TYPES OF SOIL
WHAT IS ALLUVIAL SOIL?
- Mostly available and highly fertile soil.
- Found in northern plains.
- Found in deltas and estuaries.
- Humus, lime and organic matters are present.
- In Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputhra plains etc.
- New alluvium is known as Khadar and old alluvium as Bhangar.
- Rich in potash and poor in phosphorous.
- Wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, pulses etc are grown.
WHAT IS RED SOIL?
- It is found in low rainfall area.
- Porous in nature.
- Poor in lime, phosphate, nitrogen, humus.
- Red due to Ferric oxide.
- Sandy to clay and loamy texture.
- Wheat, cotton, pulses, tobacco, potato etc. are grown.
WHAT IS BLACK SOIL?
- It is best for cotton cultivation.
- Mostly in the Deccan.
- High water retaining capacity.
- Swells when wet and shrink when dried.
- Self-ploughing nature.
- Rich in Iron, lime, calcium, potassium.
- Poor in Nitrogen and Phosphorous.
WHAT IS LATERITE SOIL?
- It means Bricks.
- Soft when wet and hard when dried.
- In the areas of high temperature and rainfall.
- Formed as a result of leaching.
- Rich in Iron and Aluminum.
- Poor in Nitrogen, Potassium, Lime, Humus
- Rice, Ragi, Sugarcane and Cashew nuts are grown.
WHAT IS DESERT SOIL?
- Found in Arid and Semi-Arid areas.
- Deposited mainly by wind.
- Higbh salt content.
- Lack of moisture and Humus.
- Kankar found restricts the infiltration of water.
- Nitrogen is insufficient and Phosphate is normal.
WHAT IS PEATY AND MARSHY SOIL?
- In areas of heavy rainfall and high humidity.
- Less growth of vegetation.
- Large dead organic matter makes the soil alkaline.
- Heavy soil with black color.
WHAT IS SALINE AND ALKALINE SOIL?
- It contains a larger NaCl.
- It is infertile soil.
- Also called as Reh, Usar, Kallar, etc.
- Found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh etc.
- It is suitable for leguminous crops.
- Lack of moisture and living microorganisms.
WHAT IS MOUNTAIN SOIL?
- It is found in the forest regions with sufficient rainfall.
- The texture depends on the environment.
- Also called forest soil.
- These are coarse-grained in the upper slopes and loamy and silty on valley sides.
- These are acidic with low humus content.
- The soils found in the lower valleys are fertile.