly half of the Indian population. The
alluvial soil is found mostly in the Northern Plains, starting from
Punjab in the west to West Bengal and Assam in the east. It is also
found in the deltas of the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri
rivers in the Peninsular India. The northern parts and the coastal
areas of Gujarat also have some deposits of alluvial soil. Many
rivers originate from the Himalayan Mountains and bring a large
amount of sediment with them. It is deposited in the river valleys
and the flood plains. Thus, the parent material of the alluvial
soils is always of transported origin. The fine particles of sand,
silt and clay are called alluvium. The alluvial soil can be divided
into old alluvium, also called
5. The black soil is locally called regur, a word derived from
Telugu word reguda. It is also called the Black Cotton Soil, as
cotton is the most important crop grown in this soil. The black
soil is mostly found in the Deccan Trap, covering large areas of
Maharashtra, Gujarat and western Madhya Pradesh. It is also found
in some parts of Godavari and Krishna river valleys, covering parts
of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The black soil has
been formed thousands of years ago, due to the solidification of
volcanic lava. This soil is made up of extremely fine clayey
material. The black soil is well-known for its capacity to hold
moisture. This soil is rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium
carbonate, potash and lime, but poor in phosphoric content. During
the rainy season, black soil becomes sticky and is
7. The red soil occupies about 10 per cent area of India,
mostly in the south-eastern part of the Peninsular India. This area
encircles the entire black soil region. The red soil is found in
Tamil Nadu, parts of Karnataka, southeast Maharashtra, eastern
parts of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand. Most
of the red soil has been formed due to weathering of igneous and
metamorphic rocks. The red colour is due to the high percentage of
iron contents. The texture of the red soil varies from sandy to
clayey, and the majority being loamy. On the uplands, the red soil
is thin, poor, and porous and has loose gravel. In the lower areas,
the soil is deep, rich, fine grained and fertile.
9. The word laterite has been derived from a Latin word meaning
brick. The laterite soil is widely spread in India and is mainly
found on the summits of the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Rajmahal
Hills, Vindhyas, Satpuras and Malwa plateau. It is well- developed
in southern Maharashtra, and parts of Orissa, West Bengal,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Assam and Meghalaya. The
laterite soil is formed under conditions of high temperature and
heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. Such climatic
conditions promote leaching of soil. Leaching is a process in which
heavy rains wash away the fertile part of the soil. The laterite
soil is red in colour and composed of little
10. Tea Coffee Rubber Coconut Areca nut Also provides valuable
building materials
11. The mountain soil is generally found on the hill slopes
covered with forests. In the Himalayan region such soil is mainly
found in the valley basins, the depressions and the lesser steep
slopes. The north-facing slopes generally support soil cover. Apart
from the Himalayan region, this soil is also found in the Western
and Eastern Ghats and in some parts of the Peninsular India. i. The
mountain soil is formed mainly due to the deposition of organic
matter provided by the forests. ii. This soil is rich in humus, but
poor in potash, phosphorus and lime. iii. It is heterogeneous in
nature and varies from place
12. Tea Coffee Spices Tropical fruits in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
and Kerala
13. The desert soil is found mostly in the arid and semi-arid
regions, receiving less than 50 cm of annual rainfall. Such regions
are mostly found in Rajasthan and the adjoining areas of Haryana
and Punjab. The Rann of Kachchh in Gujarat is an extension of this
region. i. The sand in the desert areas is partly of local origin
and partly being blown in from the Indus Valley. ii. It includes
even the wind-blown loess. iii. The desert soil has sand (90 to 95
per cent) and clay (5 to 10 per cent). iv. In some regions this
soil has high percentage of soluble salts, but lacks in organic
matter. v. The nitrogen content is low, but the phosphate content
is as high as in normal alluvial soil.
