Soils of India/ Karnataka State New syllabus/ Social Science/ Geography/ Chapter 4

SOILS OF INDIA

GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER 4

INTRODUCTION

• Soil is one of the most important natural resources.

• Soil is formed by the weathering of rocks under different types of climate.

• Some soils are deposited by the agents of denudation.

• Soils include decayed materials of plants and animals organic matter.

TYPES OF SOILS

• ALLUVIAL SOIL• BLACK SOIL• RED SOIL• LATERITE SOIL• DESERT SOIL• MOUNTAIN SOIL

ALLUVIAL SOIL• The soil in the lower area is known as alluvial soil.• It is extensively spread over vast areas in India.• It is deposited aproximately 7.7 million sq.km.• This type of soil is covered in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,

West Bengal, Odisha, Punjab, Hariyana, and Bhrahmaputra valley of Assam.

• Marmada and Tapti valleyss and coastal planes on both sides.

• Main crops are wheat, paddy, sugarcane, cotton and jute.

BLACK SOIL

• It is also called regur soil.• It is best suited for cotton cultivation.• This type of soil is seen about 5.46 sq.km• The area of black soil is also called Deccan Trap.• The soil is formed from the weathering of igneous

rocks.• It contains more of clay particles. • It is fertile and capable of retaining water.

BLACK SOIL

• Found in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Western areas of Andhra Pradesh and North Karnataka.

• It has more lime and magnesium carbonate.• Highly suitable for dry farming. Cotton jowar,

wheat, onion, chilli, tobacco, oil seeds, lemon and grapes are major crops growing in this soil

RED SOIL

• Largest area of peninsular plateau covers red soil.• It is found in about 5.18 lakh sq.km• It can be seen from Kanyakumari and Jhansi.• It spreads from Kutch to Raj Mahal hills.• The major crops are ragi, tobacco and oil seeds.• Areas having irrigation facility grow paddy,

sugarcane, cotton etc.

LATERITE SOIL

• It is found in the areas receiving more than 200cms of rainfall.

• The minerals are washed off leaving behind ferric oxide and aluminium in the surface soil.

• Hence it looks red in colour.• The minerals dissolved in the water percolate to

deeper layer of the soil and insoluble oxides of iron and aluminum are found in the top layers.

• Laterite soil is less fertile and lack nitrogen and minerals.

• In India this type of soil is found in about 2.48 lack sq.kms extending over the Western Ghats, the Vindhyas, the Satpuras, the Rajmahal hills and Poorvachal region.

• It is suitable for the cultivation of coffee and tea and other plantation crops.

DESERT SOIL

• It is formed in the regions of less raindfall and high temperature.

• It is red and brown colour.• Water percolates easily without retentive and

moisture gets reduced in the soil.• 1.4 lakh sq.km of this soil is found in India.• Jowar, Sajje and dates grow in this soil.• It is found in north west Rajastan

and adjoining areas of Punjab, Haryana, Kutch area of Western Gujarat and the Western parts of Aravalli mountains.

MOUNTAIN SOIL• It cotnains plenty of decayed organic matter.• This soil is found on the lower slopes of the

mountains.• It is very rich in nitrogen and organic residues.• It is suitable for the growth of coffee, tea, spices

and fruits.• Foothills of the Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir, Hi

machal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and other mountains have this soil

SOIL EROSION

• Transportaiton of surface soil by various natural forces is called soil erosion.• Running water, winds and sea waves

are the main causes of soil erosion

CAUSES OF SOIL EROSION

• Deforestation• Overgrazing• Unscientific methods of cultivation.• Over irrigation• Manufacture of bricks and pots

Effects of soil erosion

• It leads to accumulation of silt in the river.

• Accumulation of silt changes the direction of the river course.

• Storage capacity of the reservoirs get reduced.

• The volume of water percolating down gets reduced, natural springs dry up.

What is conservation of soil?

• Prevention of soil erosion and protecting the fertility of the soil is known as Conservation of Soil.

• Protecting the fertility of the soil and using the soil in a healthy way for increasing the agricultural produce is its management.

• Five-year plans gave more importance to this.

Ways of preventing soil erosion

• Contour Ploughing• Construction of bunds around the agriculture

land.• Development of terraced field.• Prevention of deforestation.• Control of grazing (permanent pasture)• Planned use of water• Construction of check bund

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