Chapter-8

Soil Resources
Self Assessment
1. Soil is the thin uppermost layer of loose mixture of small rock
particles and rotting organic matter that covers much of the world’s
land surface.

2. Laterite soils are formed under conditions of high temperature and

heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. These soils are found
in Kerala and Assam.

3. In India, various types of soils are found and their formations are
influenced by certain factors such as parent material, relief, climate,
natural vegetation.

4. The removal of upper fertile layer by agents of denudation such as

weathering, running water and wind is known as soil erosion.
Deforestation and faulty methods of agriculture are main causes of soil
erosion.

5. a) Alluvial soil

b) Red soil

c) Alluvial soil

d) Red soil

e) Desert soil

6. 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.

7. Parent material, Relief and climate are factors that effects the
formation of soil.

8. Parent material bedrock withers down to regolith and then plant

litter combines with the regolith to form soil. Various forces of nature
such as change in temperature, actions of running water, wind and
glaciers, activities of decomposers, etc. contribute to the evolution of
soil.

9. Khaddar-
1 Khaddar soils are found in the low lying areas of foothills.
2. These soils are fine textured.
3. These soils are more fertile.
Bhangar-
1. Bhangar soils are founds in the higher reaches about 30 m above the
flood level.
2. These soils are course textured.
3. These soils are less fertile.

10. Due to lack of nitrogen and potassium laterite soils are less fertile.

11. Alluvium soil

12. Laterite soils are formed under the conditions of high temperature
and heavy rainfall and Western coastal regions gets heavy rainfall more
than 200 cm thus these conditions are suitable for the formation of
laterite soil.
13 a. Bhangar is old alluvial soil. It has higher concentration of kankar
nodules while Khaddar is new alluvial soil. It has lower concentration of
kankar nodules.

b. Soil erosion- The removal of upper fertile layer by agents of

denudation such as weathering, running water and wind is known as
soil erosion.
Soil Conservation- it includes all those measures which help in
protecting the soil from erosion and exhaustion.

14 a. Gully Erosion- The running water cuts through the clayey soil and
makes deep channels in the absence of vegetation.
b. Deforestation- The removal of tress and other natural vegetation is
known as deforestation.

c. Soil Conservation- it includes all those measures which help in

protecting the soil from erosion and exhaustion.

d. Soil erosion- The removal of upper fertile layer by agents of

denudation such as weathering, running water and wind is known as
soil erosion.