Laterite soil:

1)

The word Laterite is derived from Latin word ‘later’ which means ‘brick’. They are mainly tropical based

reason’s soil where we have heavy seasonal rainfall and high temperature. Because of that, it promotes

leaching of the soil. Due to rain, lime and silica are always leached away. Laterite soils are said to

farraginous aluminous rock. They are formed by decomposition. 

Humus content of the soil is removed fast by bacteria that thrives well in high temperature. The rocks are

completely leached out having a high proportion of iron and aluminium as residue. The Laterite soils in

India are not very fertile and are can be only used with sufficient manure and fertilizers dosage. They are

coarse in texture and poor in nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash and urea. These soils are red in colour as

it is mixed with iron oxides. They are good for cultivation of Cashewnuts and Tapioca. These soils are

also used as building materials in India in the form of bricks. Even we can used it for other agriculture

needs like cotton, rice, wheat, pulses, tea and coffee with the help of suitable fertilizers. 

Laterite soils in India are mainly found in Eastern Orissa, South Western Ghats, plains of Malabar Coast,

Maharashtra and some part of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Meghalaya, and West Bengal.
 2)

Laterite soil
This is one of the soil rich with vital nutrients and is widely used.

Origin of the word and it’s meaning

The word Laterite is derived from the Latin word ‘later’ which means ‘brick’.Laterite is a soil and rock type rich in iron
and aluminium and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are of
rusty-red colouration, because of high iron oxide content. They develop by intensive and long-lasting weathering of
the underlying parent rock.

Colour
Laterite soil is reddish to yellow in colour with a lower content of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, lime, and
magnesia with 90 to 100% of aluminium, iron, titanium, & manganese oxides.

Formation
Laterite soil is formed under conditions of heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods, and high temperature
which leads to leaching of soil, leaving only oxides of aluminium and iron. The lacks fertility because of the lower
base-exchanging capacity and a lower content of phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium.

Uses

 Irrigation and proper use of fertilizers make it suitable for growing crops, like coffee, tea, rubber, coconut,
cinchona, etc.
 The soil is one of the important sources for building material, because it can be efficiently cut with a spade
but hardens like iron when exposed to air.
 In laterite areas where a high level of culture once prevailed, ruins often disclose laterite used as a building
stone.
 Open cisterns, headwalls, sewers, flagstones, culverts, moles and quays, of laterite have functioned
successfully for hundreds of years.

Laterite is soil with rich in iron and aluminum.

Explanation:

 Laterite soil basically found in the tropical based region where there are heavy rainfall and
high temperature.
 The high temperature and heavy temperature promotes leaching to the soil.
 Laterite soil in India used for cultivation by adding manure and fertilizer as the soil is not
very fertile.
 Laterite soil is red in color and good for cultivating Tapioca and Cashewnuts.
 This soil is also used in making houses in India by making bricks.
Arid soil:

In India, the arid soil is mainly found in parts of Western Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab and extends up
to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. They are one of the most prevalent soil orders in the world. It is also
called desert soil in some places.

the important features of arid soil

1. Mostly, the arid soil is red and brown in colour and sandy in texture. 

2. By nature, it is saline. Owing to the presence of dry climate and high temperature, evaporation occurs
at a faster rate. This soil lacks humus and moisture. 

3. Due to high calcium content, the bottom horizon of this soil is occupied by ‘Kankar’ which restricts the
infiltration of water through the soil. 

4. The soils contain a considerable amount of soluble salts. Due to dry climate and absence of vegetation,
it also contains a very low percentage of organic matter.

5. The soil is alkaline in nature as there is no rainfall to wash soluble salts.

6. These soils are very infertile, but with proper fertilizers and irrigation, the drought resistant and salt
tolerant dry crops such as barley, cotton, wheat, millets, maize, pulses, etc., can be grown.

7. After proper irrigation, these soil become cultivable as has been in the case of western Rajasthan.

8. Arid soils are most characterized by their water deficiencies. Most arid soils contain sufficient amounts
of water to support plant growth for no more than 90 consecutive days.

9. Arid soils typically contain high levels of calcium carbonates, gypsum, as well as sodium.

10. This soil is usually not suited for major crop production owing partial moisture content and
accumulated soluble salts. However, if properly managed and irrigated, it can become productive. We
have some notable soils in the world which are classified as arid soils, nevertheless are notable for their
unique fertility.
Black soil:

What are the characteristics of black soil?

Black soil is also known cotton soil and internationally it is known as ‘Tropical Chernozems’.
This is the third largest group in India. This soil is formed from rocks of cretaceous lava.

Properties
This soil is black in colour mainly because they are formed by weathering of lava rocks and are
high iron, alumina and magnesia content. Black soil are rich in Calcium, Carbonate, Potash and
hold moisture, hence it is found sticky when it is wet and cracks when it is dry. Black soil is
formed from the volcano eruption, which is very much fertile and best suitable for intensive
agriculture. Listed below are the properties of Black soil

 Clayey texture and are highly fertile

 Rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime but poor in nitrogen and phosphorous
 Highly retentive of moisture, extremely compact and tenacious when wet
 Contractible and develops deep wide cracks on drying
 Calcareous and neutral to mild alkaline in reaction, high in carbon exchange capacity and low in
organic matter
 Self-ploughing and comparatively less fertile on the uplands than on the lowlands.

Places where it is found

This stretch over the parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Western parts of Madhya Pradesh, North-
Western Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand up to Raj
Mahal hills. The soil is rich in iron, lime, calcium, potash, magnesium, and aluminium. It has
high water retaining capacity and good for cotton cultivation, Tobacco, citrus fruits, castor, and
linseed.
sAlluvial soil:

What are the properties of alluvial soil?

Alluvial soils are generally associated with river floodplains but alluvial soils are difficult to
define satisfactorily because they may be developed on fluvial, lacustrine or marine deposits.

Nature of the soil

 Their respective colours are due largely to the relative abundance of organic matter in the
surface soil.
 Alluvial soils are mainly associated with river floodplains.
 Alluvial soils are hard to define satisfactorily as they are developed on fluvial, lacustrine or
marine deposits.
 They are also cloured into light and dark soils.

Composition of soil
Alluvial soil include

1. Deltaic alluvium,
2. Coastal alluvium and
3. Inland alluvium.

Kinds o alluvial soil

Locally the alluvial soils are of two kinds – old and new. Bhangar and Khadar are the two kinds
of the alluvial soil

Difference between Bhangar and Khadar

The Bhangar

 These are older alluvial plain which represents upland alluvial tract.
 These areas are well-drained and make it suitable for cultivation.
 This area lies quiet above the flood limits of the neighbouring rivers.
 The soil is rich in humus and it gives a high yield due to rich amount of minerals and humus in
the soil.
 It comprises of calcium carbonate nodules called ‘Kankars’ which are impure in nature.

The Khadar

 The new plains formed due to alluvial deposit along the course of the river.
 Enriched and formed by fresh deposits of silt every year.
 The Khadar land silt comprises of silt, mud, clay, and sand.
 The Khadar lands are suitable for the cultivation of sugarcane, rice, wheat, maize and oilseeds.
 Properties of alluvial soil

 The major soil profiles used for vegetable production.

 We all know that erosion is a natural geological process that takes place repeatedly to smooth
the earth’s surface and to provide the mineral for new sediments.
 The alluvial soils are considered as the most productive of Indian soils.
 It contributes the largest share of the agricultural wealth of our country.

FOREST SOILS
 The soils are found in the hilly and mountainous areas where sufficient rain forests are
available.
 The soil structure varies according to the mountain and environment where they are formed.
 They are loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse grained in the upper slopes.
 In the snow covered areas of Himalayas, the soils experience denudation and are acidic
with low humus content.
 The soils found in the lower parts of the valley particularly on the river terraces and alluvial
fans are fertile.