Soil in India - 





In this article -

  1. Definition of Soil
  2. Components of Soil
  3. Formation of Soil
  4. Clasification of Soil 
  5. Soil Erosion
  6. Soil Degradation 
  7. Soil Conservation

Definition of Soil -

The word soil is confined from Latin Word Solum that means floor . The upper layer of earth crust is soil. Soil is a mixture of rocks, mineral,water,gases and organic matters.
The soil is made by the erosion of rocks and upper layer of earth crust. 
The soil can also be defined as a natural medium of Earth Crust that serves the growth of plants. 


Components of soil - 

Soil is made of five components. These components are - 
  1. Mineral
  2. Water 
  3. Gases 
  4. organic Matters 
  5. Micro Organisms 

Mineral - It is the largest component of soil . It makes about 45 percent of the soil volume . 

Water - It is the second basic component of soil . It makes about 1 to 50 percent of the soil volume . The availability of water in soil is important for the plants growth. 

Gases- Nitrogen and Oxygen gases are important for the pant growth. Nitrogen is available in the form of Nitrate in soil . The oxygen is essential gas for root respiration. Gases makes about 2 - 50 percent of soil volume. It is the third basic component of soil.

Organic Matters - Organic matters are made of dead plants and animals. It makes about 4 - 5 percent of soil volume . The availability of organic matter in large amount makes soil fertile. 

Micro Organisms - These are the decomposers. 




Formation of Soil - 

The soil is formed by the decomposition of earth crust , rocks . It is a natural process . The erosion of rock is responsible for formation of soil . The factors that are responsible for rock erosion and soil formation is Air , Water , rivers .
Soil erosion can be defined as the weathering process of rocks . 
The factors that affect soil formation - 
  1. Climate 
  2. Temprature and Pressure 
  3. Natural Vegetation 
  4. Erosion 
  5. Transportation 
  6. Chemical Reactions - Carbonation, Hydration 


Classification of Soil - 

In ancient times the soil has been classified in two parts - 
  • Fertile
  • Non - Fertile 
The ICAR - Indian Council Of Agricultural Research has been established in the 1929 . It is the top institution of Agricultural work in India. It has divided the Soil of India in eight parts -
  1. Alluvial Soil 
  2. Red Soil 
  3. Black Soil 
  4. Laterite Soil 
  5. Mountain Soil
  6. Desert Soil
  7. Saline and Alkaline Soil
  8. Peaty Soil 



1. Alluvial Soil - 

Alluvial soil is also called riverine soil. It is mainly found in the river valleys. Alluvial Soil is a fertile soil. This soil is distributed on 40 percent area of India. These soil are made by deposition of silt, clay, gravel through the downstream of rivers. These soil can be seen in Punjab, Binar, West Bengal.Alluvial soil is good for the cultivation of rice. This soil can be seen in the form of narrow band from Rajastan to plains of Gujarat.
Alluvial soil has a good amount of humus but it have lack of Nitrogen and Phosphorus. It consists a good amount pf potash . Its nature varies from sandy to clay. It is good for rice, jute and other crops that needs humidity. This soil has covered the largest area of India. 

Alluvial soil can be further classified in two parts - 
  1. Khadar 
  2. Bangar 
Khadar - Khadar is lower lying fields , in this area the water of flood reaches every year. The khadar is younger soil in comparision to Bangar soil . It is more fertile than Bangar soil. Khadar gets a deposition of silt in every flood. 

Bangar - Bangar is up fields in comparision to Khadar. It is older than Khadar. It is less fertile in comparision to khadar. 

Both khadar and bangar soil consists the calcium carbonate. 



2. Red Soil - 

It is covering the second largest land area of India. It covers 18 percent land area of the India. The upper layer of red soil is red and the lower layer is yellow. This soil is also called red and yellow soil . It consists a good amount of iron. Presence of iron makes this soil red. It is mainly distributed in plateau of Deccan. The red soil with finer particle is fertile. But red soil with coarse particle is infertile. Red soil has lack of humus. It also has lack of Nitrogen and Phosphorus. Red soil is good for cultivation of coarse grain.It is also found in some parts of Chattisgarh and Odisha.



3. Black Soil - 

Black soil is also called Regur soil. It is good for cultivation of cotton. Black soil is also called black cotton soil. It is distributed in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamilnadu. Black soil can also be found in the upper part of Godavari and Kaveri river basin. The black soil is muddy, deep and impermeable. Black soil has good capacity of soil absorption. It consists a good amount of lime, iron, magnesia and alumina. It has good amount of potash. Black soil has lack of Phosphorus, nitrogen and organic matter. 



4. Laterite Soil - 

The word laterite is a latin word. Laterite soil ios also called brick soil. It is formed by leaching process . The laterite soil is mainly found in high rain and high temprature area. Laterite soil is distributed in form of narrow band from Maharashtra to Kerala. Laterite soil is good for horticulture crops.

It has good amount of lime and silica. Laterite soil has a lack of Nitrogen , Phosphate , Calcium and organic matter. It has a good amount of humus.



5. Mountain soil - 

Mountain soil is mainly found in mountainous area. Mountain soil is good for the crops that is grown by plantation method. Mountain soil consists a good amount of humus. It is good for the plantation of tea and coffee. 



6. Desert soil - 

It is also called arid soil. Desert soil are infertile. It is good for cultivation of coarse grains like jowar and bajra. This soil is sandy in nature. The erosion of this soil is highly occurs by winds. It is mainly distributed in Rajasthan. Desert soil has lack of Nitrogen , Phosphorus and humus.



7. Saline and Alkaline Soil - 

It is also called Reh and Usar soil. It consists a large amount of Sodium, Pottasium and Magnesium. It is a infertile soil. It has a large content of salt. This soil is deficient in Calcium. Gypsum is used for the tratment of alkaline soil. It can be seen in Rann of Katch. 


8. Peat soil - 

Peat soil is made by the decomposition of organic matter. Peat soil consists a good amount of organic matter. The amount of organic mater is about 40 percent. It is a fertile soil. It is found in the high rain and high humid area. The colour of this soil is black. It is good for cultivation of potato and tomato. 



Crops in soil - 

1. Alluvial soil - 

The major crops in alluvial soil - 
  1. Rice 
  2. Jute 
  3. Oilseed 
  4. Wheat 
  5. Cotton 
  6. Fruits 
  7. Pulses 

2. Red soil - 

The major crops of red soil - wheat, cotton , millets, ragi and coarse grains. 

3. Black soil - 

The major crops of black soil - Cotton, pulses, millet, castor , jowar, wheat and linseed.

4. Laterite Soil - 

The major crops of laterite soil - coconut, pepper, pineapple, banana, fruits and areca nut. 


5. Mountain soil - 

The major crop of mountain soil - tea , coffee , spices and fruits. 


6. Desert soil- 

The major crop of desert soil - jowar , bajra , ragi , millets , alfalfa, onion and carrot.

7. Saline and Alkaline Soil - 

The major crops of saline and alkaline soil - Barley, Cotton, Linseed,  Green gram, Red gram and Bajra.

8. Peat soil - 

The major crops of peat soil - potato, onion , carrot, tomato.





Distribution of Soil - 

1. Alluvial Soil - 

It is mainly found in peninsula, river basin, deltas , Indo - Gangetic Plains, Punjab , Bihar and West Bengal.

2. Red Soil - 

It is distributed in Karnataka, Tamilnadu,  , Maharashtra , Odisha, Jharkhand , Plateau of Deccan and Telangana.

3. Black Soil - 

It is mainly found in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Karnataka. 

4. Laterite Soil - 

It is distributed in the form of narrow band from Maharastra to Kerala.



 Degradation of Soil - 

Degradation of soil term can be defined as the declination in the fertility of soil. The nutrient level of soil decreases in the process of degradation. The depth of soil also decreases in the process of degradation. It affects the fertility and decreases the productivity of soil. 

Degradation of soil can be natural or by human. Degradation of soil causes because of improper use of soil. 



Soil Erosion - 

Soil erosion is a process of removal of the top layer of soil. It decrease the fertility of soil. The major factor of soil erosion - 
  1. Water erosion 
  2. wind erosion 
Water erosion occurs in form of sheet erosion and gully erosion. Wind erosion is the second major cause of erosion. 

The major cause of erosion is Deforestation. Afforestation is a method to prevent the soil erosion. Shifting farming is also a cause of soil erosion. The  shifting farming the major cause of deforestation. It needs to prevent shifting farming .


Conservation of Soil - 

Soil Conservation is a method to maintain the soil fertility, and prevent the erosion and degradation of the soil. Soil conservation is important to increase the fertility and productivity of the soil.soil conservation boosts soil quality and productivity. Soil conservation is important because it helps nourish human and wildlife. The method that can be adapted for soil conservation - 
  1. Afforestation 
  2. Control floods 
  3. Prevent Shifting farming 
  4. Contour terracing 
  5. Regulated forestry 
  6. Construction of bund across the gullies 
  7. Buffer strips 
  8. Conservation Tillage 




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