Soils of India Explained through 3D Animation | Indian Geography | UPSC GS1
StudyIQ IAS・17 minutes read
Soil in India varies based on climatic conditions, leading to diverse agricultural practices with distinct layers and compositions, including fertile topsoil rich in humus and minerals. Different soil types like black, red, and yellow soils are suitable for specific crops, while arid soils in Western Rajasthan are ideal for growing drought-tolerant crops, and saline soils are infertile due to high sodium content.
Insights
- Different soil types in India lead to diverse agricultural practices, with varying characteristics like fertility, texture, and composition, influencing the types of crops that can be grown in different regions.
- Soil classification in India takes into account factors like genesis, color, and composition to categorize soils into distinct types such as black, red, yellow, arid, saline, and forest soils, each with unique properties that impact agricultural productivity and suitability for different crops.
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Recent questions
What is the importance of soil in agriculture?
Soil is a vital natural resource that provides water, nutrients, and habitat for organisms essential for agriculture. It aids in plant growth, water retention, and overall crop productivity.
How does soil formation occur?
Soil formation happens through the weathering of rocks, resulting in distinct layers with varying textures, colors, and compositions. The topsoil, rich in humus and minerals, is fertile and porous, aiding plant growth and water retention.
What are the different types of Indian soils?
Indian soils are classified based on genesis, color, composition, and location. Examples include Gaya, Loamy, Black, Red and Yellow, Laterite, Arid, Saline, PT, and Forest soils, each with unique characteristics and suitability for different crops.
Where are black soils found in India and what are their properties?
Black soils are found in the Deccan Plateau and are deep, clayey, and impermeable. They are ideal for cotton cultivation due to their moisture retention properties, making them crucial for agriculture in the region.
What are the characteristics of arid soils in Western Rajasthan?
Arid soils in Western Rajasthan have poor humus and organic matter, making them suitable for growing drought-tolerant and saline-tolerant crops like millets and mace. They have a gravel layer in lower horizons that aids in soil moisture availability for plant growth during irrigation.
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Summary
00:00
Diverse Indian Soils: Formation and Classification
- Soil is a crucial natural resource providing water, nutrients, and habitat for organic organisms, essential for agriculture and aesthetics.
- Soil in India varies due to climatic conditions, leading to diverse agricultural practices based on soil types.
- Soil formation occurs through weathering of rocks, resulting in distinct layers with varying textures, colors, and compositions.
- The topsoil, or Harijan A, is rich in humus and minerals, making it fertile and porous, aiding plant growth and water retention.
- The subsequent layers, Harijan B and C, contain less humus but more minerals, with C being composed of smaller rocks, forming the basis for soil profile.
- Soil classification was initiated due to the complexity of soil, leading to the identification of sandy, clay, and loamy soils based on particle size.
- Indian soils are classified based on genesis, color, composition, and location, with examples like Gaya, Loamy, Black, Red and Yellow, Laterite, Arid, Saline, PT, and Forest soils.
- Aluvial soil in Northern Plains and River Valleys is depositional, rich in potassium but poor in phosphorus, with subtypes like Khadar and Bhang.
- Black soil in Deccan Plate is deep, clayey, and impermeable, ideal for cotton cultivation due to its moisture retention properties.
- Red and Yellow soils, found in low rainfall areas, are fertile when fine-grade, but poor in nutrients in course-grade, suitable for crops like sugar cane, rice, and fruits.
14:45
Arid and Saline Soils: Characteristics and Regions
- Eroded soils in arid regions range in color from red to brown, with a sandy structure and saline nature, leading to a deficiency in moisture and humus due to dry climate and high temperatures.
- Arid soils in Western Rajasthan have poor humus and organic matter, suitable for growing drought-tolerant and saline-tolerant crops like millets and mace, with a gravel layer in lower horizons aiding in soil moisture availability for plant growth during irrigation.
- Saline soils, also known as asur soils, are infertile due to high sodium, potassium, and magnesium content, found in water-locked areas with sandy to loamy structures, lacking calcium and nitrogen, prevalent in deltas like Western Gujarat and the Sundarban areas.
- PT soils in high rainfall regions with high humidity, such as the northern part of Bihar, are rich in organic matter, heavy, black in color, and alkaline, supporting good vegetation growth, while forest soils in forest areas with sufficient rainfall vary in structure and texture, suitable for various crops like tea, spices, and tropical fruits.
