Question

State the zones of India on the basis of soil type.

Answer 1

Laterite Soil: The term is derived from the word 'Later' which means 'brick'. Llaterite soil is found in those regions of the country which receive heavy rainfall with alternate dry and wet period - particularly, near the coasts. This kind of soil becomes soft when wet and hardens when dry. In these climatic conditions, leaching of soil takes place which is a process in which fertile portion of the soil gets washed away by heavy rains. They are formed from the decomposition of rocks and contain iron oxide which gives them red or pink colour. This type of soil is normally deficient in nitrogen and is poor in lime content; it is an acidic soil. It is found in several parts of the country mainly Western and Eastern Ghats, Vindhyas, Malwa plateau and Satpuras. The states where this type of soil can be found are West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya, Assam, Odisha to name a few. Laterite soil supports crops like Rice, Ragi, Sugarcane, rubber, coconut, tea, coffee and Cashew nuts.

Mountain Soils: Mountain soils are formed due to the accumulation of organic matter which is derived from the forest growth and are generally shallow in depth and immature. This type of soil is rich in humus but has poor lime, potash and phosphorus content. It is generally sandy and has gravels. It is mainly found in Himalayan region, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and also in Penninsular India, Eastern Ghats. Characteristics of the mountain soil depending on the climate of the region can be divided into two broad groups: (1) Loamy Podzols, and (2) High Altitude Soils. The mid-altitudinal zone in the Himalaya has Podzols. This soil is acidic with low humus and is found in Assam, Darjeeling, Kashmir, Uttranchal and Himachal Pradesh. Maize, barley, wheat and temperate fruits are grown in this soil in the Himalayan region. Plantation of crops like tropical fruits, coffee, tea or spices in states of south India like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are undertaken in this type of soil. In the drier areas or deciduous forest belt, deep soil, brown in colour and rich in humus is found. It is very good for orchard crops.

Black Soil: This type of soil is made up of volcanic rocks and lava. Black soil is also known as 'regur' which is derived from a Telugu word 'reguda'. Black soil is also known as Black Cotton Soil as cotton is an important crop which is grown in this type of soil. Thise soil is rich in calcium carbonate, potash, lime and magnesium carbonate but has poor phosphorus content. It is mostly found in areas such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. It is also found in states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Black soil is extremely fine and clayey and has the capacity to hold a lot of moisture. It becomes sticky in the rainy season and develops cracks when dry. Black soil is good for producing cotton, oilseeds, wheat, linseed, millets, and tobacco.

Red Soil: This type of soil is formed as a result of weathering of metamorphic and igneous rocks. The red colour of the soil comes from the high percentage of iron content. The soil's texture varies from being sandy to clayey, but it is mainly loamy. It is rich in potash content but lacks phosphate, humus and nitrogen content. The red soil is found in regions such as Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, some parts of Karnataka and southeast Maharashtra.

Alluvial Soil: Alluvial soils is are formed by the deposits of the sediments brought by rivers. Most of the rivers originate from the Himalayas and bring along high amount of sediments with them. The soil is made up of particles like silt, sand and clay. It has adequate amount of phosphoric acid, potash and lime. Alluvial soil is of two types - (i) old alluvium known as bangar, and (ii) new alluvium called khaddar. It is the most important type of soil found in the country as it covers about 40% of the total land. It is found in the northern plains beginning from Punjab to West Bengal and Assam. It is also found in deltas of different rivers such as Krishna, Godavari, Kaveri and Mahanadi in peninsular India. Alluvial soil is highly fertile and is light grey in colour. Crops mainly cultivated include wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, pulses, oilseed etc.

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Answer 2

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✔️There are six major type of soil found in india:

•Alluvial Soils

•Black Soils

•Red Soils

•Desert Soils

•Laterite Soils

•Mountain Soils

✔️Alluvial soil :

•It is the 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.

✔️Black soil :

•It is mostly found in the Deccan Trap, covering large areas of Maharashtra, Gujarat and western Madhya Pradesh.

•It is also found in some parts Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Cotton is the most important crop grown in this soil.

The black soil is well-known for its capacity to hold moisture.

✔️Red soil :

•It is found in Tamil Nadu, parts of Karnataka, some parts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa .

•Its red colour is due to the high percentage of iron contents.

✔️Laterite soil :

•It is widely spread in India and is mainly found on Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats.

•the soil is suitable for producing plantation crops like tea, coffee, rubber, coconut, arecanut, etc. And also provides valuable building materials.

✔️Desert soil :

•It is found mostly in the arid and semi-arid region like Rajastan and Punjab.

✔️Mountain soil :

•It is generally found on the hill slopes covered with forests.

•This soil is especially suitable for producing plantation crops, such as tea, coffee, spices and tropical fruits in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

THÅÑKẞ!!