SOILS OF INDIA

Soil Definition

Soil is the thin (5 to 8 m) layer of the earths continental crust which is capable of supporting life

Soil - Meaning

REGOLITH

HUMUS

SOIL

Components of Soil
MINERALS

HUMUS

MOISTURE

AIR

Importance of Components
COMPONENT Minerals Humus Moisture Air IMPORTANCE Give colour and texture to the soil Give fertility to the soil Dissolve minerals so that plants can absorb them Allows respiration for plants

TEXTURE OF SOIL

Sandy Soil

> 60% sand; < 10% clay Well aerated Easier to cultivate Dries up easily Suitable for growth of fruits and vegetables

Clayey Soil

> 60% clay; < 10% sand Good moisture retention capacity Difficult to cultivate

Loamy Soil

50% sand; 50% clay Well aerated Easier to cultivate Good moisture retention capacity Suitable for growth of all kinds of crops

SOILS OF INDIA
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Alluvial Soil Black Soil Red Soil Laterite soil Mountain Soil Desert Soil Marshy Soil

ALLUVIAL SOIL

Alluvial Soil - Occurences

Inland Alluvium

Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta Peninsular India, Plains of Gujarat

Deltaic Alluvium

Coastal Aluvium

Alluvial Soil - Types

Khadar Bhangar

Alluvial Soil - Characteristics

Formed due to deposition of regolith brought by rivers; transported soil Coarse in the upper course, medium in the middle course and fine in the lower course

Alluvial Soil - Characteristics

Rich in Potash, Alumina and Lime Poor in Nitrogen and Phosphorus Suitable for growing all kinds of crops

Black Soil - Occurences

Deccan Plateau

Maharashtra Karnataka Andhra Pradesh Madhya Pradesh

Saurashtra & Kutch

Black Soil - Characteristics

Black colour due to presence of Iron Formed due to in situ weathering of basalt; sedentary soil Clayey in nature

Good moisture retention capacity Difficult to cultivate

Black Soil - Characteristics

Rich in LIMCAP Poor in Nitrogen and Phosphorus Good for growth of cotton, sugarcane, groundnut, tobacco, etc.

RED SOIL

Red Soil - Occurences

Tamil Nadu Inland Kerala Karnataka Andhra Pradesh Orissa Chhota Nagpur Plateau

Red Soil - Characteristics

Forms due to weathering of older metamorphic and igneous rocks Sedentary Soil May be brown, greyish or blackish in colour Good moisture retention capacity

Red Soil - Characteristics

Rich in Iron Poor in lime, phosphorus and nitrogen Can be cultivated with the use of fertilisers Suitable for dry farming Pulses, Rice, Cotton etc can be grown

LATERITE SOIL

Laterite Soil - Occurrences

Hilly regions of Western Ghats Kerala Chhota Nagpur Plateau Assam Meghalaya

Laterite Soil - Characteristcs

Formed due to leaching of essential silicates by heavy rain Acidic in nature

Laterite Soil - Characteristics

Due to leaching

Lime and silica are reduced Iron and Alumina proportion increases

Reddish to yellowish in colour Poor in Nitrogen and Phosphorus Coffee, Rubber, Cashewnuts can be cultivated

Mountain Soil - Occurence

Jammu & Kashmir Sikkim Assam Arunachal Pradesh

Mountain Soil - Characteristics

Immature Soil Contain large pieces of regolith which are not well mixed with humus Highly porous and permeable Rich in Iron and Humus Poor in lime and potash Apples, plums, cherries etc can be grown

Desert Soil - Occurrences

Western Rajasthan Northern Gujarat Southern Punjab

Desert Soil - Characteristics

Transported Soil Formed due to erosion and deposition of sand Alkaline in nature Contains high proportion of salts Very little humus Millets, wheat, etc can be grown with the use of fertilisers and irrigation

Marshy Soil

Found in

Sunderbans of West Bengal Coastal areas of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu Terai belt of U.P.

Constantly waterlogged Contains iron and salts Good for cultivation of jute

SOIL EROSION AND CONSERVATION

Soil Erosion - Mechanism

Erosion by water

Sheet Erosion Rill and Gully Erosion Stream bank Erosion Shore Erosion Slip Erosion

Erosion by wind

GULLY EROSION

Causes of Soil Erosion

Natural Causes

Topography Rainfall Nature of Soil Deforestation Overgrazing Improper farming techniques

Human causes

Conservation of Soil

Afforestation Restricted grazing Proper farming techniques

Terrace farming Construction of bunds Contour ploughing Strip Cropping

Dams for flood control

CONTOUR PLOUGHING

STRIP CROPPING

TERRACE FARMING

BUNDS

Soil Erosion in India

Shiwaliks

Due to deforestation Heavy Rainfall Floods, sudden rainfall after long, dry spells Fast blowing wind, little vegetation

North-Eastern States

River banks of Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal

Arid Regions

Hills of South India

Defective methods of cultivation

Soil Conservation Schemes in India

Integrated Watershed Management Reclamation and Development of Ravine areas Control of Shifting agriculture