Soil Types in India

Soil Types in India

• There are 6 types of soils in India: Alluvial, Black, Red, Laterite, Desert, and Mountain soil.

Alluvial Soil

• Covers an area of 7.7 million square kilometers
• Crops grown: Wheat, Paddy, Sugarcane, Jowar, Jute, Cotton
• Found in states: Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and Assam
• Facts: The Indian Alluvial Tract is the largest in the world

Black Soil

• Covers an area of 5.46 lakh square kilometers
• Crops grown: Cotton, Wheat, Paddy, Jute, Sugarcane
• Found in states: Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh
• Facts: Also called 'Black Cotton Soil' or 'Regur Soil', it has oxides of lime and magnesium, and is best for cotton cultivation

Red Soil

• Covers an area of 5.18 lakh square kilometers
• Crops grown: Oilseeds, Ragi, Tobacco
• Found in states: Kanyakumari to Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to Rajmahal Hills
• Facts: Most widely spread soil in the Peninsular Plateau

Laterite Soil

• Covers an area of 2.48 lakh square kilometers
• Crops grown: Coffee, Tea, Areca nut, and other plantation crops
• Found in states: Western Ghats, Satpuras, Poorvanchal, Rajmahal Hills, and Vindhyas
• Facts: Red in color, lacks nitrogen and minerals, and has insoluble oxides of iron and aluminum

Desert Soil

• Covers an area of 1.4 lakh square kilometers
• Crops grown: Sajje, Dates, Jowar
• Found in states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana
• Facts: Red and brown in color, has low moisture retention capacity

Mountain Soil

• Crops grown: Spices, Fruits, Coffee, Tea
• Found in states: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, and Siwaliks
• Facts: Contains the most decayed and dead organic matter, making it the most fertile and rich in nitrogen and minerals

Soil Erosion

• Causes: Deforestation, Overgrazing, Over-irrigation, Unscientific methods of cultivation, and manufacture of bricks and tiles
• Effects:
  • Accumulation of silt in river beds and reservoirs
  • Reduced moisture retention capacity of soil
  • Change in course of direction of rivers
  • Reduced storage capacity of reservoirs
  • Frequent floods
  • Decreased groundwater level
• Measures to prevent soil erosion:
  • Afforestation
  • Reduce deforestation
  • Terrace farming
  • Construction of bunds and check dams
  • Proper use of water
  • Prevention of overgrazing
  • Contour cultivation

Soil Management and Conservation

• Soil management: Protecting the fertility of the soil
• Soil conservation: Protecting the fertility of the soil and using it in a healthy way to increase agricultural produce