The ground under our feet - class-VI

Soils form from the interplay of five main factors namely Parent material, Time, Climate, Relief and Organisms.

Black soils are derivatives of trapped lava. These are found mostly across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh on the Deccan plateau and the Malwa Plateau, where there is both moderate rainfall and underlying basaltic rock. This soil is best suitable for growing cotton.

Clay is composed of extremely fine particles that pack together very tightly, resulting in tiny pore spaces. These small pores create high resistance to water flow, giving clay very low permeability. In contrast, sand and silt have larger particles and larger pore spaces, allowing water to drain through them much more rapidly.

Topsoil, which corresponds to the upper layers of the soil profile, contains the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms. This organic material, known as humus, is formed from decomposed leaves, plants, and organisms, providing essential nutrients for plant growth. Sub-soil and sandy layers contain significantly less organic material.

Saline soils develop in arid and semi-arid regions, such as tropical deserts, where evaporation rates are extremely high and rainfall is minimal. As water evaporates rapidly from the soil surface, it leaves behind dissolved salts that accumulate in the upper soil layers. Regions with high rainfall, like equatorial zones, wash these salts away instead.

Black soil, also known as regur soil, is highly clayey and has an exceptional capacity to retain moisture, which is ideal for the long growing season of cotton. It is also rich in soil nutrients like calcium carbonate, magnesium, and potash. While alluvial soil is highly fertile, black soil is specifically renowned as the best medium for cotton cultivation.

Black soil is also called Regur soil. It is black in colour and ideal for growing cotton. This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap (Basalt) region spread over North-West Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows.

The alluvial soil consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay. Alluvial soils are formed by silt brought by rivers.

Red soils are formed by the weathering of crystalline and metamorphic rocks and are typically deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus, humus, and lime. Therefore, the statement claiming they are rich in these nutrients is incorrect. The other statements accurately describe the easy-to-plough nature of alluvial soils, the tropical wet climate origin of laterite, and the high moisture retention of black soils.

Alluvial soil is formed by the deposition of silt, sand, and clay brought down by running water, primarily rivers. As rivers flow from mountains to plains, they deposit these rich sediments along their banks and floodplains.

Black soil is typical of the Deccan trap
(Basalt) region spread over northwest Deccan
plateau and is made up of Volcanic lava flows. 

Laterite has been derived from the Latin word
‘later’ which means brick. The laterite soil
develops in areas with high temperature and
heavy rainfall. This is the result of intense
leaching due to heavy rain. Humus content of the soil is low because most of the micro
organisms, particularly the decomposers, like
bacteria, get destroyed due to high
temperature. Laterite soils are suitable for
cultivation with adequate doses of manures
and fertilizers. These soils are mainly found in
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya
Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Odisha and
Assam. 

The Laterite Soil is the type of soil formed from intense leaching in areas of high rainfall , moisture and high temperature. The soil formed by the process of intense leaching is laterite soil.

Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. Mostly these soils contain adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and lime which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops. Due to its high fertility, regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely populated. 

Black soil is mainly found in Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh. They are well known for their capacity to hold moisture and are rich in soil nutrients.
Hence, option $C$ is the correct answer.

This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap (Basalt) region spread over northwest Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows. 

These soils are black in colour and are also known as regur soils. They cover the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and extend in the south-east direction along the Godavari and the Krishna valleys.

The organic fertilizers are used to improve the fertility of alluvial soil. This type of fertilizer originates from an organic source. Some examples include fish extracts, manure, and compost. 

The black soil is also known as Regur soil. Black soil is ideal for growing cotton. 

The black soils are made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material. They are well-known for their capacity to hold moisture. In addition, they are rich in soil nutrients, such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime. These soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents. 

This is the most widely spread and important type of soil. In fact, the entire Northern Plains are made of alluvial soil. The alluvial soil consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay. Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. Mostly these soils contain adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and lime.

Orchards can very well be grown in mountainous soil. These soils are heterogeneous in nature and their character changes with parent rocks, ground-configuration and climate. Consequently, they differ greatly even if they occur in close proximity to one another. 

Karnataka.

The soil is soft during wet and very hard during dry is Black Soil.

Red soil is a type of soil that develops in a warm, temperate, moist climate under deciduous or mixed forest, having thin organic and organic-mineral layers overlying a yellowish-brown leached layer resting on an illuvium red layer. Red soils are generally derived from crystalline rock. They are usually poor growing soils, low in nutrients and humus and difficult to cultivate because of its low water holding capacity. Red soils are an important resource.

Laterite soil is suitable to grow Coffee, rubber & tea.

 The burning of fossil fuels like coal natural gas, petroleum in automobiles, industries and thermal plants leads to increase in air pollution.

Bacteria and fungi carry out the decomposition of plant residues, breaking them down and holding the nutrients in their bodies, this prevents the nutrients leaching out into the soil. They hold the nutrients until the nutrients are consumed- by protozoa, nematodes and then release the remaining nutrients in plant available form.

Soil is a complex mixture, having five components: (i) mineral matter - 45%, organic matter - 5%, water - 25%, air - 25% and living organisms. All these components are essential for plant growth.

The soil develops a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks. 

This is the most widely spread and important soil. Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. Mostly these soils contain adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and lime. Due to its high fertility, regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely populated. 

These have been deposited by three important Himalayan river systems– the Indus and the Ganga (Indo-Gangetic river system). 

Laterite has been derived from the Latin word ‘later’ which means brick.  The laterite soil develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall.  These soils are mainly found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Orissa and Assam. This soil is very useful for growing tea and coffee. 

Black soil is mostly found in Deccan plateau. This soil is mainly found in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

 It is believed that climatic condition along with the parent rock material are the important factors for the formation of black soil. This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap (Basalt) region spread over northwest Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows. 

Laterite has been derived from the Latin word ‘later’ which means brick. 

After adopting appropriate soil conservation techniques particularly in the hilly areas of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, this soil is very useful for growing tea and coffee. 

The best soils for cashew are deep, friable well drained sandy loam without a hard pan. Water stagnation and flooding are not congenial for cashew. And the laterite soils meets these requirements.

The black soils are made up of extremely fine clayey material. They are well-known for their capacity to hold moisture. In addition, they are rich in soil nutrients, such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime. This type of soil develops deep cracks during hot weather, which helps in the proper aeration of the soil. These are the characteristics of black soil. 

 Due to its high fertility, regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely populated. 

Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan plateau. 

1:The black soils are made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material. They are well-known for their capacity to hold moisture. In addition, they are rich in soil nutrients, such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.
2:The clay soil has the highest water holding capacity and the sand soil has the least. Clay particles are so tiny and have many small pore spaces that make water move slower, (very good water holding capacity)
 

This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap (Basalt) region spread over northwest Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows. 

Khadar has more fine particles and is more fertile than the Bangar.

Alluvial soil is the most widely spread and important
soil. In fact, the entire northern plains are made
of alluvial soil. These have been deposited by
three important Himalayan river systems– the
Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.

Thorny bushes are found in dry areas of the country. The leaves are in the form of spines to reduce the loss of water. Cactus, khair, babool, keekar are important thorny bushes. They are found in the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Eastern slopes of Western Ghats and Gujarat.

Mountain soil is mainly found on the hill slopes. These soils are formed due to mechanical withering caused by snow, rain, temperature variation, etc. These mountain soils are found in hilly regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh. These soils occupy about 8% of the total land area of India.

In Maharashtra black cotton soil is mainly found in Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim, Parbhani, Dhule, Jalgaon, Hingoli, Osmanabad, Ahmadnagar districts. 

This is the most widely spread and important soil. In fact, the entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil. 

Peat soils are also called marshy soils. They are a result of waterlogging and anaerobic conditions (which leads to partial decomposition of organic matter). They are found in the areas of heavy rainfall and high humidity, where there is a good growth of vegetation. It occurs widely in the northern part of Bihar, the southern part of Uttaranchal and the coastal areas of West Bengal, Orissa, and Tamil Nadu. These soils are normally heavy and black in color.

Black soils are derivatives of trapped lava. These are found mostly across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh on the Deccan plateau and the Malwa Plateau, where there is both moderate rainfall and underlying basaltic rock. This soil is best suitable for growing cotton.

The Kashmir Himalayas are
also famous for Karewa
formations, which are useful
for the cultivation of Zafran,
a local variety of saffron. Karewas are the
thick deposits of
glacial clay and
other materials
embedded with
moraines.

According to their age alluvial
soils can be classified as old alluvial (Bangar)
and new alluvial (Khadar). The bangar soil has
higher concentration of kanker nodules than
the Khadar. It has more fine particles and is
more fertile than the bangar.

Black soil is ideal for
growing cotton and is also known as black
cotton soil. The black soils are made up of extremely
fine i.e. clayey material. They are well-known
for their capacity to hold moisture. In addition,
they are rich in soil nutrients, such as calcium
carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime. These
soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents. 

Bhabar, Bangar, and Khadar are all types or regions of alluvial soil formed by river deposition. In contrast, Regur (black soil) is formed from the weathering of volcanic basalt rocks.

Maharashtra is dominated by the Deccan Trap, which consists of black soil (4). Uttar Pradesh lies in the fertile Indo-Gangetic plain, which is rich in alluvial soil (1). Karnataka has a large coverage of red soil (3), while Assam's hilly regions contain lateritic soil (2).

These soils are black in color and are also known as regur soils. Since black soil is ideal for growing cotton, it is also known as black cotton soil. It is believed that climatic conditions along with the parent rock material are the important factors for the formation of black soil

Mountain soils are found in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal in the Himalayan mountain regions. They are rich in humus and in the drier areas of deciduous forest belt, brown soils are found. They are very good for orchard crops.

These brown forest soils are called Podzol of deciduous forests.

Most desert soils are called Aridisols (dry soil). These are porous sandy soils with low nitrogenous matter and humus.

Great civilizations are flourished in the areas having alluvial soil and water bodies. Alluvial soils and irrigation facilities produce abundant crop yield.

Alluvium is a loose soil or sediments which are formed by erosion by rainwater. It is typically made of small particles of silt and clay and larger particles of sand and gravel.

Most desert soils are called Aridisols (dry soil). These are porous sandy soils with low nitrogenous matter and humus. These are saline in nature too.

Deserts cover 20 to 33% of the Earth’s land surface, and can be found in the tropics, at the poles, and in between. Desert soils are formed where there is scanty rainfall.

Humus content of the soil is low because most of the micro organisms, particularly the decomposers like bacteria, get destroyed due to high temperature. Laterite soils are suitable for cultivation with heavy doses of manures and fertilizers. 

This is the most widely spread and important soil. In fact, the entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil. These soils also extend in Rajasthan and Gujarat through a narrow corridor. Alluvial soil is also found in the eastern coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri rivers.

 The laterite soil develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rain. This is the result of intense leaching due to heavy rain. Humus content of the soil is low because most of the micro organisms, particularly the decomposers, like bacteria, get destroyed due to high temperature. 

This is the most widely spread and important soil. The alluvial soil consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay. Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. Mostly these soils contain adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and lime.

Khadar type of soil is present in northern plains. It contains new alluvium. This type of alluvium is used extensively for agriculture.

• Black cotton soil is also called as regular soil.
  
• Black soils are derivatives of trapped lava. These are found mostly across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh on the Deccan lava plateau and the Malwa Plateau, where there is both moderate rainfall and underlying basaltic rock.
  
• Cotton is grown well in this soil.
  

• Old alluvium is called Bhangar. It contains calcareous deposits locally known as 'Kankar'. Soil is not very fertile. And hence not suitable for agriculture.
  
• Newer alluvium is called khadar. It contains new alluvium. Used extensively for agriculture. It has no calcareous deposits.
  

• Laterite soils are developed in the areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall.
  
• Laterite soil is a rock type soil rich in iron and aluminium, and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas.

Red soil is widely distributed in the peninsular plateau, including states like Odisha (Orissa), Chhattisgarh, and parts of southern India. In contrast, Punjab and Haryana are dominated by alluvial soils, and Rajasthan has desert/arid soils.

Black soil is highly clayey and retains moisture extremely well, making it ideal for growing cotton. Because of this strong association, it is also commonly referred to as black cotton soil.

Major soil of North India is Alluvial soil and mostly in northern plains or northern Indian states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar etc.

Regur soil is suitable for cotton cultivation. It is a black coloured soil. It is said be perfect for cotton cultivation. It is rich in iron content.

The soil is a living system. It takes millions of years to form soil upto a few cm in depth. Relief, parent rock or bedrock, climate, vegetation and other forms of life and time are important factors in the formation of soil.

The thin layer of grainy substance covering the surface
of the earth is called soil. In the upper most layer of the earth it it is available in the loosey material form. Soil is made
up of organic matter, minerals and weathered rocks
found on the earth. This happens through the process
of weathering.

Red soil derives its distinctive reddish color from the high diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks. When hydrated, it can also appear yellow.

• Soil research has shown that soil profiles are influenced by five separate, yet interacting, factors: parent material, climate, topography, organisms, and time.
  
•  Soil scientists call these the factors of soil formation.

Alluvial soil is highly fertile because it is rich in organic nutrients, humus, and essential minerals deposited by river systems. This balanced composition supports a wide variety of crops.

Mountain soil is found in the hilly and mountainous areas of the Himalayas, including its foothills. This soil is formed by the accumulation of organic matter from forest growth and is rich in humus.

Black soil is widely known as black cotton soil because cotton is the primary crop grown in it. It is also known as Regur soil.

Cotton is the most important crop cultivated in black soil due to the soil's excellent moisture-retention capacity. This unique property is ideal for the growth of cotton plants.

Laterite soil is formed in tropical areas with high rainfall (above 200 cm) and high temperatures. The heavy rain causes intense leaching, washing away silica and leaving behind iron and aluminum oxides.

Mountain soils are formed in forest areas and are rich in organic matter (humus) and nitrogen due to the decomposition of fallen leaves and forest litter. However, they are typically deficient in potash, phosphorus, and lime.

Black soil is also known as Regur soil, a term derived from the Telugu word 'Reguda', which means black cotton soil.

Paddy (rice) requires a large and continuous supply of water, making it extremely difficult and rare to cultivate in dry, sandy desert soils. Crops like jowar, sajje (pearl millet), and dates are drought-resistant and can grow in arid conditions.

Alluvial soil is an ex-situ soil formed by the deposition of sediments carried by rivers flowing from the mountains down to the plains.

Alluvial soil is the most widespread soil type in India, covering about 40% of the country's total land area, primarily across the northern plains and river valleys.

Regur (black) soil is formed by the weathering and disintegration of basaltic volcanic rocks, particularly in the Deccan Trap region of India.

Black soil has a high clay content, which gives it an exceptional capacity to retain moisture for long periods. This makes it highly valuable for agriculture in semi-arid regions with low rainfall.

The high moisture-retention capacity of black soil ensures that cotton crops receive a steady supply of water during their growing period, even in areas with low rainfall.

Alluvial soil is deposited by rivers in valleys like the Brahmaputra Valley (1-d). Black soil is formed from volcanic basalt in the Deccan Trap (2-a). Red soil is widely found across the crystalline rocks of the Peninsular Plateau (3-b), and laterite soil is formed due to heavy leaching in high-rainfall areas like the Western Ghats (4-c).

Laterite soil is formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. This leads to intense leaching, where silica is washed away, leaving behind iron and aluminum oxides.

Black soil is highly suitable for cotton (2-b). Red soil is well-suited for pulses like red gram (3-c). Laterite soil, when properly manured, is excellent for plantation crops like tea and coffee (4-a), while mountain soil can support crops like wheat on terraced slopes (1-d).

Alluvial soil is formed by the deposition of silt and sediments carried by rivers as they flow down from mountains to plains.

Mountain soil is rich in organic matter (humus) and nitrogen, which are highly beneficial for plantation crops like tea, coffee, and spices. However, it is generally deficient in potash, phosphoric acid, and lime.

The Deccan Trap, located in the western and central parts of India, is characterized by extensive black cotton soil formed from the weathering of lava flows.

Clay soil have high water holding capacity. This is because the space between clay soil particles is higher making them possess more retention capacity. These soils can absorb more water.

Arid soils in India range from red to brown in colour. They are generally sandy in structure and saline in nature, commonly found in arid and semi-arid regions like western Rajasthan.

Laterite is a soil and rock type rich in iron and aluminium, and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are of rusty-red coloration, because of high iron oxide content.

Alluvial soils are most widely spread and important
soil. In fact, the entire northern plains are made
of alluvial soil. According to their age alluvial
soils can be classified as old alluvial (Bangar)
and new alluvial (Khadar). Khadar has more fine particles and is
more fertile than the bangar.

Laterite has been derived from the Latin word
‘later’ which means brick. The laterite soil
develops in areas with high temperature and
heavy rainfall. This is the result of intense
leaching due to heavy rain.

Loamy soil is composed of a mixture of sand, clay and humus. Loamy soil contains different sizes of particles. It is dark in colour.

The laterite soil
develops in areas with high temperature and
heavy rainfall. This is the result of intense
leaching due to heavy rain. 

Brown earth is a type of soil. Brown earths are mostly located between 35° and 55° north of the Equator. The largest expanses cover western and central Europe, large areas of western and trans-Uralian Russia, the east coast of America and eastern Asia.

Black soils are also
known as regur soils. Black soil is ideal for
growing cotton and is also known as black
cotton soil. This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap
(Basalt) region spread over northwest Deccan
plateau and is made up of lava flows. 

Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile.
Mostly these soils contain adequate proportion
of potash, phosphoric acid and lime which are
ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat
and other cereal and pulse crops.

Regur or black soil is highly suitable for growing cotton because of its clayey texture and excellent moisture-retention capacity. This unique suitability has earned it the common name 'black cotton soil'.

Red soils develop a
reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in
crystalline and metamorphic rocks. It looks
yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.

The black soils are made up of extremely
fine i.e. clayey material. They are well-known
for their capacity to hold moisture. In addition,
they are rich in soil nutrients, such as calcium
carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime. 

Malwa Plateau is dominated by Regur (black) soil due to its volcanic origin. Dharwar Plateau features red soils, Punjab Plains consist of fertile alluvial soils deposited by rivers, and the Western Ghats experience heavy leaching, leading to the formation of lateritic soils.

Alluvial soils are deposited by rivers and are found in river basins and coastal plains. Black soils are formed from weathered volcanic basalt in the Deccan lava tract, red soils are found on the periphery of the plateau, and laterite soils develop on high-altitude plateau areas.

Alluvial soils are generally rich in potash but poor in phosphorus. Therefore, the statement claiming they are rich in phosphorus but poor in potash is incorrect.

Alluvial soils are highly fertile depositional soils confined to river basins and coastal plains. However, they are chemically characterized by being rich in potash and poor in phosphorus, making statement 3 incorrect.

• Alluvial soils are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops. 
  
• Black soil is ideal for growing cotton and is also known as black cotton soil.
• Laterite soils or Brown soils are suitable for growing tea and coffee. 
• Red soils are ideal for growing Rice, groundnut etc.
  

Peaty soils are formed in hot, humid regions with high rainfall where organic matter accumulates rapidly. In India, they are notably found in the coastal areas of Kerala, where they are locally known as Kari soils.

Red soils are porous and coarse, which gives them a very low water retention capacity. Additionally, like most Indian soils, they are deficient in nitrogen, humus, and phosphoric acid, making statements 3 and 4 incorrect.

The soils of the Indo-Gangetic plains are alluvial soils, which are depositional in nature. They have been transported over long distances by rivers from the Himalayas and the Peninsular plateau, rather than being derived from local rocks.

The laterite soil develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall. This is the result of intense leaching due to heavy rain. Due to the dry climate, high temperature, evaporation is faster and the soil lacks humus and moisture.

Red soils develop a
reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in
crystalline and metamorphic rocks. It looks
yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.

Bihar, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu have extensive river systems and coastal areas covered with alluvial soils. Madhya Pradesh, located in the central plateau, is dominated by black and red soils, with very little alluvial soil.

Alluvial soils are found in river basins and coastal plains (A-4). Black soils are found in the Deccan lava tracts (B-3). Red soils lie on the periphery of the plateau (C-2), and laterite soils are found in high-altitude plateau areas (D-1).

• Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. Due to its high fertility, regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated both in Kharif and Rabi seasons. 
• Black soil is ideal for growing cotton and is also known as black cotton soil.
• Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December and harvested in summer from April to June.
  

Statement 1 is correct because high temperatures accelerate the decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms, preventing humus accumulation. Statement 3 is correct because titaniferous magnetite (titanium salts) gives black soil its color, and statement 4 is correct as red soils surround the Deccan plateau. Statement 2 is incorrect because humus-rich soils actually have better nitrogen retention and require fewer chemical fertilizers.

Laterite soils are formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate dry and wet periods, leading to intense leaching. This process leaves behind a soil rich in iron oxide and aluminum, which is highly acidic and infertile for general agriculture.

Alluvial soil is the most widely spread and important soil. In fact, the entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil. Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. Due to its high fertility, regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely populated. 

Khadar is the term used for new, fertile alluvial soil that is deposited annually by river floods. Consequently, Khadar soils are primarily found in active flood plains.

The Indo-Gangetic plain is composed of alluvial soil. This soil is formed from sediments carried down and deposited by major rivers originating in the Himalayas, meaning it is derived from Himalayan rocks.

The correct order of soil particles by increasing grain size is Clay (less than 0.002 mm), Silt (0.002 to 0.05 mm), Sand (0.05 to 2.0 mm), and Gravel (greater than 2.0 mm). This corresponds to the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4 (or A, B, C, D).

Black soil, also known as regur, has high clay content and excellent moisture retention, making it exceptionally well-suited for growing cotton.

Tea plants require deep, well-drained, acidic soils with high organic matter. Laterite soils, which are acidic and found on well-drained hill slopes, are highly suitable for tea plantations when properly fertilized.

Black soil is highly clayey and retains moisture for a long time, which is ideal for the deep-root system of the cotton plant. It is widely cultivated in the Deccan plateau region for this cash crop.

Clayey soil consists of very fine particles with minimal space between them. This tight packing prevents water from draining quickly, allowing it to retain the maximum amount of water compared to other soil types.

Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks
in areas of low rainfall in the eastern and
southern parts of the Deccan plateau. These soils develop a
reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in
crystalline and metamorphic rocks.  

Lime (calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide) is an alkaline substance used to raise the pH of acidic soils, neutralizing the acidity. Gypsum, on the other hand, is typically used to treat alkaline or sodic soils.

Black soils are often referred to as regur but are popularly known as “black cotton soils,” since cotton has been the most common traditional crop in areas where they are found. Black soils are derivatives of lava traps and are spread mostly across interior Gujarat (Saurashtra), Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh. 

Lateritic soil types of India are rendered infertile by the presence of excess iron. Laterite soils are those soils that are found in the areas which receive high rainfall and have a very high temperature. This results in less humus content in the soil. Hence, they are not fertile soil and are not suitable for cultivation.

The northern plains are formed by the alluvial deposits brought by the rivers – the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra. These plains extend approximately 3,200 km from the east to the west.

Laterite soils are good for tea, coffee and cashew cultivation. Laterite soils lack fertility due to intensive leaching. When manured and irrigated, some laterites are suitable for growing plantation crops like tea, coffee, rubber, cinchona, coconut, areca nut, etc.

It is red due to the presence of iron oxide which is formed by leaching. Laterite soil is a rock type soil rich in iron and aluminium, and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas.

Laterite soils are formed under high temperatures and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods. In India, they are abundant in the Western Ghats region, which includes large parts of Karnataka.