Indian Geography: Soils of India

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has classified Indian soils into eight major categories based on their origin, color, and composition.

Major Soil Types

• Alluvial Soil: Covers about 40% of India; highly fertile and deposited by the Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra rivers.
• Black Soil (Regur): Derived from volcanic rocks (Basalt); highly moisture-retentive and ideal for cotton cultivation.
• Red and Yellow Soil: Develops on crystalline igneous rocks; red color is due to a wide diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks.
• Laterite Soil: Forms as a result of intense leaching due to heavy tropical rains; used extensively for making bricks.

Soil Conservation & Facts

• Humus: Organic component of soil, generally low in most Indian soils (except forest and mountain soils).
• Nitrogen Deficiency: Most Indian soils are deficient in Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Humus.
• Saline Soils (Usara): Contain a larger proportion of Sodium, Potassium, and Magnesium; found in arid and semi-arid regions.

Question for you: Which soil type is known for its “self-ploughing” characteristic because it develops deep cracks during the dry season?

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