Different Soil types in India

Different soil types in India: Understand the differences🌱
  1. Alluvial soils
  2. Black (or Regur soil)
  3. Red and Yellow soils
  4. Laterite soils
  5. Arid and desert soils
  6. Saline and alkaline soils
  7. Peaty and marshy soils
  8. Forest and mountain soils

Types of Soils

States where found

Rich in:

Lacks in:

Crops grown

AlluvialMainly found in the plains of Gujarat,  Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand etc.Potash and LimeNitrogen and PhosphorousLarge variety of rabi and kharif crops such as wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton, jute etc.
Black (Regur soil)Deccan plateau- Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu, Valleys of Krishna and Godavari.Lime, Iron, Magnesia and Alumina, PotashPhosphorous, Nitrogen and organic matterCotton, sugarcane, jowar, tobacco, wheat, rice etc.
RedEastern and southern part of the deccan plateau, Orissa, Chattisgarh and southern parts of the middle Ganga plain.Iron and PotashNitrogen, Phosphorous and humus.Wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane and pulses
LateriteKarnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Orissa hills.Iron oxide and potashOrganic matter, Nitrogen, Phosphate and CalciumCashewnuts, tea, coffee, rubber
Arid and DesertWestern Rajastan, north Gujarat and southern PunjabSoluble salts, phosphateHumus, NitrogenOnly drought resistant and salt tolerant crops such as barley, rape, cotton, millets maize and pulses
Saline and AlkalineWestern Gujarat, deltas of eastern coast, Sunderban areas of West Bengal, Punjab and HaryanaSodium, Potassium, MagnesiumNitrogen and Calcium

Unfit for agriculture

 


1. Alluvial Soil 

Alluvial Soil

  • Alluvial soil constitutes of 42 % of the total soil area in India. 
  • It is formed as a result of deposition of rivers and thus it is more fertile and rich in organic material. 
  • Alluvial Soil is found in plenty in the states - Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Punjab, Haryana and Brahmaputra Valley in Assam etc. of India. 
  • Alluvial Soil is best for crops like - Wheat, Rice, Cotton, Jute, Barley, Corn, Oilseed, Coffee, Potatoes, Chili, Cloves etc. 

 

2. Black Soil

Black Soil

  • Black soil constitutes of 15% of the total soil area in India. 
  • It is formed as a result of weathering of lava rocks of Deccan plateau and thus rich in Iron, magnesium, Silica, Lime and potash. 
  • It has high clay content and has high water retaining property. 
  • Black Soil is found in plenty in the states - Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh. 
  • Black Soil is best for crops like - Mulberry Cotton Plant Ground Nut, Chili, Cotton, Tobacco, Chili, Oil Seeds, Jowar, Ragi, Maize, Castor, Sugarcane, Safflower etc. 

 

3. Red Soil

Red Soil

  • Red soil constitutes 25 % of the total soil area in India and is the most widely spread soil. 
  • It is formed a s a result of erosion of Granite and Gneissic rocks. 
  • It is rich in Iron, phosphate, lime, potash and humus and supports wide crop diversity. 
  • Major areas of Red soil in India is - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh. 
  • Red Soil is best for crops like - Cotton, Wheat, Pulses, Tobacco, Jowar, Linseed, Millet, Potatoes and Some Fruits etc. 

 

4. Laterite Soil

Laterite Soil

  • Laterite soil constitutes 4.5 % of the total soil area in India and is the most acidic soil. 
  • It gets quickly eroded on deforestation, mining and plantation. 
  • It is not suitable for agriculture but suitable for special crops like tapioca and cashew. 
  • Major areas of laterite soil in India is Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Meghalaya, West Bengal . 
  • Laterite soils is best for crops like Tea, Coffee, Coconuts, Rice, Wheat, Cotton, Maize, Sugarcane, Jute Oil Seeds, Millets, Pulses etc. 

 

5. Mountain Soil

Mountain Soil

  • Mountain soil is a thin layer of soil formed under cold humid climate. 
  • It is not suitable for agriculture but suits best for forestry.
  • The humus content is high in this soil due to the climate. 
  • Major areas of mountain soils in India are - Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam. 
  • Mountain Soil is best for crops like Coffee, Tea, Wheat, Maize, Blueberries, Saffron etc. 

 

6. Saline and Alkaline Soil

Saline and Alkaline Soil

  • Saline-Alkaline soil is found in canal areas. 
  • In moderate arid condition, calcification occurs and in extreme arid conditions, salinity occurs. 
  • Major areas of Saline and Alkaline soils in India are - Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra etc. 
  • The soil is best for crops like Seem, Rice, Sugarcane, Fruits, Spices etc. 

 

7. Desert Soil

Desert Soil

  • Desert soil is sandy and loose soil. 
  • Due to its coarse structure, the water holding capacity is very less. 
  • As it has low nutrients, it is not suitable for agriculture. 
  • Major areas of Desert soils in India are -Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab 
  • The soil is best for crops like Xerophytes only. 

 

8. Peaty and Marshy Soil

Peaty and Marshy Soil

  • These are black coloured, heavy and highly acidic soils. 
  • When the vegetation growing in such wet places dies, it decomposes and a layer of partly decayed organic matter accumulates on the surface, giving rise to such peaty and marshy soils. 
  • Major areas of Peaty and Marshy soils are - Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttaranchal. 
  • This soil is best for crops like Rice, Oilseeds, Citrus, Tobacco, Sugarcane etc.

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