Soil in india

Soil Type Expansion/Regions Description

● 40% most area of the country

● Fertile and rich in potassium,
Northern Plains,
Alluvial phosphoric acid, and lime.
Deltaic regions
● It's ideal for growing cereals, rice,
sugarcane, and other cash crops.

● Rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium,

potash, and lime.
Black Deccan Plateau
● Suitable for cotton, soybean, sorghum,
and other crops.

● Formed in areas with high temperature

and rainfall.
Western Ghats, ● Its high iron and aluminum content
Laterite
Eastern Ghats makes it red.
● Suitable for cashew, tapioca, rubber,
etc.

● Derived from crystalline and

Eastern and
metamorphic rocks.
southern parts of
Red ● It's fertile when supplemented with
the Deccan plateau,
good fertilizers and is suitable for rice,
Orissa, Chhattisgarh
ragi, tobacco, and groundnuts.

● Sandy soil with low organic content.

Needs irrigation for cultivation.
Desert/Arid Western Rajasthan
● Suitable for growing millets, barley,
and some drought-resistant crops.

● Rich in organic content but may be

lacking in phosphorus and potash.
Mountain Himalayan region
● Suitable for temperate crops like
apples, tea, etc.
Alluvial Soil:
● This soil is formed by the deposition of sediments brought by
the rivers Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra.
{The formation of alluvial soil in India is largely attributed to
the depositional activity of the major river systems, primarily
the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra.
These rivers, originating from the Himalayas, carry with them
vast amounts of sediments. As they flow through the plains, the
speed of the rivers reduces, leading to the deposition of these
sediments on the riverbeds and floodplains.}
● The expansion of this soil is found in the plains of the entire
northern India, the coastal plains and the deltaic region of
peninsular India.
● This soil is found on about 40% (most area) of the total area of
the country.
● There is abundance of potash in this soil and lack of
phosphorus, nitrogen and humus.
● It is the most fertile soil of India, intensive agriculture is done
here.
● The alluvial soil varies in texture from sandy loam to clay.
● Paddy, wheat, pulses, oilseeds etc. are cultivated in this soil.

Alluvial soil is mainly divided into two parts:-

1) Bangar:- The old alluvial soil is called Bangar land. It is rich in
calcareous resources, although these soils are unsuitable for
agriculture.
2) Khadar:- New alluvial soil is called Khadar land. Chika soil is
predominant in it, so this soil is fertile for agriculture.

Q. The Northern plain in India is formed of which soil?

SSC CGL 2022
(a) Laterite soil
(b) Arid soil
(c) Alluvial soil
(d) Black soil
भारत में उत्तरी मैदान किस मद
ृ ा से बना होता है ?
(a) लेटराइट मद ृ ा
(b) शष्ु क मदृ ा
(c) जलोढ़ मद ृ ा
(d) काली मद ृ ा
Ans: (c)

Q. The Northern Plains of India are made of which three rivers ?

SSC CHSL 25/05/2022 (Shift - 1)
(a) Ganga, Mahanadi, Indus
(b) Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra
(c) Indus, Mahanadi, Brahmaputra
(d) Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Ganga
भारत का उत्तरी मैदान किन तीन नदियों से बना है ?
(a) गंगा, महानदी, सिंधु
(b) सिंध,ु गंगा, ब्रह्मपत्र
ु
(c) सिंध,ु महानदी, ब्रह्मपत्र
ु
(d) ब्रह्मपत्र
ु , महानदी, गंगा
Ans: (b)

Black Soil:
● Black soil is formed by the breakdown of basalt rocks.
{The main reason behind the formation of black soil in India is
the solidification of lava spread over large areas during
volcanic activity in the form of the Deccan Trap. This volcanic
origin gives it a unique composition.
Over time, the basaltic lava covers were subjected to
weathering, which resulted in the disintegration and
decomposition of the rock. This weathering process led to the
 formation of this soil with a rich content of ferro-magnesian
minerals.}
● The extension of this soil is found in the Deccan Plateau or trap,
Malwa Plateau, Gujarat, middle part of Godavari and Krishna
river and some parts of Tamil Nadu.
● This soil is also called 'Regur soil'.
● This soil is the most suitable soil for the production of cotton,
hence this soil is also called 'black cotton soil'.
● Apart from cotton, this soil is also considered more fertile for
the production of sugarcane.
● In Uttar Pradesh this soil is called 'Karel'.
● The water holding capacity of black soil is high, so irrigation is
less required in black soil areas.
● Elements of lime, magnesium and alumina are found in large
quantities in this soil, although it lacks phosphorus, nitrogen
and organic matter.

Q. Identify the black soil region of India from the following.

SSC CGL July 2023
(a) Himalayas
(b) Deccan trap
(c) Coastal plains
(d) Northern plains
निम्नलिखित में से भारत के काली मिट्टी क्षेत्र को पहचानें।
(a) हिमालय
(b) डेक्कन ट्रै प
(c) तटीय मैदान
(d) उत्तरी मैदान
Ans: b

Q. The lava plateaus are rich in which kind of soil?

SSC CGL 09/12/2022 (2nd Shift)
(a) Laterite soil
(b) Alluvial soil
(c) Red soil
(d) Black soil
लावा पठारों में किस प्रकार की मद
ृ ा होती है ?
(a) लेटराइट मद ृ ा
(b) सर्वभौमी मद ृ ा
(c) लाल मद ृ ा
(d) काली मद ृ ा
Ans: (d)

Q. Which of the following statements about black soil is incorrect ?

SSC CGL 21/04/2022 (Shift - 3)
(a) It is found along the Deccan trap.
(b) It has a good capacity to hold moisture.
(c) It develops deep cracks during hot weather.
(d) It is rich in phosphoric content.
काली मद ृ ा के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों में से कौन सा गलत है ?
(a) यह डेक्कन ट्रै प के साथ पाया जाता है ।
(b) यह नमी को अच्छी तरह से धारण करने की क्षमता रखती है ।
(c) गर्मी के मौसम में इसमें गहरे दरारें हो जाती हैं।
(d) इसमें फास्फोरिक सामग्री समद् ृ ध होती है ।
Ans: (d)

Laterite Soil:
● The word laterite is derived from the Latin word 'Later'.
● This soil is formed in those areas where there is high
temperature and heavy rainfall.
{Laterite soil formation typically occurs in regions with high
temperatures combined with heavy rainfall. The high
temperature causes rapid weathering of the underlying parent
rocks. Heavy rain causes leaching, which is the downward
movement of water through the soil, taking away soluble
 materials from the upper layers and depositing them in the
lower layers.}
● This soil is the result of Intense leaching caused by tropical
rains.
● This soil is rich in iron and silica and deficient in nitrogen,
phosphate and calcium.
● This soil is of acidic nature.
● This soil is found in the hilly regions of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,
Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Assam.
● This soil is most suitable for the cultivation of tea, cashew and
cardamom.
● Laterite soil becomes very hard and stony after drying, hence it
is used for building houses.

Q. Which is the most suitable soil for growing coffee in India?

Graduate Level 05/08/2022 (Shift -3)
(a) Black Soil
(b) Red Soil
(c) Laterite soil
(d) Alluvial Soil
भारत में कॉफ़ी की उत्पादन के लिए कौन सी सबसे उपयक्
ु त मद
ृ ा है ?
(a) काली मिट्टी
(b) लाल मिट्टी
(c) लेटराइट मद ृ ा
(d) सर्वभौमी मद ृ ा
Ans: (c)

Red and Yellow Soils:

● It is the second important soil of India after alluvial soil.
● This soil has been developed in the region of low rainfall in the
eastern and southern part of the Deccan Plateau, where
igneous rocks are found.
 ● Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low
rainfall in the eastern and southern part of the Deccan Plateau
● This soil is found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and middle
Ganga plain.
● Due to the excess of iron-oxide, the color of this soil is red.
● This soil lacks nitrogen, phosphorus and humus.
● Potatoes, millet and groundnuts are cultivated on a large scale
in this soil.

Q. ________ develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low

rainfall in the eastern and southern part of the Deccan Plateau.
SSC CGL 20/04/2022 (Shift - 3)
(a) Red soil
(b) Black soil
(c) Alluvial soil
(d) Arid soil
_____ दक्षिणी और पर्वी ू दक्षिण भारत के डेक्कन पठार के क्षेत्रों में कम वर्षा वाले क्षेत्रों
में क्रिस्टलीन अग्निपर्वतीय चट्टानों पर विकसित होती है ।
(a) लाल मद ृ ा
(b) काली मद ृ ा
(c) सर्वभौमी मद ृ ा
(d) शष्ु क मद ृ ा
Ans: (a)

Desert Soil:
● This soil has been formed in dry climatic regions with high
temperatures.
● This soil is generally sandy in texture and saline in nature.
● This soil is found in the dry regions of southern Punjab, western
part of Haryana, western Rajasthan and northern Gujarat.
 ● Coarse grains such as jowar, bajra and ragi are produced in
this soil. The production of these grains requires less water.
● Due to dry climate, high temperature and rapid evaporation,
there is a lack of moisture and humus in this plain.

Saline Soil:
● These soils are also called 'Usar soils'.
● Sodium, potassium and magnesium are found in abundance in
this soil, hence it is infertile soil.
● These soils are found in arid, semi-arid and waterlogged areas.
● This soil is mainly found in Western Gujarat, Rann of Kutch.
● Gypsum is commonly used to deal with the problem of saline
soils.

Mountain Soils
● These soils are mainly found in the Himalayan region,
Northeast India and the mountainous regions of Peninsular
India.
● Mountain soils are generally formed on mountain slopes.
● Due to the formation of this soil on the mountain slopes, it is
considered suitable for plantation agriculture such as tea,
coffee and fruit farming.
● Mountain soil lacks potash, phosphorus and lime and it is acidic
in nature.