Types of Soil

Soils are classified as acidic soil and alkaline soil. Soils in India are also classified as Red soil, Black soil, Alluvial soil, Desert soil, Mountain soil, Laterite soil and Saline soil.

Acidic Soil

Soil can become acidic due to rainfall and leaching, inappropriate use of fertilizers, etc.

It has a pH less than 7. Acidity of soil can be reduced by adding lime.

Alkaline Soil

Alkaline soils have a pH greater than 7, they're rich in lime content.

Soil alkalinity can be reduced by adding sulphur, pine leaves and sawdust.

Soils in India are classified into the following types:

Red Soil

This soil is red due to the presence of iron oxide.

It is rich in clay, but well drained, slightly acidic in nature and poor in humus.

It is found in South India and parts of Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.

Black Soil

It is rich in iron and magnesium. It is clayey in texture, contains dead organic matter and water.

It is ideal for growing cotton and sugarcane.

It is found in the states of Maharashtra, Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka and Telangana.

Alluvial Soil

It is loamy with plenty of humus. It is very fertile and good for growing crops.

It is found in the Indo-Gangetic plains, Assam, Punjab and Haryana.

Desert Soil

This soil is sandy, porous, and cannot hold much water.

If irrigated crops can be grown in this soil.

It is found in Ladakh, Rajasthan and Gujrat.

Mountain Soil

Humus content is maximum in this type of soil, thus it is very fertile.

It is found in the Himalayan region.

Laterite Soil

This soil is rich in nutrients, hence good for plantation of tea coffee and coconut.

It is found in Assam, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala.

Saline Soil

This soil is rich in salts of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium.

It is found in parts of the Indo-Gangetic plains.

Salt affected soil can be reclaimed using gypsum and lots of water for leaching.