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 [caption id="attachment_26098" align="aligncenter" width="412"] Table showing the distribution of major soil types in India[/caption] Soil Type Region Key Traits Nutrient Status Alluvial North plains, deltas, coast Fertile, loamy, calcareous nodules (kankar) Rich in potash, poor in N, P, humus Black (Regur) Deccan Plateau Clayey, expands when wet, self-ploughing Rich in lime, iron; poor in N, P, organic matter Red & Yellow Deccan, Eastern India Iron-rich, well-drained, varies by grain size Poor in N, P, humus Laterite High rainfall uplands Leached, acidic, poor retention, brick-use Rich in iron, poor in N, P, calcium, organic matter Arid Western Rajasthan Sandy, saline, kankar layers Lacks N, humus; adequate phosphate Saline/Alkaline Gujarat, Sundarbans, irrigated N Salt crusts, reclaimed with gypsum High in Na, Mg; deficient in N and calcium
