GEOGRAPHY-STANDARD 10

CHAPTER-5-Soil Resources of India

MAJOR SOIL GROUPS IN INDIA

ALLUVIAL SOIL
These are the most important soil group in India and they support the maximum
share of agricultural products and the bulk of Indian population.
They can be divided into two types.
1. Young Khadar soil-These are newer alluvium and are found at the lower
level near the rivers.They contain fine sand and clay.They are more fertile.
2. Old Bhangar soil- These consist of older alluvium,they contain pebbles and
gravels.They are found 30m above the flood level of rivers.
Characteristics of alluvial soil-
a) These are transported types of soil.
b) They are mostly light to dark in colour,
c) rich in potash and humus,
But deficient in phosphorus and Nitrogen
d) They are very fertile on the whole, very good for both Rabi and kharif
crops.
Crops grown- These are suitable for wheat,rice, sugarcane, cotton and oilseeds
And ideal for jute cultivation.
Areas found- These are mostly found in the riverine plains of Ganga,
Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri
States found- Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West
Bengal ,Assam, Odisha.
BLACK SOIL-
Black soil is also called Regur and Black Cotton soil as cotton is the most grown
crop in this soil.
These are residual soil and are originated from solidification of basic lava spread
over large areas of Deccan plateau during volcanic activity.
Characteristics-
1. Black soil retain moisture and become sticky when wet, hence vin the dry
period it is
Very useful for the crops.The deeper the soil, the more moisture it can
hold.
2. The black colour may be observed from black crystalline schists.
3. They contain lime, iron, potash, magnesium carbonate and calcium.
They are deficient in phosphates, nitrogen and humus or organic matter.
Crops grown- Because of their high fertility and retentivity of moisture,
The black soils are widely used for several crops like
cotton,rice,wheat,jowar,millets, sugarcane, tobacco and oilseeds.
Areas found- They are vastly found in the Deccan plateau.
States- Maharashtra, Gujrat, Western Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh
Telengana and southern part of Tamil Nadu.

RED SOIL
Red soils are formed due to weathering of ancient crystalline and
metamorphic rocks. They Red colour is due to its very high iron content.
Characteristics-
1. The colour varies from red to brown,they are porous and friable in
nature.
2. They are rich in potash and become fertile with proper use of fertilizer
and irrigation.
3. Red soil lacks lime, magnesia, phosphate, nitrogen and humus.
Crops grown- with proper fertilizer and irrigation, they give excellent
Yield of wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, pulses, millets, tobacco and
oilseeds.
Areas grown- Bihar, West Bengal, eastern Rajasthan, parts of Assam,
Nagaland,
Red soils are spread over whole of Tamil Nadu, large parts of southern
Karnataka,Goa,north east Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, south east
Maharashtra and Chhotanagpur Plateau.

LATERITE SOIL
The word laterite in Latin means brick. These soils are formed under
Conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet
and dry periods.
Characteristics-
1. Monsoon conditions promote leaching of the soil,i.e. the heavy
rainfall washes away the top soil containing silica,this process is
called leaching.
2. They have a unique property of being valuable building materials as
they harden like iron when exposed to air.
3. They are red in colour due to presence of iron oxide.
4. They are generally coarse in texture and friable and porous in nature.
5. They are rich in iron, poor in lime, magnesium, phosphoric Acid and
potash.
6. Due to intense leaching, laterite soils lack in fertility but respond
To manuring and irrigation.
Soil erosion-
Soil erosion is the removal of topsoil by different agents of
weathering such as running water, wind, overgrazing, men, plants
And animals and faulty methods of agriculture.
The types of erosion due to running water are:-
a) Sheet erosion- a surface film of water carries away the surface
layer of the topsoil as it moves.
b) Gully erosion- whereby on steep slopes,in absence of any
vegetation the flow of storm water flows with force downhill
developing into channel flow, cutting steep sided valley.
Gullies cut up the agricultural land into badlands where no
cultivation is possible.
Wind- The upper surface of the soil becomes loose and
susceptible to wind erosion due to lack of moisture.
Faulty methods of agriculture-
i) Shifting agriculture,
ii) lack of crop rotation
iii) wrong ploughing
Soil conservation
Soil conservation is an effort by man to prevent soil erosion to
retain the fertility of the soil.Several measures have been adapted
By the Government to prevent soil erosion.
a) Afforestation
b) To check overgrazing
c) Constructing dams and barrages
d) Improved techniques of agriculture
i) Contour methods of ploughing checks soil erosion
ii) Terrace farming checks the direct flow of water
iii) Crop rotation improves fertility of the soil.
iv) Planting of cover crops
v) Shifting or Jhuming or slash and burn types of
agriculture should be banned.
vi) Belts of trees and shrubs should be planted