Resources and Development

Resources and Development
Resource: Things available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, provided, it is
technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable can be termed as
resource.
Classification of Soils
Alluvial Soils
- Most widely spread and important soil. In fact, the entire northern plains are made of
alluvial soil.
- These have been deposited by three important river systems-the Indus, the Ganga, and the
Brahmaputra.
- They also extend in Rajasthan and Gujarat through a narrow corridor.
- It is also found in the eastern coastal plain particularly in the deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari,
Krishna and Kaveri Rivers.
- Alluvial soil consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay.
- The soil particles are bigger inland towards the river valleys. In the upper reaches of river
valley near the place of break of slope, the soils are coarse.
- They are more common in piedmont plains such as Duars, Chos and Terai.
- According to their age, alluvial soil can be classified as: Bangar and Khadar. Bangar(Old
alluvial) has a higher concentration of kanker nodules than Khadar. Khadar has more fine
particles and is more fertile than Bangar.
- They are very fertile.
- 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 high fertility, regions of alluvial soil are intensively cultivated and densely populated.
- Soils in drier areas are more alkaline and can be productive after proper treatment and
irrigation.
Black Soil
- They are black in colour and are also called regur soils.
- It is ideal for growing cotton and is also known as black cotton soil.
- It is believed that climatic conditions along with parent rock material are the important
factors for the formation of black soil.
- It is found in the Deccan trap (Basalt) region spread over northwest Deccan plateau and is
made up of lava flows.
- Covers plains of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and
extend in the south east direction along the Godavari and Krishna valleys.
- They are made up of extremely fine clayey material.
- They are well known for their capacity to hold moisture. Also rich in soil nutrients such as
calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.
- These soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents.
- Develop cracks during hot weather, which helps in the proper aeration of the soil.
- Soils are sticky when wet and difficult to work on unless tilled immediately after the first
shower or during the pre-monsoon period.
-
Red and Yellow Soils
- Red Soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in the eastern and
southern parts of the Deccan plateau.
- Yellow and red soils are also found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern parts of the
middle Ganga plain and along the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.
- These soils develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic
rocks.
- It looks yellow in the hydrated form.
Laterite Soil
- Laterite has been derived from the Latin word “later” which means brick.
- Laterite soil develops under tropical and subtropical climate with alternate wet and dry
season.
- Is a result of intense leaching due to heavy rain.
- Lateritic soils are mostly deep to very deep, acidic(pH<6.0).
- Generally deficient in plant nutrients and occurs mostly in southern states, Western Ghat
regions of Maharashtra, Odisha, some parts of West Bengal and North-east regions.
- Where they support deciduous and evergreen forests and are rich in humus, but under
sparse vegetation and in semi-arid regions its generally humus poor.
- Prone to erosion and degradation due to their position on the landscape.
- After adopting appropriate soil conservation techniques particularly in the hilly areas of
Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, this soil has been useful for growing tea and coffee.
- Red laterite soil in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala are more suitable for crops like
cashew nut.
Arid Soils
- Arid soils range from red to brown in colour.

- They are generally sandy in texture and saline in nature.
- In some areas the salt content is very high and common salt is obtained by evaporating the
water.
- Due to the dry climate, high temperature, evaporation is faster and the soil lacks humus and
moisture.
- The lower horizons of the soil are occupied by Kankar because of the increasing calcium
content downwards.
- The kankar layer formations in the bottom horizons restrict the infiltration of water.
- After proper irrigation these soils become cultivable as has been in the case of western
Rajasthan.
Forest Soils
- These soils are found in the hilly and mountainous areas where sufficient rain forests are
available.
- The soils texture varies according to the mountain environment where they are formed.
- They are loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse grained in the upper slopes.
- In the snow-covered areas of Himalayas, these soils experience denudation and are acidic
with low humus content.
- The soils found in the lower parts of the valleys particularly on the river terraces and alluvial
fans are fertile.

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Resources and Development

Red and Yellow Soils

- Arid soils range from red to brown in colour.

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