Agricultural Geography: Soil Types and Crops

Questions and Answers

Which of the following crops is primarily grown in the alluvial plains?

Coffee

Tea

Wheat (correct)

Cotton

The black soil is rich in phosphoric content.

False

What type of soil is developed in the hilly areas of Karnataka and Kerala?

Laterite

The soil found in the Western parts of Rajasthan is __________ in nature.

saline Signup and view all the answers

Match the following soil types with their characteristics:

Alluvial = Silt, sand, clay, good for paddy and wheat Black = Fine, clayey material, poor in phosphoric content Forest = Loamy and silty in the valley, coarse in upper slopes Red and Yellow = Contains iron particles, develops on igneous rocks Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about arid soil is correct?

It primarily consists of sandy texture. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Soil Types and Their Characteristics

Alluvial Soil
- Found in Northern plains influenced by Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers.
- Suitable for crops like paddy, wheat, and sugarcane.
- Composed of silt, sand, and clay.
- Rich in nutrients such as potash, phosphoric acid, and lime; includes khadar (younger alluvial) and bangar (older alluvial).
Black Soil (Deccan Trap)
- Located in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
- Predominantly used for cotton cultivation.
- Contains fine clayey materials and is rich in calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate but lacks phosphoric content.
- Known for self-aeration, developing cracks when dry and becoming sticky when wet.
Red and Yellow Soil
- Found in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.
- Supports plantation crops such as coffee.
- Develops on crystalline igneous rocks; high in iron particles which give the soil its reddish color.
- Turns yellow in hydrated form.
Laterite Soil
- Present in hilly areas of Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, and tropical evergreen regions.
- Supports crops like cashew nuts, pineapple, tea, and coffee.
- Characterized by poor humus content, deep and acidic nature, and nutrient deficiency.
- Experiences intense leaching due to heavy rainfall.
Arid Soil
- Commonly found in the western parts of Rajasthan.
- Suitable for rainfed crops such as jowar, bajra, and maize.
- Sandy texture with saline traits, lacking humus and moisture.
- Contains calcium and can become cultivable with proper irrigation.
Forest Soil
- Located in hill and mountainous regions like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Represents mountain vegetation and forests.
- Loamy and silty in valleys, with coarse-grained texture on upper slopes.
- Fertile areas found in valleys and terraces, favorable for various crops.

Description

Explore the diverse soil types and crops found in various regions of India. This quiz examines the characteristics of alluvial plains, black soil, and other soil types, along with their agricultural significance. Test your knowledge about the interplay of geography and agriculture across different states.