Types of Indian soils and their distribution
Generally, while travelling we observe that the Indian soils colour, texture changes from one region to the other. We cannot grow all type of crops in any soil. Different crops require different soil conditions.Especially, in agricultural country like India with various crops, nature of the Indian soils play a very important role for planning the types of crops to be grown.
Soils have organic components like humus (formed from buried living organisms) and inorganic components like sand, silt and clay. When the organic and inorganic components are in equal proportions, then the soil is said to be fertile. For agricultural purposes we need fertile soils. Where the soils lack fertility, fertilizers are used.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOILS IN INDIA:
The different types of soils found all over India are:
- ALLUVIAL SOILS
- BLACK COTTON SOILS
- RED AND YELLOW SOILS
- LATERITE SOILS
- ARID SOILS
- FOREST AND MOUNTAIN SOILS
ALLUVIAL INDIAN SOILS:
CHARACTERISTICS:These are very fertile soils. These are mostly formed by river depositions. The important food crops of India are grown in these soils. With intense cultivation the areas of these soils are densely populated.
DISTRIBUTION: ALLUVIAL SOILS are distributed in the states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and west Bengal which are drained by Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra river systems. Besides, these are also present in the coastal regions of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and TamilNadu which are the delta regions of Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery Rivers.
CROPS GROWN: Rice, Wheat, Sugarcane, Cereals, Pulses and many commercial crops are grown.
BLACK COTTON INDIAN SOILS:
CHARACTERISTICS:These are black in colour and have good moisture retaining capacity. When dry, they produce cracks and as the name suggests these soils provide the best conditions for growing cotton. Good rainfall and dry conditions simultaneously exist here.
DISTRIBUTION: The Black cotton soils cover most of the Maharashtra state and are distributed in some parts of Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
CROPS GROWN: Cotton (intensively and extensively).
RED AND YELLOW INDIAN SOILS:
CHARACTERISTICS:The Red and Yellow soils occur in the regions of low rainfall. They are less fertile and need external sources like fertilizers and water supply. Areas of these soils exhibit the typical Indian agricultural situation.
DISTRIBUTION: These soils are distributed in the dry parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
CROPS GROWN: All types of crops grown in alluvial soils can be grown here but with extensive external support of water and fertilizers.
LATERITE INDIAN SOILS:
CHARACTERISTICS: LATERITE soils are found in the regions of both high rainfall and high temperature. These are low in fertility but are suitable for plantation and horticultural crops due to high moisture.
DISTRIBUTION: Laterite soils are found in most of Kerala, parts of Karnataka, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and hilly areas of Orissa and Assam.
CROPS GROWN: TEA and COFFEE are grown in Kerala, Karnataka and Assam. Besides, Horticulture (growing fruits and vegetables) is also practised.
ARID INDIAN SOILS:
CHARACTERISTICS: These are also called as desert soils which occur in the desert areas of the country. These soils lack humus and moisture due to excess heat.
DISTRIBUTION: ARID soils are present in the desert areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat and in some low rainfall plateau regions.
CROPS GROWN:There is almost no cultivation in these soils.
FOREST AND MOUNTAIN INDIAN SOILS:
CHARACTERISTICS:They contain excess of humus and less minerals and that’s why only Big trees can be grown here.
DISTRIBUTION: As the name suggests, these soils are found in all the forest and mountain regions of the country like Himalayan regions, hilly areas and so on.
CROPS GROWN: Cultivation is not possible in these soils due to lack of inorganic content.
CONCLUSION:
Due to excess cultivation and mining, the soils are highly damaged nowadays which resulted in Soil erosion. Preventive measures are to be taken to protect the soils there by the country.