Soil is the upper weathered layer of the earth's crust effected by Plants and animals.
Factors controlling the soil formation
Nature of the parent rocks.
climate and altitude
Natural vegetation
Topography or relief.
The length of time that these factors have been at work.
1.Alluvial soils
Largest extent of 15 sq.km i.e 45% of total area. Mostly fertile due to its immature & younge nature of sedementation.
Deltaic alluvial- river deltas of Ganga
Coastal alluvial- eastern coasts of India.
From Punjab to Assam, east west, lower valleys of Tapi, narmada in Gujarat plains
Composition - rich in potash, poor in phosphorus and nitrogen
2.Black soil
Also known as black cotton soil / rigor soil
546 sqkm of extent/16%.
high temperature & low rainfall.
solidification of lava →→ Besaltic nock → Black soil due to iron
Maharashtra , Telangana, Karnataka, Tamilnadu.
Rich in lime, poor in phosphorus and nitrogen
Self ploughing capability and fertile
3.Laterite soils
Tropical soils of high temperature & rainfall silica and lime becomes acidic hence lacks fertility
Can't be weathered further hence durable and becomes source of building material.
found in high plateaus hills with area of 2.5 lakh sq.km.
Eastern Ghats, vindhya range and satpura ranges ,Lower Western Ghats.
Composition Rich in iron and aluminium, so red colour
poor in lime , Nitrogen and potash
4.Red & yellow soils
Comparitively low rainfall - least washed hence iron oxides of lime + silica gives Red + yellow colours
Area = 10.6% -351 sqkm
Tamil Nadu, AP, NE, westen ghats, Maharastra
Compention -Rich in Potash, poor in Nitrogen and phosphorus
Cultivable soils with fertilization & irrigation
5.Arid/desert soils
Found in Rajastan, Gujarat & parts of punjab with 1.2 sqkm area .
Rich in minerals such as calcium phosphate nitrates
Lacks humus →→→hence light colour
Fertile when cultivated.
Indira Gandhi Canal in Rajastan.
6.Mountain soils
present in himalayan areas with diversity
• Brown forest soils - 900-800 m of altitude
• Podzol soils decidous forests → above 1800m with Coniferous forests
• Alpine meadow soils - undecomposed alpline forests as it's highly cold regions.
Thus, India shows its diversity in the constitution of its soils which are lighty useful in their respective properties which helps in agriculture and other allied sectors.