Types of Soils in India – Classification and Properties

Soil is essential for life as we grow our food in it. But we can’t grow any plant in any soil. There are many types of soils with many plants suitable on it and with their specifications to be fertile and most beneficial. This comes in multiple exams including 10th-grade boards.

Soil Types

We will not be going through all the types but only the major ones. Here are a few common ones of which the first 6 are major soil types found in India.

• Alluvial soils
• Black (or Regur soil)
• Red and Yellow soils
• Laterite soils
• Arid and desert soils
• Saline and alkaline soils
• Peaty and marshy soils
• Forest and mountain soils

Soils and some Information

1. Alluvial Soil

Composition: Rich in lime potash, Poor in phosphorous and humus

Formation:  Silt brought by rivers

Characteristics:  Very fertile, fine-grained both in new alluvium (Khadar) and old alluvium

Distribution: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal

Crops: Rice, Wheat, Sugarcane, Cotton, Oilseeds and Jute

2. Black Soil (Regur)

Composition: Rich in lime, aluminium, calcium, potash, iron, magnesium. Poor in nitrogen and humus.

Characteristics: Water retentive cracks develop when dry

Distribution: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu

Crops: Cotton, Sugarcane, oilseeds and Tobacco

3. Red and Yellow Soil

Composition: Rich in iron, poor in lime, phosphorous, calcium and nitrogen

Formation: Decomposition of granite, gneiss and metamorphic rocks

Characteristics: Not water retentive. When fertilizers are added, soil become productive

Distribution: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka

Crops: Bajra, maize, pulses, potatoes, fruits

4. Laterite Soil

Composition: Rich in iron, poor in lime, phosphorous, calcium, nitrogen

Formation: Leaching of laterite rocks

Characteristics: Agriculturally less important. Bricks are made for house construction

Distribution: Peculiar to India- Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Odisha

Crops: Cashew, Tapioca, Coffee and Rubber

5. Arid and Desert Soil

Composition: Rich in Humus, Nitrogen

Distribution: Western Rajasthan, North Gujarat and southern Punjab

Crops: Only drought-resistant and salt-tolerant crops such as barley, rape, cotton, millets maize and pulses

6. Saline Soil (Reh, Kallar, Usar, Thur, and Rakar Chopan)

Composition: Rich in Chloride, calcium, and magnesium

Formation: Accumulation of soluble salt

Characteristics: Unproductive soil. In Punjab and Haryana gypsum is added to improve the soil

Distribution: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Maharashtra

Crops: Berseem, Dhaincha and leguminous crops

The following are not so important but extra knowledge doesn’t hurt:

Peaty and Marshy Soils

Marshy soils with a high proportion of vegetable matter also occur in the coastal areas of Orissa and Tamil Nadu, Sunderbans of West Bengal, in Bihar and Almora district of Uttaranchal. The peaty soils are black, heavy and highly acidic. They are deficient in potash and phosphate.

Mountain Soil

Soil Type of Mountains are mainly found in hill slopes and are formed by deposition of organic matter from woodlands and forests. Mountain soils are generally located in the dry and cold districts like Ladakh, Lahaul and Spiti District, Kinnaur District etc. Mountains soils are rich in humus, slightly acidic and are fertile. Mountains soils are also deprived in lime and potash content. They are largely used for raising different varieties of crops.

Forest Soils

Soil Type in Forest is a natural body having depth and surface area. It exists as a continuous cover on the land surface. Only exceptions are steep slopes. The climate of a place affects the forest soils in many different ways. It has led to the development of a variety of soils in India. Essentially, soil is the product of natural destructive and synthetic forces. The physical and chemical weathering of rocks and minerals forms unconsolidated debris regolith. Its upper part is biochemically weathered.

Hope you found that informative and was a good brush up. Continue learning more on the Entri App. Good luck on your exams. Keep learning and Have a nice day! 🙂