Classification of Soils in India

Soil is generally defined as the topmost layer of the crust having particles of rocks. The soils of India are a culmination of both physical and human factors. The soil is defined as the cluster of rock or organic particles developed on the earth’s surface, like forest and mountain soils.

Factors Affecting Soil Formation

Various factors contribute to soil formation, which are as follows:

• The parent material
• The topography of the region
• Climatic conditions of the region
• The natural vegetation of the region or various other biological factors.

Types of Soils in India

According to a substantial study and research by ICAR ( Indian Council of Agricultural Research), soils in India have been classified into eight different categories, which are :

• Alluvial soil
• Black soil
• Red soil
• Laterite soil
• Forest and mountain soil
• Desert soil
• Saline or alkaline soil
• Marshy soil or bog soil

Classification of Soils in India

Different kinds of soils can be classified and characterised based on their location, fertility, richness in mineral nutrients, total coverage of the Indian landmass and many other factors. Detail on each soil classified according to various factors is given below:

Alluvial Soil:

• This type of soil is widely distributed in the Indo-Gangetic plains.
• It’s deposited through the Indus, Ganga, and the Brahmaputra river.
• Alluvial soil covers about 40% of the total land area of our country.
• It is generally considered very fertile due to the concurrent deposit of sediments on the earth’s surface.
• These are rich in organic material, nitrogen, and other acids.
• Crops such as rice, wheat, jute, and sugarcane are grown on this soil.

Black Soil:

• Found in the Deccan plateau region, in states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.
• This soil is considered very sticky or wet while also rich with different minerals like iron and magnesia.
• It Is also termed black cotton soil because cotton is the most grown crop in this soil.
• Crops such as cotton, wheat, and oilseeds are also grown in this soil.
• It contains mineral compounds of iron and magnesium.

Red Soil:

• It is generally found in the Tamil Nadu peninsula in the southern region and Bundelkhand in the north.
• These soils are sufficiently rich in nitrogen and phosphate.
• It covers the second-largest land area of the country, with a total of 18% landmass coverage of our country.
• Its texture consists of sandy and clay components with the presence of ferric oxide that makes the soil red in colour.
• Crops such as millets and pulses are grown in drier regions.

Laterite Soil: 

• It is generally found in the western ghats region, in the states of Goa, Maharashtra, and some districts of Karnataka, Orissa, and Jharkhand.
• It comprises iron and aluminium oxides.
• Its water-retaining capacity is very moderate.
• This kind of soil is famous for cultivating groundnut, cashew nut, coffee, and rubber.

Forest and Mountain Soil:

• These are found generally in the hilly and mountainous regions where there is sufficient availability of rainforests on the slopes of the eastern and western ghats.
• They are rich in humus.
• It has a slitty and a loamy texture, and this soil varies in different regions depending on the climatic condition and organic matter deposition.
• It is suitable for cultivating tea, coffee, and tropical fruits.

Desert Soil:

• It is mainly deposited with the help of wind action and is found in the Aravalli region of Rajasthan, northern Gujarat, and some regions of Saurashtra.
• There is a high concentration of soluble salts but a comparatively low moisture content.
• These are generally rich in various minerals such as phosphate and calcium.
• These kinds of soils are suitable for the cultivation of barley, maise, millets, and bajra.

Alkaline Soil:

• These are also termed Usara soil. It is generally found in western Gujarat and the Sunderban area of West Bengal.
• It is mineral-rich with a large concentration of potassium, sodium, and magnesium, and thus, they are termed infertile.
• It consists of a sandy and a loamy texture.
• They lack nitrogen content, and seawater incursion is the reason for the occurrence of alkaline soil.

Marshy or Bog soil:

• It is found near the delta regions and in some districts of Kerala and Uttarakhand.
• It is sufficiently rich in organic material and has a high salinity quotient.
• Clay and mud make this soil heavy, and it is also rich in moisture content.
• It is suitable for the cultivation of jute and rice.

Conclusion:

The vividity of geographical features that differentiates these soils is truly a fascinating learning experience. In this blog, we got to know a log about soils, the factors affecting soil formation, and the different types of soils in India. Still, to address doubts on this topic, here is a detailed FAQ section to make you understand the subject more easily.