Soils and Crops

India is a huge country in terms of territory and population. This means that huge scale production of crops is required to meet the country’s food requirements. For this, farmers cultivate during three main cropping seasons, they are Rabi, Zaid, and Kharif. These crops can be classified into cash crops and food crops. Examples of cash crops are rubber, jute cotton, etc. Examples of food crops are Maize, pulses, and rice. Soil can be a mixture of many particles, debris, humus, and other organic matter. Soil provides support for plant growth and microorganisms. The factors that influence the formation of soil are topography, parent material vegetation, microorganisms, climate, and time. The formation of soil takes a long time. The soil in India is classified into 8 types based on constitutional factors like resource significance and the color of the soil. The 8 types of soil are Marshy, Laterite, Alluvial, saline/alkaline, black cotton, arid, red and mountainous soil.

Cropping Seasons And Types of Crops

Rabi season crops are sown in the months from October to December and harvested from April to June months. Main rabi crops include Wheat, gram, mustard, peas, etc. Rabi crops are mainly grown in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. Kharif crops are sown from June to July and harvested from September to October. Examples of Kharif crops are rice, urad, cotton, etc. These crops are grown in the states of  Kerala, Tamilnadu, Assam, West Bengal, and Telangana. Zaid crops are sown and harvested between the months of March and July. Examples of Zaid crops are mostly seasonal fruits and other crops grown as fodder for animals. Most northern states grow Zaid crops. The two main types of crops are food crops like Rice, maize, and wheat and cash crops like jute, cotton, and oilseeds. In addition to these, there are plantation crops like rubber, coffee, tea, and horticulture crops like various kinds of vegetables and fruits.

Types Of Soils

1. Marshy soil -Soil that is rich in organic matter but deficient in phosphate and potash. It is suitable for the growth of mangrove forests and is found in the delta region of India. Rubber and spices can be grown in this soil.
2. Laterite soil is rich in aluminum and iron content. Is a crown in color and found in Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala. Used for crops like cashew, groundnut, etc.
3. Alluvial soil-It is the most common type of soil found in India. It is a porous soil and best suited for agriculture. Common crops grown in this soil include; rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, etc.
4. Saline/alkaline soil – Infertile soil that is mostly used to grow leguminous crops. Has high moisture as well as salt content and is mainly found in the states of Rajasthan, Bihar, and Haryana.
5. Black soil – it is rich in clay factor and retains a high amount of water. It has self plowing capacity and is found in Karnataka and Tamilnadu. It is black in color due to the presence of crystalline schists. This soil is used to grow cotton, sugarcane, and rice.
6. Arid soil lacks moisture and humus content, but have good phosphorus, bases, and lime content. Is mainly found in Gujarat and is used to grow crops like Guar and Bajra.
7. Red soil- It is a very common type of soil in India and is rich in potash and iron.Used to cultivate sugarcane, millets, and rice. It has ferric oxide in it giving it a rich red color.
8. Mountainous soil- is mainly found on mountains and slopes and has high organic content. Found in western ghats, cardamom hills, and Annamalai and is used for growing tea and coffee.

Conclusion

India is highly dependent on crops for its food supply and employment. India grows most of its food needs on its soil. Each year is divided into cropping seasons and crops appropriate for each weather are grown during each cropping season. India has mainly 8 types of soils. Each of this soil has its unique properties and is found in particular states in India. Depending on their properties they are used to grow various types of suitable crops in each state that they are found.