SOIL RESOURCES

Soil is a mixture of small rock particles and organic materials/ humus which develop on the earth’s
surface and support growth of plants. Soil formation differs according to the effect of various
environmental factors which include parent material, climatic conditions, living things such as plants and
animals and finally the surface relief and drainage. Since India has a varied topography and climate, so it
is natural that a large variety of soils are found here. The process of soil formation is known as
Pedogenesis.

According to its location, soil can be categorized as:

1. Residual or Sedimentary soil or In situ soil: Soils which are found at the place of their formation, e.g.,
regur soil or black soil, red soil, laterite soil.

2. Transported soil or ex situ soil: These are the soils which are carried down by agents of erosion like
wind and water, e.g., alluvial soil.

The soils of India are classified on the basis of their formation and origin.

TYPES OF SOILS

1. ALLUVIAL SOILS : Formed by the sediments brought down by the rivers. These soils are also known as
riverine soil because it is mainly found in the river basins. The rivers deposit very fine particles of soil
called alluvium in their plains during the long course of their journey. It is a mixture of sand, clay and silt,
called loam.

FEATURES:

a) Rich in potash and lime.

b) Light and porous therefore easily tillable.

c) In the upper Ganga valley it is dry, porous, sandy, faint yellow and consist of clay and organic matter
while the soils of the lower Ganga valley are more compact, less coarse and more moist.

d) The particles of this soil are bigger and coarser in the upper reaches of the rivers and become finer as
the river flows down.

e) Deficient in nitrogen and phosphorous.

f) Soils of the Deccan coastal strip is non porous, clayey and darker in colour.

g) It is loamy in nature.

h) On the basis of age ,the alluvial soil is of two types

BHANGAR KHADAR

1. Older alluvium. 1. Newer alluvial soil.

2. Coarse in texture. 2. Finer in texture.

3. Found higher up in the plains at river terraces away from 3. Found in the lower level in the plains

Rivers. Near the rivers.

4. It is clayey and non porous. [Link] is loamy and porous soil.

Crops grown are rice, wheat, sugarcane, millets and pulses etc.

They are found along inland rivers, deltas of rivers and along the coast. Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,

Bihar, West Bengal.

2. BLACK SOIL: Formed by the breaking up of volcanic rocks mainly basalt. Also known as volcanic soil

Because of its volcanic origin. Other names are regur soil or black cotton soil.

FEATURES: 1. It is clayey in nature and fine textured.

2. Black in colour due to its volcanic origin and iron content.

3. Rich in lime, potash, iron and magnesium.

4. Deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter.

5. Highly retentive of moisture and becomes sticky when wet; due to this reason it needs to be tilled just

After the first rain.

6. On getting dry, it forms long and deep crack that helps in air circulation and is known for its self

Ploughing capacity.

Crops grown are cotton, sugarcane, millets , rice, wheat, oilseeds, tobacco etc.

Found in the Deccan trap – parts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, southern
parts of Tamil Nadu.

RED SOIL: Formed due to prolonged weathering of old crystalline rocks ( igneous or metamorphic) in the
areas of low rainfall.

FEATURES: 1. It is red in colour due to high percentage of iron oxide.

2. It is porous and needs irrigation support for cultivation.

3. It is loose and aerated.

4. It is poor in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic matter.

5. Colour varies from chocolate brown to yellow.

6. The soil becomes productive with the use of fertilizers.

7. It is ideal for dry farming as it is formed in poor rainfall areas and does not retain moisture.

Crops grown are rice, ragi, tobacco, sugarcane, pulses etc.

Found in the low rainfall areas of Deccan plateau. Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh.
LATERITE SOIL: Formed due to weathering of rocks under high temperature and heavy rainfall with
alternate dry and wet periods. Leaching or desilication is the common process associated with this soil.
It is a process in which due to heavy rainfall the minerals and nutrients present on the upper layer
percolate down leaving the top soil infertile.

FEATURES: 1. Red in colour with high content of iron oxides.

2. Poor in nitrogen, lime and silica due to leaching.

3. Coarse in texture.

4. High content of acidity and not capable of retaining moisture.

5. It becomes hard when exposed to air like brick and is used as a building material.

Crops grown are Tapioca, cashewnuts, rubber, tea, coffee etc.

Found along the summits of the Eastern and Western ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh
and Odisha.

SOIL EROSION: The removal of the top layer of the soil, by the agents of erosion that is wind and water
is known as soil erosion. Man, wind and water are the common causes of soil erosion.

CAUSES OF SOIL EROSION IN INDIA: Heavy population pressure on land, overgrazing, bad farming
techniques, deforestation, nature of rainfall.

SOIL CONSERVATION: The efforts made by man to prevent soil erosion is known as soil conservation. It
aims at prevention of soil erosion as well as reclamation of soil that has been damaged by natural
phenomena or due to exploitation over centuries. Soil can be conserved by:

1. Afforestation.

2. Terrace farming

3. Contour ploughing.

4. Plugging gullies.

5. Prevention of shifting cultivation.

6. Planting of shelter belts.

7. Strip cropping.

8. Flood control.

9. Crop rotation
WRITTEN WORK TO BE DONE IN THE REGISTER

Q1. Define soil. State the factors affecting soil formation.

Q2. What are transported soils? Name the most widespread transported soil of India.

Q3. Mention two physical and two chemical properties of alluvial soil.

Q4. How are Black soils formed? Give its two chemical and two physical properties.

Q5. Where is red soil found in India? How is it formed? Give its two chemical properties.

Q6. What is leaching? Which soil is associated with leaching?

Q7. Why is laterite soil not suitable for agriculture?

Q8. What is soil erosion? Name the two main agents of soil erosion.

Q9. State and explain any three causes of soil erosion in India.

Q10. State and explain any three measures to prevent soil erosion.

Q11. Give reasons for the following:

a) Alluvial soil differs in texture.

b) Black soil does not get leached.

c) Khadar is more fertile than Bhangar.

d) Different regions in India having different kinds of soil.

e) Man is largely responsible for soil erosion.

f) Laterite soil is not suitable for cultivation.

g) Soil erosion by wind is common in arid regions.

Q12. Distinguish between:

a) Alluvial soil and Black soil.

b) Khadar and Bhangar.

c) Alluvial soil and Red soil.