Types of soil

Laterite Soil: 

Throughout India, there are different varieties of soils and laterite soil is one of the most commonly found one. Laterite soil is extremely rich in nutrients and used widely. Laterite soil is rich in aluminium and iron and is known to form in hot and wet tropical areas. They develop by long-lasting and intensive weathering of an underlying parent rock. 

• Derived from the Latin word ‘Later’ meaning ‘brick’, laterite soil is one the most commonly found soils in India
• Laterite soil is mostly found in areas witnessing high rainfall and high temperature
• The formation of laterite soil is majorly due to tropical rainfall. With lime, rain, and silica are leached away, and soils with a high percentage of an aluminium compound and iron oxide are left behind
• The laterite soil is poor in nitrogen, phosphate, organic matter, and calcium. However, they are rich in potash and iron oxide. Therefore, laterite soil is not considered ideal for cultivation
• Farmers use fertilisers and manures to improve the soil’s fertility to practice farming and cultivation
• Red laterite soils are most suitable for the cultivation of tea crops in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala
• Laterite soils are also used as bricks for the construction of houses
• These are the soils developed majorly in the Peninsular plateau

Uses of Laterite Soil 

• Proper use of fertilisers and irrigation makes it suitable for growing crops such as rubber, coconut, coffee, tea, cinchona, etc.
• Soil is one of the most important components that acts as a building block as it is cut efficiently with a spade
• Headwalls, open cisterns, flagstones, sewers, moles culverts, and quays of laterite have successfully functioneded for several decades

Arid Soils:

• Arid soils are found in colours like red and yellow

• This soil is mostly saline in nature and sandy in structure

• In some areas, the salt density is so high that salt can be obtained from the saline water through evaporation
• Due to the high temperature, dry climate, and accelerated evaporation, arid soil lacks humus and moisture.
• • They lack nitrogen and contain a high percentage of phosphate
  • Lower horizons of arid soils contain ‘Kankars’ layers due to the increased calcium content The ‘Kankars’ layer formation restricts the infiltration of water, and as such when irrigation is made available, the soil moisture is readily available for sustainable plant growth

• Arid soils are developed in the western parts of Rajasthan
• Arid soil is poor in nature as it contains nearly zero organic matter and humus

Saline Soils:

• Saline soils are also referred to as Usara soils
• • They contain high percentages of potassium, sodium, and magnesium. Due to the presence of sodium and magnesium, the saline soils are less fertile and prevent vegetative growth
  • They contain high salts content, majorly due to the poor drainage and dry climate

• They are found in arid and semi-arid regions, and in swampy and waterlogged areas

• Saline soils are mostly found in deltas of the eastern coast, western Gujarat, Sundarban areas. In Kachchh (Gujrat), the Monsoon brings a high percentage of salt particles and deposits there as a crust

• The alluvial soil is becoming saline especially in areas of extensive cultivation and irrigation
• Excessive irrigation results in salt deposition on the top layer of the crust. In areas like Haryana and Punjab, farmers are advised to include gypsum to solve the issue of saline soil 

Peaty Soil 

• Peaty soil is commonly seen in areas of high humidity and heavy rainfall, where vegetation growth is great. Thus, a high percentage of dead organic matter collects in these areas, which in turn gives rise to organic content and rich humus that improve soil fertility 
• Peaty soil is generally heavy and black in colour. In some regions, they are alkaline too
• It is widespread in the Southern part of Uttarakhand, the Northern part of Bihar, and the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Odisha

Forest Soil: 

• These particular soils are developed in the forestry region where there is excessive rainfall available
• Depending on the environment of mountains, the soil structure and texture may vary from each other
• They are coarse-grained in slopes and silty and loamy on the sides of the valley
• In areas with heavy snowfall, the forest soil experiences denudation and is acidic in nature with very less humus content
• The forest soils placed in valleys are extremely fertile 

Conclusion 

Soil is a mixture of minerals, organic matter, nutrients, and other substances that together forms the soil. In India, there are different types of soils such as Laterite Soil, Arid Soils , Peaty Soil, Forest Soil, and so on that makes life possible on earth. Due to several unforeseen activities, the quality of soil is degrading each day leading to unfavourable conditions.