SOILS OF INDIA

Location of Different Soils

Found in India
Types of Soils Found in
India
• Alluvial soil
• Black soil
• Red soil
• Laterite soil
• Mountain soil
• Desert soil
MOUNTAIN SOIL
 Mountain Soil
• Mountain soil is mainly found on the hill slopes
covered with forests.
• It is formed by the deposition of organic matter
from forest.
• It is rich in humus but poor in potash and lime.
• It is found in, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh, Uttrakhand , Sikkim and Arunachal
Pradesh.
• This soil is good for growing tea, coffee, spices.
Desert Soil
 Desert soil
• Desert soil is formed in the region of less
rainfall and high temperature.
• It is red to brown in colour.
• Due to high temperature, dry climate and fast
evaporation the soil lacks humus and moisture.
• It is porous and coarse with 90% sand and 5%
clay.
• It contain high proportion of soluble salt.
 Desert soil
• After taking proper irrigation measures, this
soil can be used for cultivation.
• Drought resistant crops like millet, barley and
dates can be grown here.
• It is found in north west Rajasthan and
adjoining areas of Punjab, Haryana, Kutch area
of western Gujarat and western parts of
Aravalli mountains.
Alluvial Soil
ALLUVIAL SOIL
Alluvial Soil
• Alluvial soil is the most widespread soil in
India and found in northern plains and
deltas of major rivers.
• This soil is formed by the transportation
and deposition of sediments brought by
the rivers.
• It is light to dark in colour and is coarse in
the plains and finest in the delta region.
Alluvial Soil
• It is rich in potash and humus but poor in
phosphorous and nitrogen.
• It is highly fertile and good for all the
crops like wheat, sugarcane, cotton, jute
etc.
• It is found in Punjab, Haryana, U.P., Bihar,
W.B., Assam, parts of Orissa, Gujarat,
eastern Rajasthan and delta of major
rivers.
Black Soil
India
Black Soil
• Black soil is formed by the weathering of volcanic
rocks. It is found in Deccan plateau and locally
called Regur.
• It can hold moisture because it is made up of fine
clayey material.
• It is good for the cultivation of cotton and
sugarcane.
• It covers the north western part of peninsular
plateau in the state of Maharashtra, Gujarat,
Madhya Pradesh and parts of Telangana ,
Karnataka.
Red Soil
Red Soil
• Red Soil is formed by the erosion of
igneous rocks in a warm, temperate and
moist climate.
• It is sandy and less clayey.
• It is red in colour because of iron oxide
present in it.
 Red Soil
• Red soil is rich in iron but poor in humus,
phosphorous, nitrogen and lime. It can be made
fertile by adding manure and chemical
fertilizers.
• Red soil is suitable for the cultivation of millets,
pulses, linseed (alsi/ flax seed), tobacco etc.
• It is found in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra
Pradesh, Orissa ,Jharkhand and north eastern
states like Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh,
Nagaland amd Mizoram.
Laterite Soil
Laterite Soil
• The word laterite is derived from Latin
word later which means brick.
• It is formed due to intense leaching in
the areas with high temperature and
heavy rainfall.
• Due to the lack of nitrogen, potassium,
and organic material it is not fertile
and not suitable for growing crops.
 Laterite Soil
• This soil can be cultivated by using manure and
fertilizer. It is good for the cultivation of tea,
coffee, cashew nuts, mangoes and coconuts.
• It is found in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,
Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Assam.
• It becomes hard when exposed to atmosphere
thus used as building material.
Types of Soils Found in
India
• Alluvial soil
• Black soil
• Red soil
• Laterite soil
• Mountain soil
• Desert soil
Location of Soils in India
Natural Vegetation in India