Major Soil Types in India – Top 6 for UPSC

 Major Soil Types in India

India is known for its diverse major soil types, and understanding these soil types is crucial for UPSC preparation. The six major soil types in India include alluvial, black, red and yellow, laterite, arid, and saline, each with distinct features and nutrient content.

 1. Alluvial Soil

Distribution:

• Found in Indo-Gangetic plains (Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal)

• Parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan

• Deltaic regions: Ganga-Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri

• Coastal belts of peninsular India

Key Features:

• Types:

  • Khadar (new, fertile, renewed by floods annually)

  • Bhangar (older, contains calcareous concretions or kankar)

• Texture: Loamy and clayey in middle and lower Ganga plains

• Color: Ranges from light grey to ash grey

• Fertility: High; intensively cultivated

• Sand content: Decreases from west to east

Nutrient Status:

• Rich in potash and lime

• Poor in nitrogen, phosphorus, and humus

 2. Black Soil (Regur or Black Cotton Soil)

Distribution:

• Covers ~15% of India

• Found in Deccan Plateau (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, parts of Tamil Nadu)

• Deep in upper Krishna and Godavari valleys

Key Features:

• Originates from basaltic rocks

• Clayey, deep, and poorly drained

• Expands when wet and contracts on drying (forms deep cracks)

• Enables self-ploughing

• Color: Deep black to grey

• Good moisture retention

Nutrient Status:

• Rich in lime, magnesia, alumina, iron

• Deficient in phosphorus, nitrogen, and organic matter

 3. Red and Yellow Soil

Distribution:

• Eastern and southern Deccan Plateau

• Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern Ganga plains

• Piedmont zone of Western Ghats

Key Features:

• Formed from crystalline and metamorphic rocks

• Red color due to iron oxide; turns yellow when hydrated

• Coarse types (uplands): low fertility

• Fine types: relatively fertile

• Well-drained and aerated

Nutrient Status:

• Deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus, and humus

 4. Laterite Soil

Distribution:

• Upland areas of Peninsular India: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh

• Hilly regions of Odisha, Assam, Jharkhand (Ranchi plateau)

Key Features:

• Result of leaching in hot and humid areas

• Lime and silica leached away, leaving iron and aluminium-rich soils

• Low humus due to high bacterial activity

• Poor water retention and fertility

• Supports crops like cashew (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh)

• Commonly used for brick-making

Nutrient Status:

• Poor in nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter, and calcium

• Rich in iron and potash

 5. Arid Soil

Distribution:

• Primarily in western Rajasthan and adjoining regions

Key Features:

• Sandy texture and saline nature

• Presence of kankar layer impedes water infiltration

• Fertility low due to low organic matter

• Color varies from red to yellow

• Responds well to irrigation

Nutrient Status:

• Lacks moisture, nitrogen, and humus

• Phosphate content is adequate

 6. Saline and Alkaline Soils

Distribution:

• Found in arid/semi-arid zones, coastal deltas, and swampy regions

• Common in Gujarat (Rann of Kutch), parts of West Bengal (Sundarbans), and eastern coastal deltas

• Also found in irrigated areas of Punjab and Haryana due to capillary rise

Key Features:

• Also known as Usara soils

• Formed by seawater intrusion or poor drainage

• Structure: sandy to loamy

• Salt accumulates in surface layers

• Gypsum is added to reclaim saline soils

Nutrient Status:

• Deficient in nitrogen and calcium

• High in sodium, magnesium, and potassium

 Quick Comparison Table