Soil Types

Black soil (Regur soil) swells and becomes sticky when wet and shrinks when dry, creating deep cracks, which is known as self-ploughing.

Laterite soils are formed in tropical regions with heavy seasonal rainfall, which causes the leaching of lime and silica.

Red soil develops a reddish color due to the wide diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks; it looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.

Laterite soils are rich in iron and aluminum but poor in organic matter; they are highly suitable for plantation crops like tea, coffee, rubber, and cashew.

Alluvial soil is classified into Bhangar (old alluvium, less fertile) and Khader (new alluvium, more fertile).

Alluvial soil is the most fertile soil in India, covering the largest area and providing ideal conditions for crops like wheat and rice.

Black soils are deep and impermeable, rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime, but generally poor in phosphorus, nitrogen, and organic matter.

Arid soils are found in the arid and semi-arid regions of Western Rajasthan, characterized by low moisture and high salt content.

Peaty soils occur in areas of heavy rainfall and high humidity, where there is good growth of vegetation, leading to a large accumulation of organic matter.

Black soil is popularly known as 'Regur' or 'Black Cotton Soil' as it is ideal for growing cotton.

Forest soils (Himalayan soils) are heterogeneous in nature; their characteristics change with altitude and are generally acidic with low humus content.

While alluvial soil is fertile, its texture varies from sandy loam to clay, and it does not have the high water-retention swelling property associated with black soil.

Maharashtra accounts for the largest area of black soil in India, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Saline soils contain a large proportion of sodium, potassium, and magnesium; they are more prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions and waterlogged areas.

Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan Plateau.

The Chambal Valley is notorious for deep gully erosion, which transforms land into 'ravines' or 'badlands'.

Tea is typically grown in acidic, well-drained soils (like Laterite or mountain soil), whereas Black soil is suited for cotton, sugarcane, and oilseeds.

Laterite soil is the result of extreme weathering and leaching, which washes away vital nutrients like nitrogen and potassium.

Alluvial soil is the most widespread soil in India, covering about 40% of the total land area.

Gypsum (calcium sulfate) is commonly used to reclaim saline/alkaline soils by neutralizing the excess sodium.

Montmorillonite is a clay mineral that expands upon absorbing water, giving Black soils their characteristic high moisture-holding capacity and self-ploughing nature.

Alluvial soil is the most widespread soil in India, covering approximately 43% of the country's total land area, primarily in the Northern plains and river valleys.

Bhabar is a narrow belt of about 8-16 km in width lying parallel to the slopes of the Shiwaliks, composed of pebbles and boulders, where streams disappear underground.

Peaty soils occur in areas of heavy rainfall and high humidity, where there is good growth of vegetation, leading to a large accumulation of dead organic matter.

Bhangar is the older alluvium found further away from the flood plains; it contains calcareous deposits locally known as 'Kankar' nodules.

Laterite soil is the result of intense leaching caused by tropical rains. The alternating wet and dry seasons facilitate the leaching of lime and silica.

After applying fertilizers and manures, Laterite soils are very useful for growing plantation crops like tea, coffee, rubber, and cashew.

Red soil looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form (due to iron oxides taking up water), typically found in areas of lower rainfall.

Most Indian soils are deficient in Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Humus due to intensive cultivation and tropical heat which accelerates organic decomposition.

Saline soils (Usara soils) occur in arid and semi-arid regions and in water-logged and swampy areas, often aggravated by excessive use of irrigation.

Forest soils are very fertile in valley basins but loamy and silty on upper slopes; their character changes significantly based on the altitude and the mountain environment.

The Rann of Kutch is a large saline marshland in Gujarat, containing extensive salt-affected soils due to sea-water intrusion and evaporation.

Mountain soils in the Himalayas are often acidic with low humus content and are frequently podzolic in nature, especially in the snow-covered regions.

Soil erosion removes the fertile top layer and leads to gully formation (badlands), but it does not cause an increase in the groundwater table.

Usar soils contain a high proportion of sodium, magnesium, and potassium, which makes them infertile and requires gypsum to reclaim.

Terrace farming is an effective technique used in mountainous regions to reduce the velocity of water runoff and prevent soil erosion.

Red sandy soils are porous and well-aerated, making them suitable for crops that do not require deep water retention, unlike clay-heavy soils.

Desert (Arid) soil is characterized by its sandy texture, low moisture, low humus, and high salt content due to high evaporation.

The Central Soil Salinity Research Institute is located in Karnal, Haryana, and is the premier institution for research on saline and alkaline soils.

Sheet erosion occurs on level lands after heavy showers, where the top layer of soil is washed away in the form of a thin sheet.

The B-horizon, or subsoil, in tropical climates often acts as the accumulation zone for minerals leached from the topsoil, such as iron and aluminum oxides, typical of Laterite soils.

Bangar is old alluvial soil situated above the flood level; it is characterized by the presence of calcareous concretions known as 'Kankar' nodules.

Mountain soils are primarily formed by the mechanical weathering caused by snow, rain, and temperature fluctuations in the high-altitude Himalayan regions.

Desert (Arid) soil is sandy in texture and saline in nature, leading to low moisture content and poor water-retention capacity.

Under the USDA soil taxonomy (used by ICAR), the most common soils in India, particularly the recent Alluvial deposits of the Indo-Gangetic plains, are classified as Inceptisols.

Saline soils ('Usar') contain high levels of sodium, magnesium, and calcium salts, especially chlorides and sulfates, which accumulate on the surface through capillary action.

Due to intense leaching in high-rainfall areas, Laterite soil loses nutrients like nitrogen, potash, and phosphorus, while retaining iron and aluminum oxides.

Peaty and marshy soils form in areas of heavy rainfall and high humidity where there is a large accumulation of dead organic matter in waterlogged, anaerobic conditions.

Red soil develops a yellow tint when it occurs in a hydrated form, which is due to the presence of water molecules within the ferric oxide structure.

Contour ploughing and terracing are standard soil conservation techniques used on slopes to prevent the runoff of water and topsoil erosion.